Barcelona Metro · Lablypedia

Barcelona has 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 on 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. It uses spare power from its regenerative braking to power charging stations in the vicinity of its infrastructure.

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 (named after the Metropolitan Railway, 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.

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Network

As of early 2020, the total length of the network, including both the sections operated by TMB and FGC, as well as the Montjuïc Funicular, is 166 km (103 mi) long with 189 stations.

The main part of the 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.

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:

In addition to those, Renfe and FGC trains and the increasingly important tram routes (Trambaix, Trambesòs) 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

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 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.

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 on the Barcelona Metro. These are:

Airport Ticket, is a one-way ticket for a journey between Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 stations on metro line L9 Sud and the rest of the metro network. Standard metro tickets such as single tickets are not valid for a trip to the airport.
T casual, which includes ten rides at a discounted price
T usual, unlimited journeys made in 30 consecutive days from the first use
T-16, unlimited journeys for children below 16

All of the metro stations are within fare zone 1.

Stations

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 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, L8, and L12) 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

In popular culture

The Spanish psychological horror film Estación Rocafort prominently features the Barcelona metro, with the Rocafort station serving as a key setting for much of the plot. The movie draws inspiration from the dark legend surrounding the Rocafort Station. Directed by Luis Prieto, the film stars Natalia Azahara alongside Javier Gutiérrez, Valèria Sorolla and Albert Baró.