A seven-week closure of the Rubí rail tunnel (a 900-metre passage near Barcelona that serves as the primary freight rail link between eastern Spain, France, and the rest of Europe) has triggered a severe bottleneck in container traffic, forcing operators to transfer cargo to trucks and driving up transport costs by more than 20%. The tunnel was shut on 12 March due to water infiltration caused by chronic underinvestment in Catalonia's rail infrastructure, and the only alternative route — a 330-kilometre detour via Lleida adding five extra hours — has been deemed unworkable by freight companies. Industry groups estimate that over 1,450 freight trains will be affected across the closure period, with the Association of Private Rail Companies warning of millions of euros in losses and flagging that some customers have permanently switched to road transport, damaging the reputation of the Port of Barcelona and the broader Spanish rail freight network.