A proposal to improve rail mobility in Vallès
The Vallès Oriental- Maresme and Osona CCOO union, together with several Vallès Oriental councils, has proposed that the R8 line be extended and start in Sant Celoni instead of Granollers. They made this known in a press release, where they set out the benefits that this measure would entail for the region and for train users.
According to the union, the Sant Celoni station is one of the most relevant on the R2 line, with a large number of travelers every day. In fact, it is the origin of several trains of the R2 line and, for this reason, from CCOO they consider that it has the potential to also be the starting point of the R8.
A line with little frequency and no connectivity
At the same time, the union asks that the frequencies of the R8 line be increased, which are currently very low. They remember that more than a year ago, in June 2022, the Government of the Generalitat promised to double them, but due to the lack of budget it has not been implemented.
The R8 line is a line that was put into operation in 2011 and that connects Granollers with Martorell. The initial idea was to connect Mataró with Vilanova and la Geltrú without passing through Barcelona. However, this is a line, according to CCOO, half-abandoned by the administration, even though it should be the “backbone” and the main axis of rail mobility in Vallès.
The R8 line provides a lot of service to students who go to the Universitat Autònoma de Bellaterra from towns that now have a very difficult time, not only because of the lack of a direct service, but also because of insufficient frequencies. Granollers, Montmeló and Mollet would also benefit from increased frequencies and improved connectivity with other regions.
