Smart Trains and Tunnel Scans Boost Safety
Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) has launched a digital transformation initiative to enhance metro safety and service reliability by monitoring trains and tunnels in real time. The new systems, presented on Wednesday 4th November 2026 at the Tomorrow Mobility World Congress, aim to detect anomalies before they disrupt service. The Barcelona Metro network, which spans 8 lines, 165 stations and 125 kilometres, generates vast amounts of data daily from onboard sensors and infrastructure systems. TMB is now harnessing this data through advanced monitoring tools to ensure optimal availability and passenger comfort. One key innovation is the 'diagnostic train', a mobile laboratory equipped with cameras and sensors currently operating on lines 1 and 5. These trains continuously assess track geometry, measuring gauge, alignment, cant and rail temperature, while also monitoring train acceleration and the interaction between the overhead catenary and the pantograph.
The diagnostic train acts as a mobile laboratory, identifying issues before they affect service.
Real-Time Tunnel Inspection and Predictive Maintenance
TMB will also fit regular metro trains with camera systems to inspect tunnel conditions during normal operations. These systems generate a 3D point cloud, allowing engineers to evaluate the clearance between the tunnel structure and the train profile, ensuring operational safety. Additionally, technological arches will be installed in tunnels on automated lines. These fixed monitoring points will scan passing trains to detect vehicle anomalies, enabling early corrective action. All collected data feeds into Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM), supporting predictive maintenance for trains, infrastructure and signalling systems. The goal is to achieve full predictive maturity across all operational areas. This digitalisation strategy supports four key objectives: maximising operational safety, ensuring service availability, improving passenger comfort and extending asset lifespan through efficient maintenance.
Sources: Diari Catalunya, TMB, diaricatalunya.cat.
