Chronology

The Great Metro

The company Gran Metropolità de Barcelona, ​​SA is formed, made up of Tramvies de Barcelona, ​​SA, Ferrocarrils de Catalunya, SA, and the banks Vizcaya, Hispano Colonial and Arnús-Garí. At the end of the year, work begins on the section between Lesseps and Liceu.

Start of the Transversal works

King Alfonso XIII presides over the start of the works on the Transversal in Plaça d’Espanya.

Building permit

The Barcelona City Council approves the ordinance that allows the execution of works on the section of the Transversal line between La Bordeta and Catalunya.

Lesseps–Catalunya

The Gran Metro opens the first four stations on the section between Lesseps and Catalunya. In addition to these, the Diagonal and Aragó stations (currently Passeig de Gràcia) open.

Fontana

The Fontana station of the Gran Metro opens, located between Diagonal and Lesseps.

Liceu

The Liceu station opens, the first expansion of the Gran Metro.

Bordeta–Catalunya

The Transversal finally inaugurates the first section of its line between Bordeta and Plaça de Catalunya. Nine stations which, in addition to the previous two, include Mercat Nou, Sants, Hostafrancs, Espanya, Rocafort, Urgell and Universitat.

Aragó–Jaume I

The Gran Metro launches the second branch of its line, which connects Aragó with Jaume I. Urquinaona station also enters service. The two branches branch off below Aragó.

The Transversal grows

The transversal line opens the Santa Eulàlia station, in Hospitalet de Llobregat and, on the other hand, also puts Urquinaona and Triomf Nord (today Arc de Triomf) into service. That same year, the train company Ferrocarrils del Nord opens a macrostation in Catalonia, so that passengers coming from France can connect with the Transversal metro line.

Marina

Transversal opens the Marina station thanks to a loan granted two years earlier by Barcelona City Council. The latest expansions and the increase in passengers have put on the table the need to increase rolling stock and, therefore, to carry out new investments.

Correus

The Gran Metro opens the Correus station (now closed) on its second branch. It enters service, but with only one track. It will have to wait eight years to have two.

The Spanish Civil War breaks out.

On the night of July 17-18, part of the army, with the support of sectors of the population, revolted against the Republican government. The coup failed and a civil war broke out that destroyed the country and paralyzed the growth of the metro. During the conflict, a workers’ committee took control of the service. With many men at the front, women took on jobs that had previously been forbidden, such as train drivers, train conductors and stationmasters.

National troops enter Barcelona

The entry of Francoist troops into Barcelona marks a turning point for the city’s metro. A large part of the staff is exiled or retaliated against, and women who had taken on new responsibilities during the war are once again relegated to tasks considered appropriate for their gender according to the regime’s ideology.

The Transversal, inside RENFE

The Railway Management Bases Law comes into force, which, among other measures, repealed all concessions with Spanish track gauge, including those of the Transversal. The Ministry of Public Works ordered the company to close its accounting books and arranged for the State to rescue the concession. Finally, after a long process, the company was able to take over the operation again.

Fernando

Despite the post-war economy that the country was experiencing and the problems in the electricity supply, the Gran Metro extended its first branch by 122 meters to Ferran (a station that has now disappeared). The Transversal presented the Sagrera-Sant Andreu extension project to the Ministry of Public Works, but did not obtain financing to begin construction work.

Marina–El Clot

The Transversal inaugurates a new section of its line. These are two stations, Glòries and Clot. The works had begun on October 25, 1948, coinciding with the centenary of the first railway, between Barcelona and Mataró.

The State intervenes

A ministerial order determines that the State is responsible for the infrastructure works of the metro lines.

Navas

Inauguration of a new Transversal station: Navas.

La Sagrera

The Transversal continues its path towards Besòs with the opening of La Sagrera station.

Fabra i Puig

With the opening of the Fabra i Puig station, the Transversal completes the ten kilometers of line that were maintained for fourteen years.

Start of municipalization

Barcelona City Council opens the file to municipalize and merge the Transversal and Gran Metro companies.

The beginning of a connection

A corridor connecting the Plaça Catalunya stations of the Gran Metro and the Transversal is inaugurated. It is the first step towards the creation of a single metropolitan network.

Investment Law

The central government promulgates a law according to which the Barcelona City Council will assume the superstructural expenses of the lines approved in the future. The State will take charge of the infrastructures.

Municipal Public Transport

The public company that would manage all the transport services of the Ciutat Comtal is created: Transportes Públicos Municipalizados (TPM).

New La Sagrera–Vilapicina line

Line 2 (today L5) enters service. The driving is automated: the trains operate using photoelectric cells. It is two kilometers long and includes the stations La Sagrera, Congrés, Maragall, Virrei Amat and Vilapicina.

Public rescue

The Transversal and Gran Metro companies adapt their statutes to the regime foreseen for private municipal companies. The City Council redeems all the shares and becomes the sole owner of the share capital.

Merger agreement

Agreement for the company Ferrocarril Metropolitano de Barcelona (Transversal) to absorb the company Gran Metropolitano de Barcelona SA (GMB). The two merged companies will form a new company called Ferrocarril Metropolitano de Barcelona SA-SPM (FCMB)

Municipalization

The merger process of the Transversal and the Gran Metro concludes.

Expansion plan

The Barcelona Transport Coordinating Commission approves an emergency plan that foresees the extension of the old Transversal and Gran Metro lines, as well as the creation of a new line.

Metro for the whole city

The Barcelona Transport Coordinating Commission approves the study commissioned a year earlier in a report to develop a metro network to “serve the entire city of Barcelona.” On July 22, the Council of Ministers ratifies the study.

Horta

Line 2 (today L5) extends to Horta.

Fabra i Puig–Torras i Bages

Line 1 continues its extension towards Besòs with the entry into service of the Sant Andreu and Torras i Bages stations.

Drassanes

Line 3 extends to Drassanes. Ferran station was out of service on March 1st.

Automatic validation pilot at Liceu

A pilot test is being carried out at Liceu station to incorporate automatic ticket validation machines. At the same time, video surveillance with cameras is being introduced for the first time, a new feature to improve security.

Sant Ramon–Diagonal

Seven stations are opened on the section of line 5 between Sant Ramon (now Collblanc) and Diagonal. In addition to these two, the section includes the stations Badal, Sants, Roma (now Sants Estació), Entença and Hospital Clínic.

Poble Sec (Paral·lel)

Line 3 extends to Poble Sec, overcoming the difficulties of the sandy terrain and water seepage due to the proximity to the sea. This Poble Sec station corresponds to the current Paral·lel.

Diagonal–La Sagrera

Line 5 is expanded with five stations: General Mola (today Verdaguer), Sagrada Família, Dos de Maig (today Hospital de Sant Pau), Camp de l’Arpa and La Sagrera. The last three were part of the original project for line 2, but were annexed to line 5 with this name, to avoid confusion among users. The inaugural ceremony was presided over by the then head of state, Francisco Franco.

Line 4 upgrade closes the Correos station

The Jaume I-Correus section of the second branch of the old Gran Metro is out of service. On April 4, the rest of the branch, between Aragó (today Passeig de Gràcia L4) and Jaume I, is also out of service. This allows the old branch to be adapted to become line 4.

Jaume I–Joanic

Line 4 between Jaume I and Joanic is inaugurated, which also includes the stations Urquinaona, Gran Via (today Passeig de Gràcia), Girona and General Mola (today Verdaguer). Thus, Jaume I and Urquinaona are incorporated into the new line, while the Correus line is definitively out of service.

Pubilla Cases

Line 5 extends to Pubilla Cases, within the municipality of l’Hospitalet de Llobregat. The metro network confirms its metropolitan vocation by consolidating its presence in areas that do not belong to the municipal area of ​​Barcelona.

Joanic–Guinardó

New boost to line 4, which is being expanded with the Alfons X and Guinardó stations.

Golden anniversary

Barcelona celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the metro network. Commemorative events will take place throughout 1975, including an exhibition in the lobby of Universitat station.

Zona Universitària–Tarragona

The section of line 3 between the Zona Universitària and Tarragona is inaugurated, which also includes the Palau Reial, Maria Cristina, Les Corts, Plaça del Centre and Roma Renfe stations (today Sants Estació).

Tarragona–Paral·lel

The Espanya, Parlament (today Poble Sec) and Paral·lel stations opened, thus connecting the two sections of line 3. However, until 1982, passengers had to make a transfer at Paral·lel.

Francisco Franco dies

With the death of the dictator, a tense process of transition to democracy began, which would last almost three years. This political change also affected the management of public transport, opening the door to a progressive decentralization of powers.

Barceloneta

Barceloneta station opens. With this extension, line 4 enters the port area.

Sant Ildefons– Pubilla Cases

Line 5 opens three new stations: Sant Ildefons, Can Boixeres and Maladeta (now Can Vidalet), and reaches Cornellà (Cornellà Centre since 2009).

Selva de Mar–Barceloneta

Line 4 advances through the neighborhoods of the Poblenou area with the expansion and entry into service of five new stations: Selva de Mar, Poblenou, Lutxana (today Llacuna), Bogatell and Ribera (today Ciutadella / Vila Olímpica).

The Generalitat

The Generalitat of Catalonia replaces the central administration and assumes powers over the infrastructure of the metro network and other land transport, thanks to the constitution of the state of the autonomies.

Birth of TMB

Barcelona Municipal Transport (TMB) is created to jointly manage all transport in the city.

Reform of Santa Eulalia

The Santa Eulàlia station on line 1 is temporarily closed to expand the service for residents of La Torrassa. A new station with the same name will open closer to La Bordeta.

Guinardó–Roquetes

Line 4 extends from Guinardó with three more stations: Maragall, Llucmajor and Roquetes.

Unification of Line 3

The two sections of line 3, which until now were separated by a transfer at Paral·lel, are now definitively unified thanks to a new power outlet system. The line now runs without interruption from Zona Universitària to Lesseps. On the same day, all metro stations will have their names adapted to Catalan, and the numbering of the lines will change from Roman to Arabic.

Selva de Mar–La Pau

Line 4, which already reaches Roquetes at one end, also extends on the other side to La Pau. In addition to this, the Besòs and Besòs Mar stations are opening.

Torras i Bages–Santa Coloma

The metro network crosses the Besòs and line 1 reaches Santa Coloma de Gramenet, adding twenty-one stations along its entire route. In addition to Santa Coloma, Trinitat Vella and Baró de Viver have also opened.

Santa Eulàlia– Torrassa and Sant Ildefons–Cornellà

Line 1 is extended again two days later at the other end with two new stations. The Santa Eulàlia station reopens in a new location, as does the Torrassa station. The Bordeta station is out of service. Line 5 is also extended from Sant Ildefons with the new stations: Gavarra and Cornellà.

La Pau–Pep Ventura

Line 4 also crosses the Besòs towards Sant Adrià and Badalona. The new section has five stations: Verneda, Joan XXIII, Sant Roc, Gorg and Pep Ventura.

Lesseps–Montbau

Line 3 is also moving and advancing four stations from Lesseps: Vallcarca, Penitents, Vall d’Hebron and Montbau.

Barcelona is designated Olympic host

After a process that began years earlier, Barcelona was officially designated as the host city for the 1992 Olympics. The city prepared to become a world capital.

The EMT and more accessible transport

The Parliament of Catalonia approves the creation of the Metropolitan Transport Entity (EMT), responsible for planning, coordinating and managing public transport. TMB adopts the new name of Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona. At the same time, several citizen organizations are promoting a campaign to demand a metro and bus accessible to people with reduced mobility.

La Torrassa–Avinguda Carrilet

Line 1 is being extended, with four more stations within the municipality of Hospitalet de Llobregat. These are Florida, Can Serra, Rambla Just Oliveras and Avinguda Carrilet.

The last 300 series and closure of the Lesseps depot

The last car of the metro’s 300 series, in service since 1924, is officially retired from service. The farewell ceremony consists of a symbolic journey from Catalunya station to the Lesseps workshops, which are also carrying out their last service.

The new 4000 series trains

Shortly after saying goodbye to the last 300 series, the new 4000 series trains are presented. One of the presentation events will be an open-air exhibition of a carriage in front of the Palau Reial, on Diagonal.

Avinguda Carrilet– Feixa Llarga

New extension of line 1 within Hospitalet. Bellvitge and Feixa Llarga stations open (today Hospital de Bellvitge).

Fondo

In the Olympic year, line 1 penetrates further into Santa Coloma with the new Fondo station.

Opening of the Barcelona Olympic Games

The opening of the Olympic Games marked a turning point for the city and, consequently, for the metro. The event, of great international dimension, caused a considerable increase in demand and accelerated the modernization of the network. From that moment on, Barcelona became a world tourist destination, and the metro reinforced its role as a key infrastructure for urban mobility.

Towards tariff integration

The new T-Mes and T-Dia cards come into service. The path to fare integration starts.

The long-awaited line 2. Sant Antoni–Sagrada Familia

The long-awaited line 2, the first designed to be accessible, is inaugurated, with the opening of the first six stations: Sant Antoni, Universitat, Passeig de Gràcia, Tetuan, Monumental and Sagrada Família.

Paral·lel

Line 2 is expanded with the Paral·lel station, which allows the connection with line 3.

Sagrada Familia–La Pau

Line 2 is growing again, this time towards Besòs, with the entry into service of the Encants, Clot, Bac de Roda, Sant Martí and La Pau stations.

Trinitat Nova

Line 4 is expanding in Nou Barris with the new Trinitat Nova station. Roquetes station, on the same line, is changing its name to Via Júlia.

Tariff integration

The integrated fare system for the different public transport systems in Barcelona and its metropolitan area comes into force.

Montbau–Canyelles

Line 3 advances and opens three new stations, each with a unique design, with each station being designed by an architect. Thus, Mundet was designed by Ventura Valcarce; Valldaura by Manel Sánchez, and Canyelles by Alfons Soldevila.

Line 2 remains part of Line 4

Five stations on line 4 are becoming stations on line 2. This is the section between La Pau and Pep Ventura. In addition to the latter, the other four stations affected are Verneda, Joan XXIII, Sant Roc and Gorg. This is the result of mobility studies that recommend a direct link between the center of Barcelona and Badalona.

Maresme–Forum

Line 4 opens a new station, El Maresme / Fòrum, to serve Diagonal Mar and the area where the 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures will be held.

Inauguration of line 11

Line 11 comes into operation. It is what is called a “light metro”. It serves the Barcelona neighbourhoods of Trinitat Nova, Torre Baró, Vallbona and Ciutat Meridiana, and the Can Cuiàs, in Montcada and Reixac. In Trinitat Nova it shares a station with the same name on line 4. This light metro is adapted to travel through areas with difficult terrain.

Name changes

The names of two stations are being changed. Cornellà, on line 5, is now called Cornellà Centre, and Feixa Llarga, on line 1, is being changed to Hospital de Bellvitge.

Canyelles–Trinitat Nova

The new Roquetes and Trinitat Nova stations on line 3 are inaugurated. This extension involves a section from Canyelles to the new end of the line at Trinitat Nova, a station that becomes the first interchange where three metro lines converge: 3, 4 and 11.

Automatic doors in Can Cuiàs

The automated platform door system goes into service at Can Cuiàs station on line 11, becoming the first on the Barcelona metro to have this technology. It is the first step towards the future implementation of automatic driving on the network.

Inauguration of lines 9 and 10

The first automatic line of the Barcelona metro begins operating with the commissioning of five stations on line 9/10 on the Santa Coloma de Gramenet branch: Can Zam, Singuerlín, Església Major, Fondo and Can Peixauet.

Automated Line 11

Line 11 becomes the second line of the Barcelona metro to implement automatic driving. The new system operates on the section between Can Cuiàs and Casa de l’Aigua stations.

TMB Foundation

The TMB Foundation is born, intended to preserve and disseminate historical and cultural heritage, as well as to foster and promote the values ​​of public transport.

Bon Pastor–Gorg

Line 9/10 inaugurates a new 3.4-kilometer section and four stations: Bon Pastor, in Barcelona, ​​and Llefià, La Salut and Gorg, in Badalona. This section belongs to the Badalona branch of the new line, which also makes it the first in Barcelona with a y-shaped operating model.

Bon Pastor–La Sagrera

The section of line 9/10 between Bon Pastor and La Sagrera enters service, with a new intermediate station, Onze de Setembre. La Sagrera thus becomes an important interchange, with lines 1 and 5 of the metro and, shortly after, with the Rodalies de Catalunya trains.

Badalona Pompeu Fabra

With the inauguration of the Badalona Pompeu Fabra station, the section of line 2 between Pep Ventura and the center of Badalona is put into service.

Horta–Vall d’Hebron

A new section of line 5 enters service, which includes the stations El Carmel, El Coll / La Teixonera and Vall d’Hebron. The El Coll / La Teixonera station, located 74 meters underground, becomes the deepest station on the network.

Santa Rosa and passenger record

The Santa Rosa station on line 9/10 opens, located in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, halfway between Can Peixauet and Fondo. Coinciding with this event, the metro closes the year with a historic maximum of passengers: 389 million validations.

Towards T-Mobilitat

The Government gives the green light to the T-Mobilitat project, a new single card system for the use of public transport, initially in the Barcelona region. It will replace current transport tickets with a new application contained in a chip with contactless validation.

Accessible Passeig de Gracia

The route suitable for people with reduced mobility is completed at the Passeig de Gràcia metro station on line 3. This brings the total number of stations equipped with lifts and other facilities to 86%. The rest are under construction or in the project phase.

Foc-Collblanc on Line 10 South begins operation

Line 10 Sud incorporates into the service the 2.5-kilometre section between the stations of Foc and Collblanc. The service, which operates automatically, includes two new stations, Foc and Foneria, in Barcelona, ​​and three more that have been open since 2016 as part of line 9 Sud: Can Tries – Gornal, Torrassa and Collblanc, in l’Hospitalet, where it is possible to interchange between both lines. In addition, Torrassa has a connection with line 1 and Collblanc with line 5.

Provençana of Line 10 South

The sixth station on line 10 South, Provençana, located in the municipality of l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, enters service.

Ciutat de la Justícia Line 10 South

The Ciutat de la Justícia station, the seventh on metro line 10 South, enters service.

Line 10 South Zona Franca

With the opening of Zona Franca, the Barcelona metro network grows by 1.6 kilometers, the ones that separate this station and the Foc station on line 10 Sud. Zona Franca stands out because it is the first station on a viaduct and, therefore, outdoors and elevated above the street. April 2021 Barcelona, ​​the first city to signal the entire Metro with smart labels TMB completes the implementation of smart labels in all metro stations and more than 2,600 bus stops as an accessibility tool. The 9,100 multi-colored codes implemented in the TMB networks help people with visual impairments to orient themselves using their mobile phones.

COVID-19 pandemic

The WHO declares the COVID-19 virus a pandemic, a lockdown is decreed that restricts mobility. The metro implements safety and hygiene measures to prevent contagion, such as improving ventilation or installing hydroalcoholic gel dispensers.

T-Mobilitat, in testing

T-Mobilitat begins its implementation in the testing phase. It is a revolution in the method of validating and purchasing trips with a rechargeable card and which allows payment using contactless technology.

Ernest Lluch from Line 5

The new Ernest Lluch station on metro line 5 enters service. Interspersed between Collblanc and Pubilla Cases, it is station number 160 on the network, the 27th station on line 5, and the 20th station located entirely or partly in the municipality of l’Hospitalet de Llobregat.

Zona Franca – ZAL / Riu Vell of Line 10 South

Three new stations on metro line 10 Sud enter service: Port Comercial / La Factoria, Ecoparc and ZAL / Riu Vell. The three new stations have been built above ground on a viaduct that runs through the center of the Zona Franca industrial estate.

Renaming of six Barcelona Metro stations

The Metropolitan Transport Authority (ATM), following the recommendations of the Nomenclature Commission, approves new names for railway stations, including six on the Barcelona metro: Clot for the metro and Clot-Aragó for the local trains will both be called El Clot, to unify the names of intermodal stations. Bellvitge for the metro and Bellvitge for the local trains will be called, respectively, Bellvitge Rambla Marina and Bellvitge-Gornal, to differentiate that they are not connected stations. To adapt to the reality of the place, the Drassanes station will be called La Rambla – Drassanes, Vall d’Hebron will be Vall d’Hebron – Sant Genís, Llucmajor will be Llucmajor – República, and Congrés will be called Congrés – Indians. The replacement of names in signage and information material will be progressive and has not yet become effective.

T-Mobilitat

The year 2024 is the year of the full implementation of T-Mobilitat within the integrated fare system of the Metropolitan Transport Authority (ATM). The definitive deployment of this new public transport validation system with contactless technology has been carried out progressively in recent years, so that it has gradually incorporated all existing transport tickets.

Farewell to the last 4000 series

After almost four decades of service, a 4000 series train makes its last journey between the Hospital de Bellvitge and Fondo stations, on line 1. The farewell event brings together a good number of fans who say goodbye with emotion.

Commemoration of the centenary of the metro begins

The centenary commemoration of the metro begins with an event full of theatricality, period characters and historical scenery at various stations. The celebration kicks off a year dedicated to remembering the evolution of the metro as a fundamental axis of mobility in Barcelona.