Adif finishes filling 17-metre sinkhole in Barcelona after rail works, water partially restored; train service still disrupted
Adif filled the 17-metre cavity with 365 m3 of concrete and 1,930 m3 of mortar, then partially restored water to the Rec Comtal irrigation channel. Rail service on lines R2, R2 Nord and R11 remains suspended, forcing passengers to walk between stations in a heat wave.
Sinkhole origins and emergency repairs
On Wednesday 22 July, a ground collapse opened a 17-metre deep, 19-metre diameter sinkhole in Vallbona, near Montcada i Reixac, during rail integration works for the Barcelona-Granollers line. Adif said the sinkhole occurred at a site with complex geology and high water table. Emergency crews worked around the clock, using four concrete plants and 320 truck deliveries to pour 365 m3 of concrete into the base and 1,930 m3 of mortar to fill the cavity. More than 100 workers were directly involved from Wednesday to Saturday. By midday on Saturday 25 July, Adif declared the filling complete and reported that terrain and nearby homes showed no movement or alteration since the collapse. The infrastructure was handed over to Renfe to schedule test runs before restoring service.
- Sinkhole 17 m deep opens during rail works in Vallbona
- Water flow partially restored to Rec Comtal via temporary diversion
- Adif completes filling of sinkhole, hands over to Renfe for test runs
Water canal disruption and partial restoration
The sinkhole also drained part of the Rec Comtal, a historic water channel fed by an aquifer under the Besos river. The water entered the cavity, forcing engineers to interrupt the flow for safety. The drying of the channel killed dozens of fish, disrupted wildlife, and cut off irrigation to the La Ponderosa allotments, the last large agricultural area in Barcelona. By Saturday morning, Adif had installed a temporary diversion to bypass the collapse zone, enabling water to flow again. The company said normal flow would return progressively. This was a priority action to protect the ecosystem and allow farmers to resume irrigation.
Passengers forced to walk between stations
Since the sinkhole, train traffic has been suspended between Montcada i Reixac and Sant Andreu, affecting Rodalies lines R2, R2 Nord and R11. Renfe told passengers to walk from Montcada i Reixac station to Montcada i Reixac-Manresa station to catch line R4 towards Barcelona, a journey that the operator estimates takes four minutes but in reality takes eight to ten. A narrow underpass beneath the tracks struggled to handle the crowds, especially during peak hours. With no replacement bus service, due to roadworks on Meridiana, passengers crowded onto platforms in a heat wave, some unable to board trains. One passenger lost composure and was filmed in an outburst.
Investigation and safety checks
Adif has launched an internal technical investigation into the cause and acknowledged the area's geological and hydrogeological complexity. Prior monitoring and surveys had been carried out, but the company said it will deepen analysis to identify the origin and necessary safety measures. After the fill, additional tests, including penetrometer, seismic and ground-penetrating radar surveys, were conducted on the rail platform. A communication channel with Barcelona city council has been set up to keep Vallbona residents informed.
