Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) has completed platform raising works at Sants Estació on Line 5 and Torrassa on Line 1. The upgrades, finished this summer, are part of TMB’s ongoing commitment to making public transport accessible for all passengers, particularly those with reduced mobility.

The work reduces the vertical and horizontal gap between trains and platforms, eliminating high steps and wide gaps that can pose safety risks when boarding or alighting. This improvement benefits not only passengers with mobility challenges but also those travelling with luggage, strollers, or small children, a common occurrence at Sants Estació, a major railway interchange.

"TMB continues to work towards a more accessible, safe, and inclusive metro, with actions that promote people's autonomy and improve the travel experience for all citizens,"

said Laia Bonet, president of TMB.

Ongoing Network-Wide Accessibility Improvements

The upgrades at Sants Estació and Torrassa form part of a broader accessibility plan across the conventional metro network. While the 40 stations on automated lines were built with raised platforms and platform screen doors, older stations on conventional lines require retrofitting.

TMB allocates a specific annual budget of €900,000 for platform-raising projects, enabling the completion of two stations per year. The selection of stations prioritises technical safety criteria, high passenger volume, and strategic importance, such as interchanges or event hubs.

Technical teams are now evaluating the next stations to be upgraded. Currently, only three stations remain to be fully adapted: Verdaguer on L5, Plaça de Sants on L1, and Urquinaona on L1 and L4. Projects for these are in development, with an estimated total investment of €109 million.

Temporary Disruption at Sants Estació

Passengers should be aware that accessibility work at Sants Estació continues beyond the platform raising. The connecting corridor between Line 1 and Line 5 has been closed since 27 April and will remain shut until spring 2027 due to ongoing renovations.

The closure, required for the expansion and adaptation of the interchange, affects around 12,000 daily transfers between the two lines. To switch lines, passengers must exit the station and re-enter via street-level entrances, following on-site signage. Validating a ticket during the transfer will not incur an additional fare.

Works at the L5 station began in February and include vestibule expansion, installation of new ticket barriers, wider platforms, and three new lifts, one connecting the street to the vestibule and two linking the vestibule to each platform and the L1 interchange corridor. The project, led by the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition of the Generalitat de Catalunya, has a budget of €15.2 million and a 30-month timeline.

For more information on accessibility improvements and service changes, visit TMB's official website.

Primary sources: noticies.tmb.cat, tmb.cat, Barcelona City Council, govern.cat, UM07599, fundacio.tmb.cat. Reported by elperiodico.cat, apd.cat, masstransitmag.com, diaricatalunya.cat, railway-news.com.