The esplanade located in front of the Farinera del Clot cultural center , in the Glòries area of Barcelona, will host from next November for the first time an exhibition of historic trains restored by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) on the occasion of the centenary of the metro.
A large 1,200 m² marquee will house five cars from the 100, 300, 400, 1100 and 3000 series. Visitors will be able not only to observe the exterior of the vehicles, but also to tour their interiors.
Access to the interior of the cars will be via walkways level with the floor of the trains, which will have stairs and a ramp to ensure full accessibility for all visitors.
How these historic Barcelona trains have been restored
The process of restoring the trains began in 2024 and has had the supervision of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Generalitat, given that some of the cars are listed as Cultural Assets of National Interest (BCIN).
The works have included a thorough cleaning, the repair of floors, frames, windows and panels, as well as the restoration of the original lighting. On the exterior, damage to the sheet metal has been repaired and the trains have been painted in the colors they wore when they ceased to provide commercial service.
An exhibition on TBF tracks and workshops
At the same time, TMB began work on September 22 to adapt the site, located at the junction of Gran Via, Avenida Meridiana and Independència Street, in preparation for the installation of the exhibition.
The work consisted of laying concrete slabs on which the tracks will be installed to support the more than 200 tons of weight of the five historic convoys.
Interestingly, the esplanade where the trains will be installed has a railway past, as it formerly housed the train tracks and, nearby, the workshops of the Tarragona, Barcelona and France Railway Company (TBF).
TMB has not yet published in detail the dates and times of the exhibition, which will be announced soon.
This activity joins others already announced, such as the visit to “ghost” stations or the night race through the subway tunnels.
Race through the subway tunnels
Until October 8 you can sign up for another of the events of the centenary of the Barcelona metro, an early morning run through the subway tunnels. Distance, 5 kilometers.