Improving communication is one of the great challenges that Rodalies faces in the coming years. The transfer agreement to the Generalitat diagnoses this. Probably for this reason, when Renfe had to appoint a new director of Rodalies, only one name came to mind: Antonio Carmona.
The until now head of communication for the public company in Catalonia has been appointed as the new director of Rodalies de Catalunya, replacing Mayte Castillo. The handover will become official on April 1 after receiving approval this Tuesday from the railway company's management committee.
Carmona, 47, started as a railway assistant at Renfe in 2000 and has worked in the communications department for 20 years. Between 2007 and 2012 and from 2017 to the present he has been the top person in charge in Catalonia, also combining it since 2021 with responsibilities in national communication for Renfe itself. In every Rodalies crisis – and there are quite a few – he has been the voice on the other end of the phone for radio, television and the press.
The railway company spokesperson has earned the respect of the journalism sector in recent years. He has always answered the phone to journalists, regardless of whether the outlet was big or small and whether it was Wednesday noon or Saturday night. He is one of the few figures who generates unanimity about his good work among a group full of peculiarities.
His good work has even been recognized by the Col·legi de Periodistes, which at an awards ceremony had him go on stage twice in the same night: on the one hand as a finalist for an award that rewarded someone who facilitates journalistic work and on the other to collect the prize that punished Renfe and Adif for the poor railway service.
Good words about him are also found among mayors, councilors and even those responsible for the Territori department, the titular administration of the Rodalies service. A former senior official of the Generalitat even said that the first thing he would ask for if they achieved the transfer of Rodalies would be Carmona.
For her part, Mayte Castillo, who has been at the head of Rodalies for the last six years, will go on to direct the Museu del Ferrocarril de Catalunya, in Vilanova i la Geltrú, in the place of the veteran Pilar Garcia, who is retiring after 25 years in that position.
