Renfe reshuffles timetables due to Garraf tunnel works: How will AVE, Avlo, and commuter services be affected?

If you've tried to buy a train ticket to Barcelona in the last few weeks and noticed fewer services than usual, don't worry, it's not just you. Renfe has been forced to take the axe to its schedules (and completely overhaul its operations) due to construction work smack bang in the heart of one of its main arteries. The reason, as is often the case, is a set of improvement works that are dragging on longer than expected. We're talking about the project on the Garraf tunnel, that crucial link connecting the south with Barcelona, which since mid-March has become a major headache for both the operator and passengers.

Three months of works: which Renfe lines are affected?

First things first, let's get a handle on the situation. The work on the Garraf tunnel isn't a quick weekend fix; it's a major undertaking that will last for three months, directly impacting the corridor linking Zaragoza, Caspe, and Barcelona, and by extension, the entire high-speed and long-distance network that runs through it. This means that both the flagship Renfe AVE and the budget Renfe Avlo services on the Madrid-Barcelona route have had to alter their timetables and, in some cases, cancel stops or combine the journey with a replacement road service. And watch out, the Renfe Alvia trains connecting the north (from Galicia or the Basque Country) with the Catalan capital have also had to do a bit of a route map shuffle.

The bus faff: Renfe's Plan B

To try and keep the disruption to a minimum, Renfe has laid on a comprehensive network of buses covering the worst-affected sections. Essentially, on some stretches where the line is completely closed, passengers have to get off the train, hop on a bus, and then get back on another train. Yes, you heard that right. A real pain, especially if you're travelling with suitcases or kids. But what are the alternatives? The company insists that total journey times will remain more or less the same, though I'd venture to say that with a transfer in the mix, you should always factor in a bit of extra leeway.

• AVE and Avlo trains: Reduced number of direct Madrid-Barcelona services. Some trains are being diverted onto the conventional line through the affected section, leading to longer journey times.
• Renfe Alvia: Trains coming from the north (like those connecting with Bilbao or San Sebastián) are also experiencing delays and timetable changes to fit into the available slots through the works.
• Cercanías (Commuter trains): Although the focus is on long-distance, users of Bilbao's commuter services (Cercanías Bilbao) needn't worry, as the disruption is exclusively on the Mediterranean corridor. However, it's a different story for the Rodalies de Catalunya lines, which are also affected on the sections near Garraf.

Zaragoza to Barcelona: the hardest-hit route

If you live in Aragon or are planning to travel from Zaragoza to Barcelona, brace yourselves. RENFE's reshuffle is particularly intense on this axis. Trains that used to stop at towns like Caspe now operate a mixed service: part train, part bus. And, as you can imagine, it's not quite the same. The company has promised that information at stations will be constantly updated, but you know how it goes: best to keep your phone charged and the Renfe website handy to check real-time train status, because the departure boards might be running late.

A view from a lifelong train traveller

Look, I've been using trains since I was a kid and I've seen it all: strikes, delays due to breakdowns, works that drag on forever... This Garraf project is necessary, I'm sure, but it's a pain. It's a pain because just now, when it seemed like Renfe Avlo was making high-speed travel popular and prices were starting to become competitive, we're hit with this three-month hiatus. The hope is that when the work finishes at the end of June, everything will run better than before. In the meantime, it's time to arm yourself with patience, double-check the timetables, and, if you can, avoid peak times when the transfers can get chaotic. And if you have a ticket for the coming weeks, don't rely on memory: log on to the Renfe website and check whether your train's schedule is holding or if you're now one of those who have to do the bus transfer. Because, as I always say when it comes to trains, better safe than sorry.