The R3 line of Rodalies, one of the most punished by the incidents and long claimed by the users of Vallès Oriental, is preparing for its major transformation. A historic project to double the single track between Parets and La Garriga will put an end to decades of delays, but will require an unprecedented effort: 16 months of interrupted service on one of its key sections.
The investment, assumed by ADIF, amounts to 210 million euros and seeks to modernize a line that, due to its single track on a large part of the route, is paralyzed at the slightest incident.
The phases of the cut: When and where?
The interruption of the railway service will begin on September 27, 2025 and will be divided into two major stages of eight months each:
- From September 27, 2025 (8 months): The cut will affect the entire section between Montcada Bifurcació and La Garriga.
- From May 2026 (8 months): In the second phase, the interruption will be concentrated between Mollet Santa Rosa and La Garriga.
An unprecedented bus plan to mitigate the impact.
To cover this extended outage, Renfe has designed an alternative road plan on a scale never seen before. A fleet of 107 coaches will make up to 639 daily expeditions, connecting the affected stations with Barcelona. The nerve center of this service will be the Fabra i Puig station (metro L1 and R4), from where the buses will depart and arrive.
The bus service will be adapted to each phase of the cut:
- During the first phase (Montcada Bifurcació – La Garriga):
- Direct buses: Centelles-Barcelona, La Garriga-Barcelona and Centelles-Parets del Vallès-Barcelona.
- Buses with stops: Between Centelles and Barcelona.
- During the second phase (Mollet Santa Rosa – La Garriga):
- Direct buses: Centelles-Barcelona, La Garriga-Barcelona and Centelles-Mollet Santa Rosa.
- Buses with stops: Between Centelles and Mollet Santa Rosa.
The frequency will be 30 minutes, with reinforcements at rush hour, and Renfe assures that the fleet will be adapted according to demand.
All stops affected
The works of the doubling of the Rodalies R3 line will affect a dozen stops that will be without service. We tell you which are all the affected stations here.
More than a doubling of the line: other line improvements
The 16-month stoppage will be used to carry out other key actions that will improve the user experience in the long term:
- Comprehensive remodeling of Montcada Bifurcació station.
- Installation of elevators and accessibility improvements in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Granollers-Canovelles, Les Franqueses del Vallès and La Garriga.
- Expansion of tracks and construction of a new electrical substation in Vic.
To ensure that all users are informed, a team of 70 people will be deployed at stations and an intensive information campaign will be launched in all channels.