Renfe improves station elevator and escalator service in Catalonia

Renfe has reported significant improvements in the functionality of elevators and escalators across railway stations in Catalonia following a maintenance overhaul. Data released in 2026 indicates that 85% of elevators and 95% of escalators are now operational.

The company admitted that accessibility had reached a critical low in early 2025, with the average number of functional elevators dropping to just 51% during the first quarter of that year. Escalator service also hit a low in February 2025, with nearly half of the systems out of service. Catalan Minister of Territory, Sílvia Paneque, described the previous state of the infrastructure as "absolutely unsustainable, undesirable and inadmissible."

The deterioration was attributed to the previous maintenance provider, Schindler, during the transition period between contracts. The crisis prompted Renfe to sign a new contract with TKE (ThyssenKrupp Elevator) in early 2025. While the transition required a six-month audit period, the new management's impact became visible in early 2026, leading to the current recovery in service levels.