{"id":8507,"date":"2026-02-03T14:09:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T13:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/climate-vulnerability-of-the-railway-network-a-current-challenge-already-analysed-by-erf-wattega-in-2021\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T10:33:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T09:33:02","slug":"climate-vulnerability-of-the-railway-network-a-current-challenge-already-analysed-by-erf-wattega-in-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/en\/climate-vulnerability-of-the-railway-network-a-current-challenge-already-analysed-by-erf-wattega-in-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate vulnerability of the railway network: a current challenge already analysed by ERF\u2011WATTEGA in 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The large\u2011scale study commissioned by the Catalan Office for Climate Change analyses the impact of climate change on Catalonia\u2019s railway and road infrastructure and proposes adaptation strategies to address the most extreme weather scenarios.<\/h3>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The media outlet <em><a href=\"https:\/\/naciodigital.cat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Naci\u00f3 Digital<\/a><\/em> has recently published <a href=\"https:\/\/naciodigital.cat\/societat\/linies-rodalies-tren-mes-afectades-canvi-climatic-catalunya.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">an extensive report on the train lines most exposed to the impacts of climate change in Catalonia.<\/a> The article highlights vulnerable sections of Rodalies, FGC and AVE, particularly in the face of phenomena such as the intensification of <strong>torrential rainfall, heatwaves, strong wind gusts or rising sea levels. <\/strong>The piece presents the conclusions of a study commissioned by the <strong>Generalitat to ERF\u2011WATTEGA,<\/strong> which has made it possible, for the first time, <strong>to identify in detail the potentially most vulnerable sections of the Catalan road and railway network under the climate scenarios projected for 2050.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This project, developed between 2020 and 2021 by the ERF\u2011WATTEGA team, forms part of the Catalan Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2021\u20112030 (ESCACC30) and was commissioned by the Catalan Office for Climate Change (OCCC). Its objective was clear: <strong>to improve knowledge of the risks, vulnerabilities and adaptation capacities of Catalonia\u2019s land transport infrastructure <\/strong>and thereby contribute to the planning of actions to increase its resilience. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Rodalies_-_Renfe_train_Blanes_-_Barcelona_service_26013119694-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8437\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.8965920611401388\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A pioneering analysis in Catalonia<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study, led by ERF\u2011WATTEGA, extended to the whole of Catalonia a previous report focused on the Integrated Metropolitan Mobility System of Barcelona, carried out in 2020 on behalf of the ATM.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project was based on a detailed analysis of <strong>climate projections, historical impacts on the territory and reference documentation<\/strong> from other regions of the country and from abroad. The regionalised climate scenarios of the ESCAT\u20112020 project of the Catalan Meteorological Service were used and, with the participation of Lobelia Earth, specific projections were generated for additional climate indices. The consultancy Cinesi also contributed its expertise in mobility.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, the work was supported by a technical committee comprising the ATM, the Directorate\u2011General for Mobility Infrastructure, the Directorate\u2011General for Transport, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya and the OCCC.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vulnerability diagnosis and specific mapping<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report identified <strong>17 types of potential impacts <\/strong>on infrastructures, associated with 9 causal climate variables or phenomena. The main climate risks identified include four variables: <strong>high temperatures, heavy precipitation, strong wind gusts and sea level rise.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within the framework of the project, <strong>122 maps<\/strong> were produced which, in addition to including the results of climate projections for the<strong> 2050 horizon<\/strong>, define various risk maps for infrastructures. These identify the sections of the road and railway network potentially most exposed to adverse climate scenarios and also indicate those where the consequences could be more severe due to the high volumes of mobility they support. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a result of this analysis, it was identified that <strong>30% of the network<\/strong> was located in areas where <strong>accumulated rainfall over a single autumn day exceeded 60 mm. <\/strong>Sections such as the R1 in the Maresme, the R3 in Osona and Ripoll\u00e8s, or the R4 in the Vall\u00e8s and Pened\u00e8s were identified as particularly sensitive; many of which appear today in current news coverage. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Posts-LikedIn-horitzontal-5.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8422\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Overflow of the Francol\u00ed River in the regions of Conca de Barber\u00e0 and Les Garrigues in 2019 (Images taken from 3cat, \u00d2scar Riera)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From diagnosis to action: adaptation strategies<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the diagnosis and mapping generated, one of the most valuable contributions of the ERF\u2011WATTEGA study is the proposal of <strong>16 action measures, divided into 26 actions. <\/strong>Among the most noteworthy strategies for Catalonia\u2019s railway infrastructure are the following: <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Improvement of <strong>drainage systems<\/strong> to cope with episodes of intense rainfall.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Installation of monitoring sensors on the infrastructure itself and on surrounding elements, such as embankments, to track changes and extreme conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reinforcement of embankment stability and review of construction parameters in new developments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Physical protection in coastal areas<\/strong> to address sea level rise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use of <strong>materials and equipment resistant to high temperatures.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased solar protection for outdoor facilities (stops, stations, depots and track areas).<br\/><br\/><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adoption of <strong>preventive management and maintenance strategies.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As reported by <em>Naci\u00f3 Digital<\/em>, one of the most relevant conclusions of the report is that <strong>preventive action is far more efficient <\/strong>\u2014 economically (it can reduce costs by two to four times) and operationally \u2014 <strong>than reactive interventions after extreme events,<\/strong> an idea that reinforces the need to apply the knowledge generated.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/pexels-jplenio-3690392-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8425\" style=\"width:1140px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Knowledge at the service of the country<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recent publication by <em>Naci\u00f3 Digital<\/em> highlights the relevance and usefulness of a project that, five years later, continues to be <strong>a benchmark tool for decision\u2011making <\/strong>in the field of mobility and transport. The ERF\u2011WATTEGA study underscores the importance of <strong>moving into action in a context where climate change is already present in everyday life.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With this project, <strong>WATTEGA reaffirms its commitment to sustainability, spatial planning and the resilience of infrastructures in the face of climate change.<\/strong> We will continue working to provide technical and strategic knowledge at a key moment for the country\u2019s future. <\/p>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udd17 Consult <a href=\"https:\/\/canviclimatic.gencat.cat\/ca\/oficina\/publicacions\/vulnerabilitat-de-les-infraestructures-de-transport\">the full report of the ERF\u2011WATTEGA study, commissioned by the Catalan Office for Climate Change (OCCC)<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udd17 Read <a href=\"https:\/\/naciodigital.cat\/societat\/linies-rodalies-tren-mes-afectades-canvi-climatic-catalunya.html\">the Naci\u00f3 Digital article: \u201cCatalonia has identified since 2021 the train lines most vulnerable to climate change\u201d.<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The large\u2011scale study commissioned by the Catalan Office for Climate Change analyses the impact of climate change on Catalonia\u2019s railway and road infrastructure and proposes adaptation strategies to address the most extreme weather scenarios. The media outlet Naci\u00f3 Digital has recently published an extensive report on the train lines most exposed to the impacts of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":8420,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[87],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8507"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8508,"href":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8507\/revisions\/8508"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wattega.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}