The history of the Barcelona Metro is linked to the evolution of its names. From the democratization and catalyzation of the network in 1982, when stops such as Pueblo Nuevo became Poblenou, to purely geographical reasons, the nomenclature of the stations has been constantly changing.
In line with this , in 2022 the Metropolitan Transport Authority (ATM) approved the modification of 21 names across the entire transport network (Metro, Rodalies, FGC and Tram). Strictly speaking, as far as the Metro is concerned, five changes are planned to bring the stops into line with the reality of their neighborhoods.
Changes underway: from ‘Viviendas del Congreso’ to ‘Indians’
The most recent change was formalized on January 31 with the L5 Congrés | Indians station. This stop has a long history of changes: initially planned as Garcilaso, it was inaugurated in 1959 under the name Viviendas del Congreso, in reference to the residential complex of the 35th International Eucharistic Congress.
In 1982, its name was simplified to Congrés, which it has retained to this day. The new addition, Indians, responds to a neighborhood demand to reflect that the stop serves both urban centers. However, the new name is only visible for now at the entrance to Garcilaso Street, with a full update still pending.
Vall d’Hebron: a symbolic evolution
The Vall d’Hebron | Sant Genís station (L3 and L5) is in a similar situation . Although the name’s inauguration party was held in April 2023, implementation is still on the “waiting list.” According to ATM sources, the goal is to optimize operating costs by taking advantage of future extension works to renovate the signage.
Prior to this latest update, the stop was simply known as Vall d’Hebron. The current change seeks to give visibility to the Sant Genís dels Agudells neighborhood, located above the Ronda de Dalt, an area that the station also serves directly.
The three stops that will complete the list
In addition to the above, there are three projects that have not yet made it onto the station walls:
- La Rambla | Drassanes (L3): Seeks to better guide tourists along the city’s most iconic promenade.
- Llucmajor | República (L4): It will be adapted to the current name of the square where it is located, renamed in 2016.
- Bellvitge Rambla Marina (L1): This change is strategic to avoid confusion with the Hospital de Bellvitge stop and the Rodalies station, located ten minutes away on foot.
For the time being, users should continue to pay attention to the usual signage while the ATM coordinates the definitive replacement of the panels and audio messages.