The end of August in Barcelona always feels like a time of homecomings—the slow awakening of the streets as they get back into gear and the inevitable return to the platforms of our daily subway routine. This year, that return to normalcy comes with a sense of relief. After weeks of intensive construction work during the hottest days of the year, the thousands of residents who cross the Eixample daily or commute between Sants and L’Hospitalet are finally regaining full access to their most vital transportation links.
Construction machinery has finally given way to the reopening of these two key hubs, right on schedule. Last Saturday, August 29, at 5:00 a.m., the Red Line (L1) resumed its regular service between the Florida and Plaça de Sants stations after being out of service since July 17.
Just two days later, this Monday, August 31, the Verdaguer station on the yellow line (L4) will once again welcome passengers and unveil the long-awaited renovation of its internal passageway connecting to the blue line (L5).
New tracks and less vibration on the Red Line
During the six weeks that the L1 was closed, workers renovated nearly 2.1 kilometers of track, of which 1,580 meters correspond to the main line between Santa Eulàlia and Mercat Nou, and the rest to the depot area. This comprehensive renovation, which involved an investment of 11.5 million euros by TMB, will result in a much smoother and quieter ride for passengers, drastically reducing vibrations and the risk of incidents.
One of the most interesting aspects of the project is the installation of a new expansion joint system on the section that runs outdoors. This mechanism acts as a cushion that absorbs sudden temperature changes, preventing the tracks from warping under the scorching summer sun. In addition,the construction work has served to modernize the century-old Santa Eulàlia depot, improving the pit and replacing the traditional catenary with a rigid one to enhance safety and efficiency.
During a recent visit to the tunnels, TMB President Laia Bonet thanked the public for their patience in the face of the inconveniences caused by the replacement buses and emphasized that this work reflects the commitment to achieving a transportation network that is “increasingly reliable and robust.”
No more street transfers at Verdaguer
Meanwhile, riders on the L4 and L5 lines also have reason to celebrate. Those who regularly travel through Verdaguer will no longer have to go out onto the street to change lines—a minor ordeal that had been repeating itself ever since the underground passageway closed for construction on October 13. That old passageway has finally done away with its old staircases, replacing them with a ramp and making life easier for commuters.
The Verdaguer station on the yellow line—where trains had been passing through without stopping for the past eight weeks—reopens today with higher platforms, wider staircases, and structural changes to its concourse. It is a key stop that, even during the summer months, records some 6,500 ticket validations per day in July and nearly 4,800 in August.
Although the station is returning to its usual rhythm, work in the area is not yet fully complete. Civil engineering work is still underway, carried out by the Generalitat’s Department of Territory, Housing, and Ecological Transition with a budget of 8.6 million euros, to drill the openings where the future elevators and escalators will be installed. These will directly connect the concourse to the L4 platforms, thus completing the full adaptation of the space for people with reduced mobility.
