Barcelona–Vallès Line

Barcelona–Vallès Line
A 112 Series train at Sant Quirze station.
Overview
Native name	Línia Barcelona-Vallès
Type	Rapid transit, commuter rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Barcelona metropolitan area
Termini	Pl. Catalunya Av. Tibidabo, Reina Elisenda, Terrassa Nacions Unides, Sabadell Rambla
Stations	34 (4 under construction)
Ridership	54,581,954 passenger journeys (2013)[lower-alpha 1][1]
Line number	L6, L7, S1, S2, S5, S55
Operation
Opened	24 June 1863 (1863-06-24)
Owner	Government of Catalonia
Operator(s)	Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC)
Character	At-grade, underground (in central Barcelona, Sabadell and Terrassa)
Depot(s)	Rubí Operations Center Can Roca Depot Ca n'Oriac Depot (under construction)
Rolling stock	22 112 Series EMU sets 19 113 Series EMU sets 5 114 Series EMU sets
Technical
Line length	48.1 km (29.9 mi)
No. of tracks	2 (excepting the single-track Sabadell Estació–Sabadell Rambla section)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Old gauge	1,672 mm (5 ft 5 13⁄16 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead lines

The Barcelona–Vallès Line (Catalan: Línia Barcelona-Vallès) is an unconnected standard gauge railway line linking Barcelona with Sabadell and Terrassa via the Collserola mountain range, in Catalonia, Spain. Its name refers to the Catalan historical region of Vallès, whereby most part of the line runs. Plaça de Catalunya station serves as the Barcelona terminus of the line, where almost all its trains either start or terminate. The line then continues northwards and branches off twice before leaving the city limits. Its main route splits in two in Sant Cugat del Vallès, forming two major branches to Sabadell and Terrassa. It has 34 passenger stations in operation and a total line length of 48.1 kilometres (29.9 mi).

The origins of the line date from 1863, when a privately owned railway from Barcelona to the then-separated town of Sarrià was opened. In 1912, Catalan engineer Carles Emili Montañès created the company Ferrocarriles de Cataluña (FCC) in order to take control of the line and extend it northwards. After successive extensions, the line reached Terrassa and Sabadell in 1919 and 1922, respectively. In 1977, FCC announced that the whole line was to be closed due to the company's bad economic results. Nevertheless, the Spanish government prevented that from happening by taking control of it. The line was transferred to the Catalan government in 1979, and has been operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) ever since. Currently, the most prominent intervention on the line is the extension of the Terrassa and Sabadell branches through the construction of a route underneath the two cities; the former was completed in 2015, whilst the latter will do so in 2016.^[2][3]

Barcelona Metro rapid transit lines 6 and 7 serve the line's urban branches within Barcelona, while the rest of the line is operated as a high-frequency commuter rail system known as Vallès Metro (Catalan: Metro del Vallès). This system further includes the Vallvidrera Funicular, which is also operated by FGC. The Barcelona–Vallès Line is part of the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM) fare-integrated public transport system for the Barcelona metropolitan area.

Route description

Barcelona–Vallès Line
Legend
L3 to Zona Universitària Pl. Catalunya L1 to Fondo | to Hospital de Bellvitge Meridiana Tunnel L2 to Badalona Pompeu Fabra | to Paral·lel Aragó Tunnel Provença Tunnel Provença Diagonal L5 to Vall d'Hebron | to Cornellà Centre L3 to Trinitat Nova Gràcia Pl. Molina Sant Gervasi Pàdua Muntaner L9/L10 to Can Zam or Gorg El Putxet La Bonanova Les Tres Torres Av. Tibidabo L9/L10 to Airport T1 or Polígon Pratenc Plaça Kennedy Sarrià Tramvia Blau to Plaça del Doctor Andreu Reina Elisenda Ronda de Dalt Vallvidrera Inferior Peu del Funicular Vallvidrera Funicular to Vallvidrera Superior Vallvidrera Tunnel Baixador de Vallvidrera Les Planes La Floresta Valldoreix Sant Cugat Castellbisbal–Mollet-Sant Fost railway to Mollet-Sant Fost Sant Cugat del Vallès Volpelleres C-16 Mira-sol Hospital General AP-7 Sant Joan Castellbisbal–Mollet-Sant Fost railway to Castellbisbal Bellaterra Autonomous University Rubí Operations Center Sant Quirze Rubí C-58 C-16 Les Fonts Sabadell Estació C-58 Sabadell Rambla N-150 Sabadell Plaça Major Sabadell Eix Macià Terrassa Rambla Sabadell Nord Vallparadís Universitat Lleida–Manresa–Barcelona railway to L'Hospitalet de Llobregat Terrassa Lleida–Manresa–Barcelona railway to Lleida Pirineus Sabadell Ca n'Oriac Terrassa Estació del Nord Ca n'Oriac Depot Terrassa Nacions Unides Can Roca Depot

The Barcelona–Vallès Line has its start point at Plaça de Catalunya station, which is located directly underneath El Triangle shopping mall, on the southwesternmost side of Plaça de Catalunya ("Catalonia Square"), a major public transport hub in the Barcelona district of Eixample. The line then continues northwestwards in an underground route along Balmes Street until its intersection with Diagonal Avenue, from this point on running underneath Via Augusta. After Gràcia station, the line branches off thanks to a flying junction,^[4] forming a 1.9-kilometre-long (1.2 mi) stretch to Avinguda Tibidabo station.^[5] Contrarily to the line's main route, this branch line keeps on running northwestwards, following again Balmes Street up to its northern end, which is also the northern terminus of the branch line.^[6]

The main line towards Vallès bends westwards exactly following Via Augusta on its way along the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district. It branches off again at Sarrià station, forming a 0.6-kilometre-long (0.37 mi) stretch to Reina Elisenda station.^[5] The main route, however, continues northwards in a backwards C-shaped route through Barcelona's last streets at the foot of the Collserola mountain range. At this point, the line runs on a succession of alternated open-cut and underground sections before eventually crossing the Vallvidrera neighborhood through a 1.6-kilometre-long (0.99 mi) tunnel in a northwest direction.^[7] It then continues going across Collserola's central area above ground, running parallel to C-16 motorway up to Valldoreix station in Sant Cugat del Vallès, passing through Les Planes and La Floresta neighborhoods. Next, the line curves northeasterly, getting closer to Sant Cugat del Vallès city center. It diverges into two main branch lines immediately after Sant Cugat station: the Terrassa branch curves markedly in a west direction, while the Sabadell branch runs northwards.^[6]

On the one hand, the stretch to Terrassa continues moving away from Sant Cugat del Vallès in a northwesterly direction towards Rubí, where the line's operations center is located. It goes along the western limits of Rubí city center, describing a straight route northwards to the Les Fonts neighborhood. The branch line proceeds by slightly curving northwesterly, and penetrates into Terrassa city center through a route underneath Rambla del Pare Alegre and Rambla d'Égara streets.^[6] After Terrassa Rambla station, it runs in a S-shaped route, reaching Vallparadís Park, then continuing northwards, terminating at Terrassa Nacions Unides station.^[8]

On the other hand, the stretch to Sabadell curves northeasterly as it approaches the end of its route through Sant Cugat del Vallès. It then passes through Cerdanyola del Vallès's Bellaterra neighborhood before curving notably in a southwest direction and, shortly after, again in a northeast direction, reaching the Bellaterra campus of the Autonomous University of Barcelona.^[6] Before curving northwesterly, the branch line crosses a part of the campus thanks to a short tunnel and, about 700 metres (2,300 ft) further,^[9] it goes through another short tunnel as it bends west. It curves in a north direction towards Sant Quirze del Vallès immediately after. The line then enters Sabadell in a northeast direction, continuing above ground up to Sabadell Estació station; hereafter, running in an underground route terminating at Sabadell Rambla station.^[6]

Infrastructure

Entrance to Rubí Operations Center.

The line accounts for a total length of 48.1 kilometres (29.9 mi) and is entirely electrified at 1,500 volts direct current (DC) using overhead lines. It is grade-separated in its whole length, running completely underground in central Barcelona, Terrassa and Sabadell. Excepting for the single-track section between Sabadell Estació and Sabadell Rambla stations, the rest of the line has double track.^[5] Besides, an additional 4.4-kilometre-long (2.7 mi) line section belonging to the extension of the Sabadell branch is currently under construction. Once completed, it will allow for the dismantling of the line's only remaining single-track section.^[10] The signaling and security systems used on the line are centralized traffic control (CTC) and automatic train protection (ATP). The line features standard gauge (1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in)),^[5] unlike Spain's conventional mainline railway system, which features the broader Iberian gauge (1,668 mm (5 ft 5 ²¹⁄₃₂ in)), and to which it is unconnected.

A total of 34 railway stations are situated along the line, all of which are disabled-accessible, with the exception of El Putxet, Sarrià and Peu del Funicular stations.^[11] 19 out of 34 stations are underground, while the rest are at-grade,^[6] and 6 out of 34 are transfer stations.^[11] The opening of the extension of the Sabadell branch will suppose the incorporation of 5 new underground stations, one of which will be a transfer station to the Rodalies de Catalunya commuter and regional rail system.^[10]

The line's operation is centralized at Rubí Operations Center, a rail complex run by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) located south of Rubí station.^[6] It contains a repair shop and a depot for the rolling stock as well as the Integrated Control Center (ICC), which includes the CTC center and further serves the Llobregat–Anoia Line. The ICC is also in charge of supervising and regulating the facilities found in the line's stations such as elevators, escalators and ticket vending machines, among other functions.^[12] Together with the rest of the Terrassa branch extension project, a small 220-metre-long (720 ft) depot located at the end of the branch line was opened in July 2015.^[2] It is known as Can Roca Depot and has a maximum capacity of 8 four-car trains.^[13] Before being dismantled in November 2004, there had existed a depot and a repair shop near Barcelona's Sarrià station.^[14] Presently, an additional major depot is being built north of the future Sabadell Ca n'Oriac station as part of the Sabadell branch extension project.^[15]

Operation

Rail services

Several rapid transit and commuter rail services run on the Barcelona–Vallès Line, all of them either starting or terminating at Plaça de Catalunya station in central Barcelona. The first trains run about 4:30 in the morning to midnight, with later starting times on weekends. Currently, there are no overnight services, though the last trains run just after 2:00 the following morning on Friday and Saturday nights as well as on public holidays.^[16][17][18] Continuous overnight rapid transit services had previously been offered on Saturdays, though they were suspended to reduce operational costs in January 2012.^[19]

All rail services call at Barcelona's Provença, the second-busiest station on the line after Pl. Catalunya.^[1]

Rapid transit services run only on the two urban branch lines within the city of Barcelona and are considered part of the Barcelona Metro system, so that they are numbered and colored consistent with the rest of the system's lines—all Barcelona Metro lines are designated with the letter "L" plus a number, and each is colored distinctly on maps.^[20] Thus, the services using the Reina Elisenda branch are designated L6 and colored deep lavender, while the ones running on the Avinguda Tibidabo branch are designated L7 and colored brown. The L7 is also often referred to as Balmes Line (Catalan: Línia de Balmes).^[21] Before 6 November 2003 (2003-11-06), L6 and L7 services were designated U6 and U7, respectively, with the letter "U" standing for "urban", and were not considered part of the Barcelona Metro.^[22]

Commuter rail services run between Barcelona and other locations in the Vallès area, and are known under the collective name of Vallès Metro (Catalan: Metro del Vallès).^[23] They are designated with the letter "S", which stands for "suburban", plus a number, and have limited stops along their routes.^[20] End-to-end services to Terrassa and Sabadell are designated S1 and S2, respectively, and run continuously all-year-around. During rush hours, additional partial services run between Barcelona and other stations in the Vallès area in each direction, operating as skip-stop clones of S1 and S2 services. The partial services running on the Terrassa branch are designated S5, while the ones on the Sabadell branch are designated S55. During school time, some trains include two of their cars reserved for students. Furthermore, in addition to regular commuter rail services, one train entirely reserved for students is operated in each direction on weekdays.^[16][17]

The current line scheme allows for peak-time service frequencies of less than 6 minutes in each direction on the Av. Tibidabo, Reina Elisenda, Terrassa and Sabadell branches. The overall service frequency reduces as the line gets closer to central Barcelona, where the core route between Pl. Catalunya and Gràcia stations provides a headway of less than 2 minutes in each direction during rush hours.^[24] Thus, with up to 32 trains per hour in each direction, the Pl. Catalunya–Gràcia section of the Barcelona–Vallès Line is one of Europe's busiest commuter rail lines by number of operations together with RER line A in Paris or portions of the Berlin S-Bahn.^[25]

Rail services on the Barcelona–Vallès Line^[16][17][24]

Line	From	To	No. of stations	Frequency				Travel time	Notes
				RH	MD	OP	WE
L6	Barcelona Pl. Catalunya	Reina Elisenda	9	6′	6′	8′	15′	15′	During the morning rush hour, the L6 operates as a shuttle line between Reina Elisenda and Sarrià stations. During the afternoon rush hour, Reina Elisenda–Sarrià services are alternated with Reina Elisenda–Pl. Catalunya services.
L7		Av. Tibidabo	7					10′
S1		Terrassa Nacions Unides	19	10′	12′	15′	20′	41′	S1 and S2 trains call at all stations along their routes excepting Sant Gervasi, La Bonanova and Les Tres Torres stations.
S2		Sabadell Rambla	18	10′				42′
S5		Sant Cugat	11	12′	—			25′	S5 and S55 trains call at all stations along their routes excepting Peu del Funicular, Baixador de Vallvidrera and Les Planes stations.
		Rubí	14					32′
S55		Autonomous University	15					33′

Rolling stock

Interior of a 112 Series train.

The trains on the Barcelona–Vallès Line are currently the 112, 113 and 114 Series. There are a total of 66 electrical multiple units, all of which are disabled-accessible, air-conditioned and equipped with the automatic train protection (ATP) security system.^[26] The trains are technically very similar, though the 112 Series are notably different than the 113 and 114 Series in their design. They all feature the colors of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) logo—white and orange.^[27][28][29]

An initial 16-unit set of 112 Series trains started operating on the line between 1995 and 1996, and another 6-unit set did so in 2003. Considering both their technical features and design, the 112 Series are almost identical to the 213 Series that run on the Llobregat–Anoia Line. The latter, however, feature 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) metre gauge and consist of three cars, while the 112 Series feature 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) standard gauge and consist of four cars.^[30] The entry into service of the first set of 112 Series trains allowed for the implementation of the current Vallès Metro high-frequency line scheme as well as the removal of the former three-car 400 Series in 1996.^[27] Together with the Brill 10–27, Brill 301–312 and 600 Series units, the 400 Series were originally operated by Ferrocarriles de Cataluña (FCC) and one unit of each series is preserved as part of FGC's historical rolling stock.^{[31][32][33][34]} The 112 Series is used on services on the Terrassa, Sabadell and Reina Elisenda branches.^[27]

Before the entry into service of the 113 and 114 Series throughout 2014, a former 20-unit set of the three-car 111 Series trains had run on the line. These trains started operating between 1983 and 1987, and were the line's first modern electrical multiple units.^[35] From January 2014 on, a 19-unit set of the four-car 113 Series trains progressively started operating on the Sabadell, Terrassa and Reina Elisenda branches together with the 112 Series.^[36] In December of the same year, a 5-unit set of the three-car 114 Series trains started operating on the Avinguda Tibidabo branch, whose station platforms are too short to hold four-car trains such as the 112 and 113 Series.^[37] The 113 and 114 Series are identical in both their technical features and design, though they differ in the numer of cars and present some modifications on the seat layout.^[29] After the arrival of the 113 and 114 Series, 111 Series trains were removed from circulation and dismantled. Yet, one unit has been preserved as part of FGC's historical rolling stock.^[38]

Operating rolling stock on the Barcelona–Vallès Line (as of May 2015)

Series	Image	Type	Top speed		Number	Cars per set	Seats	Total capacity	Entry into service	References
			km/h	mph
112 Series		Electrical multiple unit	90	56	22	4	232	722	1995–1996, 2003	[27]
113 Series					19	4	188	780	2014	[36]
114 Series	—				5	3	124	605		[37]

List of stations

All the stations on the Barcelona–Vallès Line feature a characteristic rhombus-shaped nameplate. This one belongs to Sant Cugat station.

The following table lists the name of each station on the Barcelona–Vallès Line in order from south to north; a photo of the current station; the rail services operating at the station—L6, L7, S1, S2, S5 and/or S55—; if applicable, the date the current station was opened; the municipality or the city district (in the case of Barcelona) in which each station is or will be located; the fare zone each station belongs or will belong to according to the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM) fare-integrated public transport system;^[39] remarkable notes about the station, including clarifications, additional information and a location map; and usage figures.

Station	Photo	Line(s)	Opened	Municipality	Fare zone	Notes	Usage[lower-alpha 2]
Main route
Pl. Catalunya#*		L6, L7, S1, S2, S5, S55	000000001929-04-24-000024 Apr 1929	Eixample¤	1	Original at-grade station opened on 23 June 1863 (1863-06-23). Connects with Rodalies de Catalunya commuter and regional rail services, as well as with Barcelona Metro lines 1 and 3.map 1	11.35
Provença*		L6, L7, S1, S2, S5, S55	000000001929-04-24-000024 Apr 1929	Eixample¤	1	Original at-grade station opened 18 August 1882 (1882-08-18). Connects with Barcelona Metro lines 3 and 5 at Diagonal station. It is the only station on the line that has platform screen doors.map 2	8.2
Gràcia		L6, L7, S1, S2, S5, S55	000000001929-04-24-000024 Apr 1929	Gràcia–Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	Original at-grade station opened 23 June 1863 (1863-06-23).map 3	2.76
Av. Tibidabo branch
Pl. Molina*		L7	000000001954-01-01-00001 Jan 1954	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	In 2009, it was linked to Sant Gervasi station, on the line's main route, offering a transfer to L6, S5 and S55 services.[40]map 4	0.21
Pàdua		L7	000000001954-01-01-00001 Jan 1954	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	map 5	0.64
El Putxet‡		L7	000000001954-01-01-00001 Jan 1954	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	map 6	1.42
Av. Tibidabo#*		L7	000000001954-01-01-00001 Jan 1954	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	Connects with the heritage streetcar Tramvia Blau.map 7	1.56
Main route
Sant Gervasi*		L6, S5, S55	000000001929-04-24-000024 Apr 1929	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	Original at-grade station opened 23 June 1863 (1863-06-23). In 2009, it was linked to Plaça Molina station, on the Av. Tibidabo branch, offering a transfer to the L7.[40]map 8	1.01
Muntaner		L6, S1, S2, S5, S55	000000001953-06-20-000020 Jun 1953	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	Original at-grade station opened 30 June 1908 (1908-06-30).map 9	2.76
La Bonanova		L6, S5, S55	000000001952-05-12-000012 May 1952	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	Original at-grade station opened 1887.map 10	0.93
Les Tres Torres		L6, S5, S55	000000001952-05-12-000012 May 1952	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	Original at-grade station opened 17 December 1906 (1906-12-17).map 11	1.05
Sarrià‡		L6, S1, S2, S5, S55	000000001976-10-02-00002 Oct 1976	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	Original at-grade station opened 23 June 1863 (1863-06-23).map 12	3.45
Reina Elisenda branch
Reina Elisenda#		L6	000000001976-10-02-00002 Oct 1976	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	map 13	0.87
Main route
Peu del Funicular‡*		S1, S2	000000001916-11-28-000028 Nov 1916	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	Connects with the Vallvidrera Funicular.map 14	0.35
Baixador de Vallvidrera		S1, S2	000000001916-11-28-000028 Nov 1916	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	map 15	0.38
Les Planes		S1, S2	000000001916-11-28-000028 Nov 1916	Sarrià-Sant Gervasi¤	1	map 16	0.37
La Floresta		S1, S2, S5, S55	000000001925-08-09-00009 Aug 1925	Sant Cugat del Vallès	2C	map 17	0.39
Valldoreix		S1, S2, S5, S55	000000001931-05-03-00003 May 1931	Sant Cugat del Vallès	2C	map 18	1.06
Sant Cugat#		S1, S2, S5, S55	000000001917-10-26-000026 Oct 1917	Sant Cugat del Vallès	2C	map 20	3.43
Terrassa branch
Mira-sol		S1, S5	000000001948-01-01-00001948	Sant Cugat del Vallès	2C	map 20	0.52
Hospital General		S1, S5	000000001985-01-01-00001985	Sant Cugat del Vallès	2C	map 21	0.44
Rubí#		S1, S5	000000001918-09-13-000013 Sep 1918	Rubí	2C	map 22	2.08
Les Fonts		S1	000000001919-12-28-000028 Dec 1919	Terrassa	3C	map 23	0.38
Terrassa Rambla		S1	000000001986-05-16-000016 May 1986	Terrassa	3C	Original at-grade station opened 28 December 1919 (1919-12-28).map 24	2.17
Vallparadís Universitat		S1	000000002015-07-28-000028 Jul 2015	Terrassa	3C	map 25	—
Terrassa Estació del Nord*		S1	000000002015-07-28-000028 Jul 2015	Terrassa	3C	Connects with Rodalies de Catalunya commuter and regional rail services.map 26	—
Terrassa Nacions Unides#		S1	000000002015-07-28-000028 Jul 2015	Terrassa	3C	map 27	—
Sabadell branch
Volpelleres*		S2, S55	000000002010-06-05-00005 Jun 2010	Sant Cugat del Vallès	2C	Connects with Rodalies de Catalunya's Barcelona commuter rail service line R8 at Sant Cugat del Vallès railway station (about 700 m or 2,300 ft).[41]map 28	0.58
Sant Joan		S2, S55	000000001965-09-01-0000Sep 1965	Sant Cugat del Vallès	2C	map 29	0.94
Bellaterra		S2, S55	000000001930-06-22-000022 Jun 1930	Cerdanyola del Vallès	2C	map 30	0.47
Autonomous University#		S2, S55	000000001984-10-08-00008 Oct 1984	Cerdanyola del Vallès	2C	map 31	1.65
Sant Quirze		S2	000000001922-06-01-00001 Jun 1922	Sant Quirze del Vallès	2C	map 32	0.71
Sabadell Estació		S2	000000001922-06-01-00001 Jun 1922	Sabadell	2C	map 33	0.71
Sabadell Rambla#		S2	000000001925-09-21-000021 Sep 1925	Sabadell	2C	This station is due to be closed once the Sabadell extension is opened.map 34	1.33
Sabadell Plaça Major§	—	—	—	Sabadell	2C	map 35	—
Sabadell Eix Macià§	—	—	—	Sabadell	2C	map 36	—
Sabadell Nord§	—	—	—	Sabadell	2C	This station will offer connections with Rodalies de Catalunya commuter and regional rail services.map 37	—
Sabadell Ca n'Oriac§	—	—	—	Sabadell	2C	map 38	—

See also

• Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya
• Barcelona Metro
• Vallvidrera Funicular
• Llobregat–Anoia Line

Maps

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barcelona–Vallès Line.

• Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) official website
• Barcelona–Vallès Line at trenscat.cat (Catalan)
• Barcelona–Vallès Line at Rodalia.info. Real-time status updates of the line by its users via Twitter.
• Photo collection of the Barcelona–Vallès Line on Flickr
• Playlist containing videos of stations on the Barcelona–Vallès Line on YouTube