By ashleykaren
A consortium of Ferrovial, including Sacyr, Copisa, and Copcisa, has been committed to developing the Llobregat-Anoia line of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) commuter rail system in Barcelona.
The Catalonia Regional Government’s Territory Department has awarded the contract, which is worth €300 million. The work incorporates constructing a 4-kilometer tunnel and three new stations, plus improving two current stations.
The project aims to enhance and develop public transport coverage in a densely populated area of Barcelona by linking several fundamental facilities such as Hospital Clínic and the industrial engineering school. Once completed, the scheme is envisioned to benefit 19.5 million users yearly.
The work will start at the end of this summer and is expected to finish within five years. The Llobregat-Anoia line extension scheme will link the FGC Vallès and Baix Llobregat-Anoia lines, enhancing service and reducing transit time by an average of 4.5 minutes by avoiding the change trains need. In addition, it will generate opportunities for interconnections as the new stations will provide connections with Barcelona Metro line 5, the light rail system, and other FGC lines.
The lines will be connected through a new 4-kilometer twin-track tunnel to be constructed with a TBM. Moreover, the project comprises building two emergency exits, one at the Consell de Cent and Comte Urgell Streets and the second at the Muntaner and Mariá Cubí Streets intersections.
Also, three new stations will be constructed on the new section of the line, including Hospital Clínic, Francesc Macià, and Gràcia. As reported, the Gràcia and Plaça Espanya stations will be improved. The latter is the terminus of the Llobregat-Anoia line and forms part of one of Barcelona’s main transit interchanges, where several FGC lines and Barcelona Metro lines 1 and 3 converge.
The scheduled work incorporates improving Plaça Espanya station by expanding two of its four tracks, extending the vestibule, and reconfiguring accesses and connections between levels.
Before tunnel excavation work starts, more than 13,500 homes, premises, and parking garages will be studied.
