The mayor of Colmenar Viejo, Carlos Blázquez, accompanied by the Councilor for Mobility, Isabel Álvarez, recently met with Renfe executives, including the Director General of Institutional Relations, José Luis Blanco, and the Director of Cercanías Madrid, Sonia Ferrero. The primary objective of the meeting was to convey the residents' deep dissatisfaction with the persistent problems plaguing the commuter train service.
Users of the C4 line, which connects Colmenar Viejo with the capital and other municipalities in the region, daily face constant delays, unexpected cancellations, and inadequate communication from the railway company. These inconveniences directly impact the daily routines of thousands of people who rely on this transport for their work, school, and personal journeys.
This meeting follows months of complaints. In February, the mayor had already sent a letter to the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, denouncing the frequency of these incidents and describing the delays and cancellations as unbecoming of an essential public service. The city council has been gathering resident complaints that highlight how daily life is being conditioned by the service's lack of reliability.
The situation is exacerbated by improvement works on the M-607 road, carried out by the Community of Madrid, which are already causing significant mobility disruptions. In this context, the train should be a robust alternative, but the recurring incidents on the C4 line diminish its credibility as a reliable option.
During the meeting, the City Council presented specific requests to Renfe: increase train frequencies during peak hours, ensure adherence to schedules throughout the rest of the day, and, crucially, improve user communication by providing advance notice of disruptions so travelers can seek alternatives.
“"The residents of Colmenar Viejo cannot continue to endure a railway service marked by daily uncertainty. We need a reliable Cercanías, with sufficient frequencies and clear, transparent user information."
In response, Renfe representatives informed about an official communication channel via WhatsApp, through which users can receive real-time alerts. The City Council will disseminate this information to residents to facilitate their subscription and improve their planning.
The council has emphasized that monitoring this issue will continue, and necessary improvements will be demanded to ensure the commuter rail service meets the expectations of the residents of Colmenar Viejo.
