Barcelona Metro
Overview
Native nameMetro de Barcelona
OwnerTMB (Lines 1-5, 9-11), FGC (Lines 6-8, 12)
Area servedBarcelona metropolitan area
LocaleBarcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Transit typeRapid transit
Number of lines12 lines (Total)
Number of stations189 (Total)
Daily ridership645,000 [1]
Annual ridership355,560,000 (2018)[2]
Website
Operation
Began operation1863 (1863) (Partial)
1924 (1924) (Full)
Operator(s)TMB (Lines 1-5, 9-11), FGC (Lines 6-8, 12)
Technical
System length
  • Total: 166 km (103.1 mi)
  • TMB: 128.3 km (79.7 mi)
  • FGC: 18.9 km (11.7 mi)
Track gauge
  • 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) for
  • 1,672 mm (5 ft 5+13⁄16 in) for
  • 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) for all other lines
System map

Can Peixauet station (L9 Nord).
Plaça de Catalunya station (L1)
Universitat station (L1)
Gavarra station (L5)
Ticket vending machines at Sants Estació station.

The Barcelona Metro (Catalan and Spanish: Metro de Barcelona)[lower-alpha 1] is a network of rapid transit electrified railway lines that run mostly underground in central Barcelona and into the city's suburbs. It is part of the larger public transport system of Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, Spain, with unified fares under the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM) scheme. As of 2014, the network is operated by two separate companies: Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC). It is made up of 12 lines, combining the lines owned by the two companies. Two lines, L9 and L10, are being built at present, with both lines having different sections of each opened between 2009 and 2018. They are due to be fully completed in 2026.[3] Three lines on the network have opened as automatic train operation/driverless vehicle systems since 2009: Line 11 being converted to driverless first, and then Lines 9 and 10, opening up driverless.

It is one of only two metros worldwide to operate on three different track gauges, being 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge on line 8, 1,672 mm (5 ft 5+13⁄16 in) older Iberian gauge on line 1, and 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge and the remaining lines; the other metro with three gauges being the Toei Subway in Tokyo, which uses two narrow gauges and standard gauge. It is the only metro worldwide to operate on both narrow and broad gauge tracks.

The network length is 170 kilometres (106 mi), with 183 stations, as of November 2021.

History

The first rapid transit railway service in Barcelona was founded in 1863 by the private company Ferrocarril de Barcelona a Sarrià ("Railway from Barcelona to Sarrià", after 1916 Sarrià joined the municipality of Barcelona). Later this line evolved in what now is basically the current L6 metro service. This railway system, now part of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya company, was later inspired by the London Underground naming style having long names for the lines ("Sarrià line", "Balmes line"...).

Much later, in the 1920s, a second and a third rapid transit railway systems were founded with the construction of the Gran Metro between Lesseps and the Plaça de Catalunya (part of the modern L3) and, two years later, the Metro Transversal (now part of L1). This third one was built between the Plaça de Catalunya and la Bordeta to link the city centre with the Plaça d'Espanya and Montjuïc, the site of the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. These two later rapid transit companies contrasted with the first one in being inspired by the Métropolitain de Paris (from where the word "metro" comes).

As of 2022, the network consists of 12 lines managed by 2 different operators: Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC, or Catalan Government Railways). Fares and nomenclature are controlled by the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità, a citywide system that also includes local and regional buses, tramways and some commuter and regional train services.

Network

Since early 2020, the total length of the network is 166 km (103 mi) long and 189 stations, including the TMB+FGC+Montjuïc funicular.

The major network, operated by TMB, consists of eight lines, numbered L1 to L5 and L9 to L11 (which are distinguished on network maps by different colours), covering 102.6 kilometres (63.8 mi) of route and 141 stations.[4]

FGC lines are numbered L6, L7, L8 and L12. These lines, except all of L12 and part of L7, share tracks with commuter rail lines.

The Barcelona Metro lines do not have a name of their own but are generally referred to by their colour or by the number and the names of their termini.

Lines

The lines run as follows:

Line Number Termini Operator Current length Approved length Current stations Approved stations Year of opening Gauge Electrification
 Hospital de Bellvitge-Fondo TMB 20.700 km
12.862 mi		 29.758 km
18.491 mi		 30 38 1926 1,672 mm (5 ft 5+13⁄16 in) 1,500 V DC rigid overhead line
 Paral·lel–Badalona Pompeu Fabra 13.700 km
8.513 mi		 18.466 km
11.474 mi		 18 34 1995 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) 1,200–1,500 V DC rigid overhead line
 Zona Universitària-Trinitat Nova 18.400 km
11.433 mi		 20.024 km
12.442 mi		 26 36 1924 1,200 V DC rigid overhead line
 Trinitat Nova-La Pau 17.300 km
10.750 mi		 18.916 km
11.754 mi		 22 26 1973 (1926)
 Cornellà Centre-Vall d'Hebron 19.168 km
11.910 mi		 27 1959
 Pl. Catalunya-Sarrià FGC 4.884 km
3.035 mi		 8 (2[lower-alpha 2] shared with L7) 1929 (1863) 1,500 V DC overhead line
 Pl. Catalunya-Av. Tibidabo 4.634 km
2.879 mi		 7 (2[lower-alpha 3] shared with L6) 1953 (1863)
 Pl. Espanya-Molí Nou-Ciutat Cooperativa 11.266 km
7.000 mi		 11 21 2000 (1912) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
 Aeroport T1-Zona Universitària TMB 19.600 km
12.179 mi		 47.800 km
29.702 mi		 15 39 2009 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) 1,500 V DC rigid overhead line
La Sagrera-Can Zam 7.867 km
4.888 mi		 9 (3 shared with L10)
 La Sagrera–Gorg 5.570 km
3.461 mi		 47.800 km
29.702 mi}		 6 (3 shared with L9) 33 2010 1,200 V DC rigid overhead line
Collblanc-ZAL-Riu Vell 7.500 km
4.660 mi		 11 (3 shared with L9) 2018
 Trinitat Nova–Can Cuiàs 2.109 km
1.310 mi		 5 2003 1,500 V DC rigid overhead line
 Sarrià–Reina Elisenda FGC 0.600 km
0.373 mi		 3.200 km
1.988 mi		 2 5 2016 (1976)

In addition to those, Renfe and FGC trains and the increasingly important tram routes and stations are displayed on most recent maps, including the info maps in the metro stations, all in a single variety of dark green.

L9 and L10

Details of the capacity of trains.

Construction work is taking place currently on L9/L10, which when finished will run from Badalona and Santa Coloma de Gramenet to the Zona Franca district and El Prat International Airport. The lines, which share a central section between Bon Pastor and Can Tries | Gornal, will be the longest automated metro line in Europe, at 47.8 kilometres (29.7 mi), and combined will have 52 stations. The project was approved in 2000[5] but has been challenged by some technical difficulties and some of their sections are pending further geological analysis. The first section of Line 9 that runs between La Sagrera and Can Zam opened in 2009, and by June 2010 eleven new stations on the new Lines L9 and L10 had opened. As of February 2016, the 15-station, 19.6-kilometre (12.2 mi) south section of Line L9 between Zona Universitària and the airport (Aeroport T1 station) opened.[6]

Rolling stock

Tickets and pricing

In addition to the one-way ticket there are a number of other tickets and cards. All of the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM) transport cards are valid and can be used in the Barcelona Metro. These are:

  • Airport Ticket, is a one-way ticket for the airport stations, only required if travelling with a special airport ticket
  • T casual, which includes ten rides at a discounted price
  • T usual, unlimited journeys made in 30 consecutive days from the first use

All of the metro stations are within fare zone 1.

Stations

TMB (top) and FGC (bottom, old) logos outside Plaça de Catalunya station.
Elevators in Llefià station.
Llefià station (L10 Nord).

At the end of 2018, there are 187 operational stations in the Barcelona Metro, served by the 12 lines in current use. The average distance between 2 stations is 807.50 metres.

An overwhelming majority of stations in the network lack related buildings or structures aboveground, mostly consisting of an access with stairs, escalators or elevators. The official TMB metro indicator, a red rhombus with a M inside, remains unused by FGC lines, which use their company logo and a different rhombus-shaped logo (actually rather similar to the one used inside the Madrid Metro) inside stations. Below ground their decoration is remarkably sober, with the exception of all the new stations.

Disused stations

A number of stations in the network have been closed, were never inaugurated, or have been moved to a nearby location. See the main article for more details.

Accessibility

Accessibility for passengers with reduced mobility is nearing completion. As of April 2022, 8 out of 192 stations are not fully accessible.
The non accessible stations are:

  • Ciutadella | Vila Olímpica (L4)
  • Clot (L1)
  • Espanya (L1/L3) - The FGC Plaça Espanya station (L8 and suburban lines) is accessible.
  • Maragall (L4/L5)
  • Plaça de Sants (L1/L5)
  • Urquinaona (L1/L4)
  • Verdaguer (L4/L5)
  • Virrei Amat (L5)

Lines L2, L6, L7, L8, L9 Nord, L9 Sud, L10 Nord, L10 Sud, L11 and L12 are fully accessible.

Non accessible connections (in both directions):

  • Catalunya L1/Rodalies (commuter/regional) to/from L3/FGC (metro L6/L7 and commuter)
  • Passeig de Gràcia L2/L4 to/from L3/Rodalies (commuter/regional)
  • Clot L1 to L2 in both directions (the Clot L2 station is accessible).
  • Ciutadella | Vila Olímpica L4 to/from Trambesòs

For up to date info check the official sites of TMB and FGC

Transportation in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona

The Barcelona Metro is part of a larger transportation network, regulated and fare-integrated by Autoritat del Transport Metropolità.

Among these services, there are two large systems which operate both inside and outside the city limits of Barcelona: the commuter train lines operated by Renfe, amalgamated in the Rodalies Barcelona, or Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya lines which start in the metro lines the company operates (L6, L7 and L8) and which become a fully-fledged railway system which serves most of the metropolitan area: list of FGC lines. FGC is developing metros for Sabadell and Terrassa - see Barcelona–Vallès Line.

Network map

See also

Barcelona Metro topics

Rapid transit in Barcelona

Other metro systems in Spain

Notes

  1. ↑ Local pronunciation:
    • Catalan: [ˈmɛtɾu ðə βəɾsəˈlonə]
    • Spanish: [ˈmetɾo ðe βaɾθeˈlona]
  2. ↑ In Plaça Catalunya and Provença stations share the same tracks, but not in Gràcia
  3. ↑ In Plaça Catalunya and Provença stations share the same tracks, but not in Gràcia

References

  1. ↑ "Discover how Barcelona organizes its Metro".
  2. ↑ "Metropolitan Transport Authority – ATM" (PDF). ATM.cat. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  3. ↑ "El tramo central de la línea 9 de metro prepara su reactivación". La Vanguardia. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  4. ↑ "Transport in figures – Basic transport data". TMB. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2014. – length of TMB lines.
  5. ↑ "News article" (PDF). people.reed.edu.
  6. ↑ "Driverless metro reaches Barcelona airport". Railway Gazette International. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
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