Although machinery was expected to start working in early February, the esplanade of the old La Sagrera terminal remains quiet. Sources from Adif confirmed that the action “is not imminent,” attributing the delay to bureaucratic issues and the postponement in finalizing the bidding documents for the demolition work.
This postponement has revived citizen opposition to the demolition of the structure, which began construction in 1918 and entered service in 1922. The Promoció del Transport Públic (PTP) platform has filed a request with the Ministry of Culture demanding the initiation of a protection file to preserve the site as part of railway heritage and historical memory.
“"We do not understand why a building like this is not protected or why they want to save it from the wrecking ball. We have already lost many stations of patrimonial interest, such as the one in Sant Feliu de Llobregat."
The PTP has asked the Spanish government to adopt precautionary measures to halt the demolition while the protection request is resolved. This initiative is supported by the Centre d’Estudis del Transport Terminus and the Associació Coordinadora Pro Museu del Transport de Barcelona. Political parties like ERC and Junts have also requested studying the conservation of the building for public use, integrating it into the new urban planning for the area.
Despite the support, the Associació de Veïns i Veïnes de la Sagrera remains pessimistic. Its president, Jaume Matas, noted that while they favor preservation, the operation is complex and might lead to a partial delay in the overall construction of the new intermodal station, recalling previous local cases like the Torre del Fang.
