The city’s underbelly sometimes reminds us that it is alive, and on occasion, it decides to give way unexpectedly beneath our feet. This is what happened last Wednesday at noon at the invisible border separating the Barcelona neighborhood of Vallbona, in Nou Barris, and Montcada i Reixac. A connection shaft at the construction site for the R2 line’s underground extension suddenly collapsed after a loud crash, creating a sinkhole that ended up swallowing a heavy-duty crane and various pieces of heavy machinery. The loud warning was enough for the workers to get out of the way in time, ensuring that the spectacular accident resulted in no injuries, though it had a massive impact on the city’s daily routine.
Half a day after the scare, attention is focused on the subsurface to understand what went wrong. According to information provided by Adif to the Barcelona City Council, and as explained by Nou Barris Councilman Xavier Marcé, the leading hypothesis points to the presence of groundwater in the area. This natural phenomenon is believed to have caused ground movement that the retaining wall’s pillars were unable to withstand. While technicians work around the clock to fill the hole with concrete to stabilize the ground, thousands of commuters are facing an indefinite rail service disruption that has tested the patience of those who rely on the train every morning.
The Train Puzzle
The collapse has forced an indefinite suspension of train service between Montcada i Reixac and Sant Andreu, severely affecting the R2, R2 Nord, and R11 lines. To try to patch this disruption to daily commutes, Renfe has set up an alternative route starting this Thursday:
- Trains on the R2 and R2 Nord lines coming from the north (Maçanet-Massanes) terminate in Montcada i Reixac. From there, passengers must walk about five minutes to connect with the R4 line, which will take them to Barcelona Sants.
- On the southern side, R2 and R2 Nord trains bound for the airport and Castelldefels begin their route directly from Sant Andreu station.
- For R11 riders, the train usually runs as far as Granollers Centre. From there, a direct bus service takes them to Sant Andreu Comtal, coordinated with the train schedules. Additionally, these passengers can choose to transfer to the R2 line between Sant Andreu and Montcada.
- Passengers traveling from Girona and Figueres have the option of using the Avant services at Barcelona Sants, which have added extra seating and information staff to meet the demand.
Concrete and Sensors to Repair the Breach
Although the scare was immense, authorities are urging calm. Arturo Pastor, deputy director of construction at Adif, confirmed that after securing the perimeter, current efforts are focused on continuously pouring concrete to fill the cavity. “We don’t know how big the hole is,” the technical director acknowledged, while also confirming that the homes closest to the collapse , in the Vallbona neighborhood, have not sustained any cracks.
To prevent further incidents and in accordance with the recommendation of the Barcelona Fire Department, on-site monitoring using sensors will be conducted. Adif has committed to issuing reports every 24 hours to detect any anomalies or new ground movements in a timely manner , thereby ensuring the peace of mind of local residents—an absolute priority, as Councilman Marcé has emphasized.
