Barcelona City Council has formally proposed that the city’s new major rail and metro hub, currently under construction in the La Sagrera district, be named Barcelona La Sagrera – Pasqual Maragall. The proposal, put forward by Mayor Jaume Collboni on Tuesday 27 October 2026, now requires approval from the Spanish Government.

Collboni described Pasqual Maragall, who served as mayor from 1982 to 1997, as the leader who first envisioned the station as part of a wider transformation of the city. Speaking on Catalunya Ràdio’s El matí, Collboni said: “He was the mayor who dreamed up this station.”

He was the mayor who dreamed up this station.

The naming proposal coincides with a critical phase in the development of the La Sagrera complex. High-speed rail tracks are currently undergoing testing, following a site visit by Transport Minister Óscar Puente and Catalan President Salvador Illa on Thursday 22nd October 2026.

Major Urban Regeneration Project

The La Sagrera project is set to become the most significant urban transformation in Barcelona this decade. By 2031, the city council plans to invest up to €260 million in the area, integrating transport, housing, green space, and economic activity.

The future station will serve as a central mobility hub, connecting three metro lines (L4, L9, and L10) and three Rodalies commuter rail lines (R1, R2, and R11), while also acting as Barcelona’s primary high-speed rail gateway to Europe.

Green Space and Housing

  • A 36-hectare linear park, twice the size of Parc de la Ciutadella, will run through the area.
  • The park will form part of a green corridor linking Ciutadella, the coast, and the Besòs river.
  • 11,347 new homes will be built, with 48.8% designated as protected affordable housing under the Municipal Pla Viure.
  • The development will house over 25,000 residents, equivalent to the populations of Horta and Sant Antoni.

A participatory process with local residents will begin in autumn 2026 to shape the design of the park near the station, with tree planting expected to start by the end of 2027. Construction of the park will begin in 2028, aiming to complete it by the time the station finishes in 2032.

What This Means for Residents

Once complete, the La Sagrera – Pasqual Maragall station will improve connectivity across Barcelona and the wider metropolitan area. Residents in Sant Andreu, El Clot, Sant Martí, and surrounding districts will benefit from upgraded public transport, new green spaces, and expanded access to affordable housing.

The final decision on the station’s name rests with the Spanish Government. The city council’s proposal emphasizes recognition of Maragall’s role in shaping modern Barcelona, particularly through the urban renewal associated with the 1992 Olympic Games.

Sources: Barcelona Secreta, Ajuntament de Barcelona.