The Sants station in Barcelona has begun a transformation of its surroundings aimed at gaining space and creating a more user-friendly infrastructure. The first phase of works, starting in February 2025, will involve expanding the part of the station adjacent to the Plaça dels Països Catalans. This will lead to the closure of this access point for two years, relocating the main entrance to Plaça de Joan Peiró.
The new design includes an open building with transparent facades to maximize natural light. The Plaça dels Països Catalans will be renovated and surrounded by green areas. The space dedicated to high-speed, commuter, and long-distance travelers will increase by over 30%, with new access points for bicycles, scooters, and pedestrians.
La Sagrera station is also under construction. Adif expects the railway works to be completed by the end of this year, with the aim of high-speed trains and passengers using the station from 2032. Subsequently, a linear park will be developed over the tracks, becoming Barcelona's largest artificial park.
Other stations such as El Clot and Fabra i Puig are also awaiting major transformations, although the projects are still in the drafting phase. Adif plans to invest over two million euros to modernize them, improving comfort, accessibility, and safety.
These actions are part of the Transformem Rodalies plan. For Fabra i Puig, the outdoor bicycle parking area will also be remodeled. Additionally, at stations like Fabra i Puig, pavements, lighting systems, and false ceilings are being renovated as part of Renfe's A punt plan, involving investments of around 300,000 euros in various stations across Catalonia.
“"We are very aware that we are not at the level of excellence we would like in the commuter rail sector and we ask for the necessary progressive collaboration and improvement to reach a level of reliability and subsequently excellence."
The ownership of the stations is shared between Renfe and Adif, and the Catalan government calls for collaboration in their maintenance and improvement.
