Catalonia's 2040 Railway Service Plan Aims to Boost Capacity and Sustainability

The Catalan government has unveiled the "Plan de serveis ferroviaris de Catalunya 2040", a strategic blueprint intended to increase the rail network's capacity, promote sustainable mobility and better integrate public transport across the region. The plan, presented on 30 June 2026, targets serving up to one million daily passengers by 2040 and includes measures such as standardising service frequencies, creating new lines and modifying existing routes.

German engineering firm TÜV SÜD supported the design and evaluation of the plan, analysing bottlenecks (including Barcelona's tunnel system), modelling operational scenarios and verifying the feasibility of proposed alternatives through capacity studies. In the Girona province, the proposal groups services into "structuring" routes with hourly trains between Maçanet‑Massanes and Barcelona‑Sants, and "rodalia" services linking local cities, aiming to improve reliability and frequency for commuters.

The initiative emphasizes a phased rollout aligned with demand growth and prioritised investment, seeking to make Catalonia's rail system more efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly.