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2004 © Robert Schwandl
Barcelona Metro Projects |
In May 1999, finally a new master plan for metro and light rail lines in the Barcelona metropolitan area was approved by the ATM (Autoritat del Transport Metropolità), which included some 50 km of new lines to be built within 10 years. In the meantime, several new projects were added and many modified (sections under construction in bold type):
L1 |
Northern
extension: 3.4 km from Fondo to Badalona Centre, with three intermediate
stations: Possible southern extension from Hospital de Bellvitge via El Prat de Llobregat (L9) towards Sant Boi. |
L2 |
1-station extension from Pep Ventura to Badalona Centre (L1) - construction began in autumn 2004 for possible completion in 2010. The 800 m section is being built by cut-and-cover. Later an extension to Morera may be added. From Morera a tram-type line will reach Can Ruti hospital. A southern extension has been planned for decades now, but once the target of building it for the 1992 Olympics was missed it has been postponed time and again, although it is still actively being pursued: 5.2
km with 5 new stations: There is an option to add another 2.8 km and link L2 directly to L9 at Parc Logístic, with the two lines sharing tracks from there to the Airport. |
L3 |
Many
proposals have appeared in the past for a southern extension from Zona
Universitària. The currently envisaged route runs via Esplugues and Sant
Joan Despí to Sant Feliu de Llobregat (8.6 km, 9 stations): |
L4 |
To be extended from La Pau to the planned Sagrera AVE Railway Station (L9/10) and to Sagrera-Meridiana (L1, L5, L9/10). The new section will include an intermediate station at Santander/Rambla Prim. The tunnel between La Pau and this point already exists and is used to access the metro depot at Triangle Ferroviari. |
L5 |
A northern extension from Horta to Vall d'Hebron (L3) via Carmel and Teixonera-Coll (2.5 km). All 3 new stations will be among the deepest on the Barcelona metro network due to the mountainous relief of the area. Whereas the other two will lie some 30-40 m deep, Teixonera-Coll will be 70 m underground. Here an inclined lift parallel to the escalators is planned. Construction began in Nov. 2002, but after a collapse of a service tunnel construction is severely delayed (2010). Along the existing line, between Collblanc and Pubilla Cases, a new station is being built, called Cardenal Reig, which will provide transfer to the Trambaix (2010). |
L6 |
2.6 km extension from Reina Elisenda to Finestrelles-Sant Joan de Déu on the planned L3 extension, with two intermediate stations at Monestir de Pedralbes and Universitats. |
L7 |
no imminent plans |
L8 |
The Metro del Baix Llobregat (FGC line terminating at Plaça Espanya) may be extended into the city centre via Hospital Clínic to Plaça Francesc Macià and eventually to Gràcia where it might get connected to line L7 Av. Tibidabo. Line L8 would serve the urban stretch like a metro. |
L9 |
The master plan includes a new line, which will run like a semicircle line from the airport and Passeig de la Zona Franca to Zona Universitària, further on to Sarrià and Lesseps and via Guinardó and Sagrera-Meridiana to the planned Sagrera AVE Railway Station. Then north to Bon Pastor and under the Besòs river splitting into two branches, one to Santa Coloma (Can Zam) and one to Badalona (Gorg - L2). Construction from Sagrera-Meridiana (L1, L5) north to Can Zam and Gorg began in late 2001. L9/10 is being excavated by tunnel boring machines at great depth, with a 12 m diameter tunnel, which allows trains to run on top of each other. Also stations will be located inside this tunnel and be accessible by lifts. The line will be operated in driverless mode and the stations are therefore equipped with platform screen doors. The Zona Franca leg in the south will be elevated. The project has repeatedly been modified, especially in the airport area. The first section of this 46.6 km long line was due to open in 2005 from Fondo to Can Zam, but the first section was only brough into service in Dec. 2009, with the second of the two northern branches expected for spring 2010. |
L10 |
see L9 |
L11 |
Line 11 is being equipped with platform screen doors in preparation for its conversion to driverless operation. |
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Outside Barcelona, both FGC branches (S1 and S2 of the Metro del Vallès) are being extended underground: |
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S1 |
- in Terrassa, from the present underground terminus to Can Roca, with two intermediate stations at UPC Vallparadís and at the existing RENFE station (4.5 km; 2010). |
S2 |
- in Sabadell, from a point west of the present surface station Sabadell-Estació via the city centre and RENFE's Sabadell Nord station at Pl. d'Espanya to Ca n’Oriac (4.2 km; 2011). The existing tunnel from Sabadell-Estació to Sabadell-Rambla will be abandoned. - More details here |
Although this master plan is the official guideline for the development of the rapid transit network in and around Barcelona, only the future will show whether politicians stick to it. A very similar plan was already approved in 1971 for the following 8 years to create a network of 111km and 142 stations. 30 years later, the Barcelona Metro has reached 83.5 km. Click here to see the 1971 Metro Plan.
For project updates click here.
2004 © Robert Schwandl