Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona, the public operator that runs the city's buses and metro, has appointed David Prat as the new director of the Barcelona Metro network. TMB said Prat had already taken up the post in recent days, a role that matters directly to daily commuters because it oversees one of Barcelona's main transport systems.

Prat visited the Metro Control Centre and La Sagrera station on the day of the announcement, accompanied by TMB president Laia Bonet and TMB chief executive Xavier Flores, according to the official company statement. He replaces Òscar Playà, who has left the post to begin what TMB described as a new professional stage.

Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona has incorporated David Prat as the new director of the Metro network.

For passengers, the appointment affects leadership at a network used across the city for work, school and appointments. TMB says the metro is also in a period of ongoing infrastructure improvement, with projects listed on its official Metro improvements pages.

Career in Catalan public infrastructure

TMB said Prat, born in Vallcebre in 1973, is a civil engineer and also holds a degree in aerospace technologies engineering. The company said most of his career has been linked to public service, with several senior roles in the Catalan government's territory and mobility administration.

The Catalan government confirmed in an official appointments notice in January 2022 that Prat was named director general of Mobility Infrastructures. TMB said he held that post until now, working on planning, maintenance and modernisation projects across Catalonia's road and rail networks.

  • TMB said Prat previously served as deputy director general for programming and execution.
  • TMB said he also worked as head of the mobility service for the Terres de l'Ebre area in southern Catalonia.
  • TMB said he later served as deputy director general for planning and projects.

In its announcement, TMB said his career included involvement in Line 9 of the Barcelona Metro, the FGC rail extensions to Sabadell and Terrassa, the widening of the C-58 between Terrassa and the AP-7, and the widening of the C-17 between Granollers and Parets. The official sources provided confirm his senior mobility infrastructure roles, but TMB's statement is the direct source for linking Prat personally to those individual projects.

TMB also said Prat worked in the private sector and took part in the drafting of the architectural and installations project for the L5 metro section between Horta and Vall d'Hebron.

What TMB has said about the change

In the company statement, TMB said Prat brings detailed knowledge of the territory, mobility needs and how public administrations operate. The operator framed the appointment as part of the leadership of Metro de Barcelona, which manages a service relied on by residents across the city and metropolitan area.

Readers who want to track official service updates or corporate announcements can check TMB's public channels and BARNA's Source Transparency page for how official claims are handled and attributed.

The appointment was announced by TMB in its press room after Prat's visit to the Metro Control Centre and La Sagrera station with Bonet and Flores.

Primary sources: noticies.tmb.cat, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), Generalitat de Catalunya - Govern, Government of Catalonia (Govern de Catalunya). Reported by LinkedIn (David Prat Soto), Fomento (Spanish Ministry of Transport), Wikipedia (Community-edited, citing official sources), FCC (Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas).