Barcelona Metro passengers travelling to La Mercè events on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September may have to leave the station and re-enter to change lines at some central interchanges. The temporary controls are intended to prevent dangerous crowding in underground passageways near concert and performance areas.

According to TMB sources quoted by Metrópoli, staff, security guards and barriers are restricting access to selected interchange corridors when large passenger flows are expected. Trains continue to run, but an underground transfer may not be available at the affected time.

TMB advises passengers travelling around the city centre and event areas to use the Metro and follow instructions from staff, public-address announcements and information screens.

Interchanges where transfers may be diverted

The controls can be introduced and lifted in line with performance schedules. Metrópoli reported that the stations affected include major interchanges close to La Mercè venues:

  • Passeig de Gràcia, connecting L2, L3 and L4.
  • Urquinaona, connecting L1 and L4.
  • Catalunya and Espanya, connecting L1 and L3.
  • Universitat, connecting L1 and L2.
  • Diagonal, connecting L3 and L5.
  • Verdaguer, connecting L4 and L5.

Passengers who are redirected should follow the signs to the street, then enter the relevant line again. The report says the measure is aimed at avoiding bottlenecks on platforms and in connecting corridors, rather than closing the Metro network.

Continuous Metro service until Sunday night

TMB's La Mercè travel notice says Metro service has operated continuously from 05:00 on Friday 25 September and will continue until midnight on Sunday 27 September. TMB has also said it is running 30% more trains than usual during night-time and early-morning periods for the festival.

For journeys through central Barcelona this weekend, passengers should allow extra time for a possible above-ground transfer and check TMB's live service notices before setting out.

Primary sources: tmb.cat, noticies.tmb.cat, ajuntament.barcelona.cat, barcelona.cat. Reported by metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, La Vanguardia, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.