The renovation works at Sants station in Barcelona will transform the infrastructure's operation, increasing its surface area and creating new spaces. The most notable change will be for high-speed rail, whose capacity will nearly triple with an expansion towards Plaça dels Països Catalans. This improvement includes separating arrival and departure flows, as well as adding new floors to the existing building.
The Rodalia (commuter rail) hall will also see a substantial upgrade, with an 85% increase in capacity. Concurrently, access from Plaça dels Països Catalans will be closed for two years starting from late September, coinciding with the launch of the new access from the sea side. Works in the square will conclude this year, while those on the halls are expected to be completed by 2028.
The renovation's objective is to provide the station with greater capacity and a more open design, organized in a grid with two main corridors. High-speed rail will concentrate arrivals on the mountain side, near Plaça dels Països Catalans, and departures in the current location, thus occupying half of the station and adopting an airport-like organization.
The terminal will gain height, reaching up to four floors. The main hall will house access controls and the boarding area, while the upper floors will be designated for waiting rooms, offices, and technical spaces. Access to the second floor will be enabled, also accessible for taxis via an external ramp.
Regarding Rodalia, the hall's expansion, which will remain in its current location, will extend towards Plaça dels Països Catalans, increasing capacity by 85%. In the future, a new direct access with an additional line of ticket gates will be added.
The renovation also plans for a 15% increase in the general hall's surface area and a 40% rise in space for customer service points, which will be located on the sea side, near Plaça de Joan Peiró.
By the end of September, the new access from the sea side will open, and entrances from Plaça dels Països Catalans will be closed for two years. Before the year's end, the new access from the mountain side will also be inaugurated. Accesses from Plaça Joan Peiró and the metro connection will remain operational.
Restoration works for Plaça dels Països Catalans, including pavement and original element renewal, will conclude this year. However, the direct connection with the station will not be restored until the hall expansion is finished.
The total investment for the Sants renovation, encompassing the station's reform, the square's restoration, and the surrounding area's reorganization, exceeds 150 million euros. The first phase, scheduled for completion in 2028, will not impact rail traffic.
