R1–RG1 (Rodalies de Catalunya) explained

R1
RG1
Type:Commuter rail
Status:Operational
Locale:Barcelona metropolitan area and province of Girona
First:
  • R1:
  • RG1:
Operator:Renfe Operadora
Ridership:102,214 (2008)[1]
Ridership2:28 million (2016)[2]
Start:
  • R1: Molins de Rei
  • RG1: L'Hospitalet de Llobregat
Stops:
  • R1: 31
  • RG1: 44
End:
  • R1:
  • RG1:
Distance:
  • R1: 95.1km (59.1miles)
  • RG1: 181.2km (112.6miles)[3]
Journeytime:
  • R1: 55 min–1 h 50 min
  • RG1: 2 h 55 min–3 h 18 min
Frequency:Every 6 min–4 h
Line Used:
Stock:Civia and 447 Series EMUs
El:3,000 V DC overhead lines
Owners:Adif

The R1 is a line of Rodalies de Catalunya's Barcelona commuter rail service, operated by Renfe Operadora. It runs northwards from the Barcelona area to the southern limits of the province of Girona, passing through the coastal Maresme region. Since 2014, some services have been extended further north towards Portbou, near the French border. These services are designated RG1 and are considered part of the Girona commuter rail service. The line had an annual ridership of 28 million in 2016, achieving an average weekday ridership of 102,214 according to 2008 data.

R1–RG1 trains primarily run on the Barcelona–Mataró–Maçanet-Massanes railway, the first railway line in the Iberian Peninsula.[4] They use the Meridiana Tunnel in Barcelona, where they share tracks with Rodalies de Catalunya's Barcelona commuter rail service lines and, as well as regional rail line, calling at Sants, Plaça de Catalunya and Arc de Triomf stations.[5] R1 services use as their southernmost terminus and as their northernmost one.[6] On the other hand, no RG1 services run south of, or north of .[7]

Together with lines, R3, and R4, the R1 (then simply numbered line 1) started services in 1989 as one of the first lines of the Cercanías commuter rail system for Barcelona, known as Rodalia Barcelona. Originally, R1 services had two southern termini, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Barcelona–El Prat Airport stations. In 2005, all trains terminating at the airport moved their southern terminus to Molins de Rei. In the long-term future, it is projected that the R1 will take over the southern section of line R2, creating a major north–south axis that will extend along the coast of the Barcelona metropolitan area.

History

The current line scheme of the R1 started operating on, after the dismantling of the former route of the Barcelona–Mataró–Maçanet-Massanes railway through the Barcelona neighborhood of Poblenou.[8] [9] Earlier, all the commuter rail services coming from Mataró used the route through Poblenou, terminating at Estació de les Rodalies, a terminus station that was located adjacent to the still existing Estació de França. All services coming from Mataró were then rerouted through the Sagrera rail complex and the Meridiana Tunnel to access Barcelona, terminating at L'Hospitalet de Llobregat or Barcelona–El Prat Airport stations, depending on the station of origin. The services coming from Mataró terminated at the airport, whilst the services coming from north of Mataró terminated at L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. Since the new through line scheme offered more stops within Barcelona and better connections with the city's metro system, the line's ridership doubled. Throughout 1989, this new line scheme was incorporated as part of line 1 of Rodalia Barcelona (predecessor of the R1), the Cercanías commuter rail system for the Barcelona area, created in the same year.

On 4 December 2005, the services between Mataró and the airport were suspended due to the construction works of the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line in Barcelona's southern access, leaving the airport without any direct trains to Barcelona.[10] These services moved their southern terminus from the airport to Molins de Rei, originating the line's current termini. The R1 also started operating as a shuttle line between the airport and El Prat de Llobregat railway station until 22 July 2006,[11] when line was created, providing a direct rail link between the airport and central Barcelona anew.[12]

Infrastructure

Like the rest of Rodalies de Catalunya lines, the R1–RG1 runs on the Iberian gauge mainline railway system, which is owned by Adif, an agency of the Spanish government. All of the railway lines carrying Rodalies de Catalunya services are electrified at 3,000 volts (V) direct current (DC) using overhead lines. The R1–RG1 operates on a total line length of 181.2km (112.6miles), which is entirely double-track, excepting for the single-track section between and stations.[13] The trains on the line call at up to 48 stations, using the following railway lines, in order from south to north:[14]

From To Railway line Route number
(PK 85.3) (PK 95.2) 240
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (PK 95.2) Vilanova Junction (PK 365.4)
220
Vilanova Junction (PK 108.2) Glòries Junction (PK 109.1)
Glòries branch 266
Glòries Junction (PK 109.1) Barcelona Sagrera (PK 112.2) 262
Barcelona Sagrera (PK 0) (PK 75.3) Barcelona–Mataró–Maçanet-Massanes 276
Maçanet-Massanes (PK 175.9) (PK 273.1) 270

The entire length of the Barcelona–Mataró–Maçanet-Massanes railway is solely used by the R1–RG1,[4] though the rest of the infrastructure it uses is shared with other services. South of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, it shares tracks with Rodalies de Catalunya's Barcelona commuter rail service line .[15] Between L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Arc de Triomf stations, R1 and RG1 trains share tracks with commuter rail lines and R4, and regional rail line, using the Meridiana Tunnel through central Barcelona. After Arc de Triomf, they branch off to El Clot-Aragó railway station, running on exclusive tracks from this point on to Maçanet-Massanes.[16] North of Maçanet-Massanes, the R1–RG1 shares tracks with regional line and freight services.[17]

In May 2015, Adif announced that the R1–RG1 would be the first Rodalies de Catalunya line to feature the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) signaling and security system. ERTMS Level 2 will be installed on the 56adj=midNaNadj=mid section between L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and, increasing capacity and reliability parameters.[18]

Operation

There are no end-to-end services between and stations on the R1–RG1, which means only partial services operate on the line. The services commencing or terminating at Molins de Rei do not usually run north of or . On the other hand, most services commencing or terminating at run north of Arenys de Mar, using,,, or Portbou stations as their northern terminus, in order from south to north. Furthermore, since 31 January 2009, there have been no limited services, so that the entirety of R1 and RG1 trains call at all stations. Previously, some R1 trains had operated limited services, skipping,, and stations.[19] The first trains run about 5:00 in the morning, with the latest arriving at about 1:00 at night.

The designation of the services operating on the line depends on the route they operate. The services between Molins de Rei and Maçanet-Massanes are designated R1 in coordination with the rest of Barcelona commuter rail service lines, whilst the services between L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and other stations located further north of Maçanet-Massanes are designated RG1 (the letter 'G' stands for Girona) to indicate that they are part of the Girona commuter rail service. RG1 services began operating on after former R1 services between L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Maçanet-Massanes were extended northwards to Figueres.[20] Since, some of these services have been extended further north to Portbou.[21]

, the service routes operating on the R1–RG1 are as follows:

Line Route No.
of stations
Journey time Days of
operation
class=unsortable Notes
Molins de Rei – Mataró align=right 19 1:091 h 9 min Mon–Fri Calls at all stations along its route. Some trains operated limited service prior to January 2009.
Molins de Rei – Arenys de Mar align=right 22 1:191 h 19 min Mon–Fri
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat – Mataró align=right 15 0:5555 min Daily
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat – Arenys de Mar align=right 18 1:061 h 6 min Mon–Fri
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat – Calella align=right 21 1:211 h 21 min Mon–Fri
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat – Blanes align=right 25 1:371 h 37 min Daily
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat – Maçanet-Massanes align=right 27 1:501 h 50 min Daily
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat – Figueres align=right 40 2:552 h 55 min Mon–Fri Calls at all stations along its route.
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat – Portbou align=right 44 3:183 h 18 min Mon–Fri

The line's activity gathers on the section between L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Mataró, where a peak-time frequency of 6 minutes has been offered since 26 June 2011, that is the highest on any line of the Rodalies de Catalunya system.[22] The service frequency reduces as the line moves away from Barcelona, especially on the section north of Maçanet-Massanes, where only RG1 services operate on weekdays, and which is already served by regional rail line .[23] Moreover, the R1 does not operate south of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat on weekends, when this section is solely served by Barcelona commuter rail service line .[24]

, the approximate service frequencies on the R1–RG1 are as follows:

SectionFrequency
data-sort-type="number" data-sort-type="number" data-sort-type="number" data-sort-type="number"
Molins de Rei – L'Hospitalet de Llobregat align=right 30′ align=right 30′ align=right 30′ align=center
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat – Mataró align=right 6′ align=right 10′ align=right 12′ align=right 15′
Mataró – Arenys de Mar align=right 6′ align=right 10′ align=right 30′ align=right 30′
Arenys de Mar – Calella align=right 15′ align=right 30′ align=right 30′ align=right 30′
Calella – Blanes align=right 15′ align=right 30′ align=right 30′ align=right 30′
Blanes – Maçanet-Massanes align=right 30′ align=right 60′ align=right 60′ align=right 60′
Maçanet-Massanes – Figueres align=right 120′ align=right 120′ align=right 120′ align=center rowspan=2
Figueres – Portbou align=right 240′ align=right 240′ align=right 240′

The trains used on the R1–RG1 are Civia—specifically, the 463, 464 and 465 Series, which consist of three, four and five cars per set, respectively—and 447 Series electrical multiple units (EMU).[25] Civia trains have been running on the line since July 2006, initially only operating services between Molins de Rei and Calella.[26] On average, these trains operate a total of 216 services on the line every day on weekdays, accounting for a ridership of 102,214, according to 2008 data.

Future

The 2008–2015 Rail Infrastructure Master Plan for the Barcelona Commuter Rail Service, developed by the Spanish Ministry of Public Works and Transport, plans to establish a "coast-to-coast" and "inland-to-inland" line scheme. According to this project, the current R1 will be extended southwards from to stations, via, taking over the southern section of the present line . The R1 will become the "coast-to-coast" line, creating a new major south–north axis along the coast of the Barcelona metropolitan area. R1 trains will continue to use the Meridiana Tunnel in central Barcelona with the new line scheme, which is currently not possible due to the configuration of the southern rail accesses to Barcelona Sants. A long-term project with an uncertain completion date, the new configuration would require multimillion-euro investments since it is associated with the construction of a new underground route in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat for the Rodalies de Catalunya lines running through the city as well as the new rail link for Barcelona–El Prat Airport.

As stated in the master plan, the proposed peak-time service frequencies for the future R1 would be as follows:

Section
Sant Vicenç de Calders – Vilanova i la Geltrú align=right 6
Vilanova i la Geltrú – align=right 12
Mataró – align=right 6
Blanes – align=right 3

List of stations

The following table lists the name of each station served by line R1–RG1 in order from south to north; the station's service pattern offered by R1 and/or RG1 trains; the transfers to other Rodalies de Catalunya lines, including both commuter and regional rail services; remarkable transfers to other transport systems; the municipality in which each station is located; and the fare zone(s) each station belongs to according to the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM Àrea de Barcelona) and the Autoritat Territorial de la Mobilitat de l'Àrea de Girona (ATM Àrea de Girona) fare-integrated public transport systems,[27] [28] as well as Rodalies de Catalunya's own fare zone system for Barcelona commuter rail service lines.[29]

Terminal of a service
Transfer station to other transport systems
Transfer station and terminal
Station served by all trains running through it
Limited service station
scope=col rowspan=2 Stationscope=col colspan=2 Servicescope=col rowspan=2 Rodalies de Catalunya transfersscope=col rowspan=2 Other transfersscope=col rowspan=2 Municipalityscope=col colspan=3 Fare zone
scope=col R1scope=col RG1scope=col scope=col scope=col
scope=row style="background: #C0C0C0;" align=center align=center align=center align=center 2B align=center align=center 2
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center 1 align=center align=center 2
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center 1 align=center align=center 1
scope=row style="background: #FFFF99;" Cornellàalign=center align=center Barcelona Metro line 5
Trambaix light rail services
align=center 1 align=center align=center 1
scope=row style="background: #FFE6BD;" align=center align=center ,, align=center 1 align=center align=center 1
scope=row style="background: #FFFF99;" align=center align=center ,,,,,,,,,, Renfe Operadora-operated high-speed and long-distance rail services
TGV high-speed rail services
Barcelona Metro lines 3 and 5 at Sants Estació station
National and international coach services
align=center 1 align=center align=center 1
scope=row style="background: #FFFF99;" Barcelona Plaça de Catalunyaalign=center align=center ,, Barcelona Metro lines 1, 3, 6 and 7
Vallès Metro commuter rail services
align=center 1 align=center align=center 1
scope=row style="background: #FFFF99;" Barcelona Arc de Triomfalign=center align=center ,, align=center 1 align=center align=center 1
scope=row style="background: #FFFF99;" Barcelona El Clot-Aragóalign=center align=center ,, align=center 1 align=center align=center 1
scope=row style="background: #FFFF99;" align=center align=center align=center Trambesòs light rail services align=center 1 align=center align=center 1
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 1 align=center align=center 1
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 1 align=center align=center 1
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 1 align=center align=center 1
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 2E align=center align=center 2
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 2E align=center align=center 2
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 2E align=center align=center 3
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 2E align=center align=center 3
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 2E align=center align=center 3
scope=row style="background-color:#C0C0C0;" align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 3E align=center align=center 4
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 3E align=center align=center 4
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 3E align=center align=center 4
scope=row style="background-color:#C0C0C0;" align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 4H align=center align=center 4
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 4H align=center align=center 4
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 4H align=center align=center 5
scope=row style="background-color:#C0C0C0;" align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 4H align=center align=center 5
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 4H align=center align=center 5
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 5H align=center align=center 5
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 5H align=center align=center 5
scope=row style="background-color:#FFE6BD;" align=center align=center align=center align=center 5H align=center align=center 6
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 5H align=center align=center 6
scope=row style="background: #C0C0C0;" align=center align=center , align=center align=center 6G align=center 6 align=center 6
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 6 align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 6, 7 align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 1 align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 1 align=center
scope=row style="background: #FFFF99;" align=center align=center Renfe Operadora-operated high-speed rail services
TGV high-speed rail services
National and international coach services
align=center align=center 1 align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 1, 2 align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 2 align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 2 align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center 2 align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
scope=row style="background: #C0C0C0;" align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
scope=row align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
scope=row style="background: #FFE6BD;" align=center align=center Intercités long-distance rail services
TER Languedoc-Roussillon regional rail services
align=center align=center align=center

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Línia R1 . Line R1 . ca . Rodalies de Catalunya . . 15 August 2015.
  2. Web site: Renfe ha transportat 117 milions de viatgers als serveis de Rodalies de Catalunya . ca . Renfe has obtained a ridership of 117 million on the Rodalies de Catalunya system . . 20 January 2017 . Rodalies de Catalunya . . 4 February 2017 .
  3. Web site: Borràs . Bernat . Línia RG1 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat - Figueres/Portbou per Mataró i Girona . Line RG1 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat - Figueres/Portbou via Mataró and Girona . ca . trenscat.cat . 2 August 2015 .
  4. Web site: Borràs . Bernat . Xarxa de via ampla - XC01. Línia Barcelona-Mataró-Blanes-Maçanet . Broad gauge system - XC01. Barcelona-Mataró-Blanes-Maçanet line . ca . trenscat.cat . 1 August 2015 .
  5. . Rodalies de Catalunya . Xarxa Rodalies de Catalunya . Rodalies de Catalunya System . ca . PDF . 7 August 2015.
  6. Web site: Schedule of line R1 . Rodalies de Catalunya . . 23 June 2014.
  7. Web site: Schedule of line RG1 . Rodalies de Catalunya . . 20 June 2014.
  8. News: . 19 May 1989 . Renfe cierra la estación de Cercanías y el tren ya llega desde Mataró hasta el centro de Barcelona . Renfe shuts down Cercanías station and trains are already running from Mataró to central Barcelona . es . 32 . . Sant Adrià de Besòs . 26 April 2015 .
  9. News: Sierra . Lluís . V. Aroca . Jaume . 27 May 1989 . Los Juegos Olímpicos cumplen su primer objetivo de ganar playas y acercar el Maresme a Barcelona . The Olympic Games fulfill the objectives of gaining beach access and getting El Maresme closer to Barcelona . es . 20 . . Barcelona . 26 April 2015 .
  10. News: . 2 December 2005 . Sense tren directe entre Sants i l'aeroport per les obres del TAV . No direct trains between Barcelona Sants and the airport due to the high-speed train construction works . ca . La Xarxa . 5 August 2015 .
  11. Martínez Sánchez . José Antonio . June 2006 . Anàlisi de la xarxa ferroviària de la RMB . Study on the railway system in the Barcelona metropolitan area . ca . Thesis . Inventari del sistema ferroviari de viatgers . Inventory of the passenger rail system . 38 . . 7 August 2015.
  12. Web site: 20 July 2006 . Renfe restablece conexión Barcelona-Aeropuerto . es . Renfe reestablishes Barcelona–Airport link . EuroFerroviarios . 26 April 2015.
  13. Web site: Borràs . Bernat . Línia R1 Molins de Rei - Maçanet-Massanes per Mataró . Line R1 Molins de Rei - Maçanet-Massanes via Mataró . ca . trenscat.cat . 1 August 2015 .
  14. Web site: Listado de líneas y estaciones . List of railway lines and stations . es . . 27 June 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131018003206/https://sede.fomento.gob.es/NR/rdonlyres/4A8F0821-A4B6-4EB0-9F1C-BF4100B2BF77/68661/Ayuda_lineas_Estaciones.pdf . 18 October 2013 . dmy-all .
  15. Web site: Borràs . Bernat . Xarxa de via ampla - XC03. Línia Barcelona-Vilafranca-Tarragona. Broad gauge system - XC03. Barcelona-Vilafranca-Tarragona line . ca . trenscat.cat . 1 August 2015 .
  16. Web site: Borràs . Bernat . Xarxa de via ampla - XC15. Estacions i línies de la ciutat de Barcelona . Broad gauge system - XC15. Stations and lines in the city of Barcelona . ca . trenscat.cat . 1 August 2015 .
  17. Web site: Borràs . Bernat . Xarxa de via ampla - XC02. Línia Barcelona-Girona-Portbou . Broad gauge system - XC02. Barcelona-Girona-Portbou line . ca . trenscat.cat . 1 August 2015 .
  18. Fomento invertirá 92,9 millones de euros en la implantación del ERTMS en el primer tramo de la red de Cercanías de Barcelona . The Ministry of Public Works and Transport will invest 92.9 million euro in the implementation of the ERTMS on the first stretch of the Barcelona commuter rail system . es . . 29 May 2015 . 2 August 2015.
  19. Adif inicia la segunda fase de las obras de la línea de alta velocidad en el entorno de la estación de Sant Andreu Comtal . Adif commences the second phase of the construction works of the high-speed rail line near Sant Andreu Comtal station . Sala de prensa . es . . 22 January 2009 . 15 August 2015.
  20. Girona estrena servei de rodalia el 24 de març amb connexió directa entre Figueres, Girona, Blanes i Mataró . Starting on 24 March, Girona has for the first time a commuter rail service providing a direct link between Figueres, Girona, Blanes and Mataró . Sala de premsa . ca . . 19 March 2014 . 20 June 2014.
  21. Territori i Sostenibilitat reforça la rodalia del Camp de Tarragona i la de Girona amb noves parades a partir d'aquest divendres . The Department of Public Works has reinforced the Camp de Tarragona and the Girona commuter rail services with new stops starting on Friday . Sala de premsa . ca . . 18 June 2014 . 20 June 2014.
  22. News: García i Aranzueque . Raül . 5 May 2011 . R8: Nova línia de rodalies . R8: New commuter rail line . ca . . Montgat . 26 April 2014 .
  23. Web site: Borràs . Bernat . Línia R11 Barcelona Sants - Portbou per Granollers Centre i Girona . Line R11 Barcelona Sants - Portbou via Granollers Centre and Girona . ca . trenscat.cat . 12 August 2015 .
  24. Web site: Borràs . Bernat . Línia R4 Sant Vicenç de Calders - Manresa per Vilafranca del Penedès . Line R4 Sant Vicenç de Calders - Manresa via Vilafranca del Penedès . ca . trenscat.cat . 18 August 2015 .
  25. Web site: Línia RG1 . Line RG1 . ca . Rodalies de Catalunya . . 17 August 2015.
  26. Ureña Piñol . Albert . February 2010 . Modificación del trazado de la línea C1 de RENFE. Estudio de Viabilidad. . Modification of the route of RENFE line C1. Viability study. . es . Thesis . Memoria . Statements . 13 . . 7 August 2015.
  27. . Integrated Railway Network . PDF . August 2013 . 26 June 2014 .
  28. Web site: . Transport zones . 14 February 2015 .
  29. . Rodalies de Catalunya . 20 July 2015 . Servei de rodalia de Barcelona . Barcelona commuter rail service . ca . PDF . 7 August 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151005082237/http://rodalies.gencat.cat/web/.content/mapes/Mapa_Rodalia_Barcelona.pdf . 5 October 2015 . dmy-all .