Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) inaugurated the new season of the Granota Train this past weekend. The historic Series 400 train runs the route between Les Planes and the stations in Terrassa and Sabadell.
The train will run on the first Sunday of every month from May through December, with a break in July and August.
The confirmed dates for upcoming trips are June 7, September 6, October 4, November 1, and December 6, in addition to the launch this Sunday, May 3.
Passengers may board with an integrated ticket or an FGC ticket, with fares varying depending on origin and destination.
Details on schedules and prices are available at turistren.cat.
A train born in the postwar era
The Granota Train owes its popular name to the vehicle’s colors and the distinctive headlights on the front, which travelers in the mid-20th century spontaneously christened it.
The vehicle was designed in the Sarrià workshops by the company’s own engineers during the postwar period, in response to growing demand on the suburban lines connecting Sarrià with Les Planes, Sant Cugat, Rubí, Terrassa, and Sabadell—which were inaugurated between 1916 and 1922. The first train set took to the tracks in 1944.
The train remained in service until 1996. When FGC took over management of these lines in 1979, it launched a modernization program for the 14 existing trainsets, which had suffered considerable deterioration.
On June 20, 1996, the Series 400 trains ran for the last time, replaced by Series 112 units. Three of the cars (those that best retained their original condition) were preserved as historical artifacts, formed a unit, and, following a complete restoration with technical and safety inspections, have now returned to service.
In 2023, the Tren Granota was declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest.
Modernism, industry, and nature along the route
Beyond the vehicle’s historical value, the route passes through landscapes and towns with their own unique charm. The line runs through the Barcelonès and Vallès Occidental regions, featuring Modernist-style stations such as Les Planes and Sant Quirze del Vallès, built under the influence of the garden city concept.
The route also connects with Terrassa, Rubí, and Sabadell.
The natural setting of the Serra de Collserola, one of the largest green spaces in the metropolitan area, accompanies part of the route.
