In Barcelona, the works at Sants station are changing how people get in and out of the rail hub, while trains keep running. The main impact is on AVE high-speed services and Rodalies commuter trains, plus movement around Plaça dels Països Catalans in Sants-Montjuïc.
ADIF, Spain’s state railway infrastructure manager, says the project will modernise the station building, improve passenger flow, add new waiting and commercial areas, and strengthen links with the surrounding neighbourhood. Barcelona City Council has also started mobility works around the station to adapt streets, pavements and access before the next construction phases.
The plan includes separate concourses for high-speed rail and Rodalies, which are used daily across Barcelona and the wider metropolitan area. ADIF and ADIF Alta Velocidad say the station is being reorganised to cope with rising passenger numbers and reduce congestion at one of Spain’s busiest rail interchanges.
One of the most visible early changes is the recovery and redesign of Plaça dels Països Catalans, the square in front of the station. The surrounding public space is being adjusted so pedestrians, buses, taxis and other road users can keep moving during the works and after the upgrade is finished.
Passengers should expect phased changes rather than a full closure. That means temporary routes can change from one stage to the next, so it is worth allowing extra time when changing trains or entering through the main station area. For official updates, readers can check Barcelona City Council’s mobility notice and ADIF’s public project documents, including the public information notice for phase 2.
For more Barcelona rail context, see our guide to Rodalies and FGC, and our coverage of Barcelona Sants main access changes. The key point for readers is simple, Sants stays open while the station and its surroundings are being reshaped.
