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FGC to purchase 38 new trains to renew the Llobregat-Anoia line
FGC is preparing a major renewal of the Llobregat-Anoia line. The company plans to buy 38 new trains to modernise the service, improve frequencies, and replace part of the rolling stock that has reached the end of its useful life. The announcement comes at a time when demand for public transport continues to grow in Barcelona and its metropolitan area.
Of the 38 units planned, 18 will be used to strengthen the service and cover the need for expansion between Espanya y Gràcia. This section is key for thousands of travellers connecting Barcelona with municipalities in Baix Llobregat, Bages and Anoia, and any improvement in frequencies can have a direct impact on daily journeys.
The other 20 trains will replace trains purchased in 1999. After more than two decades in service, these units are reaching the end of their cycle and FGC wants to prepare a renewal that will offer more comfortable, reliable journeys adapted to current demand.
The president of FGC, Carles Ruiz, has acknowledged that there is strong demand for trains from both Ferrocarrils and Renfe, which is putting pressure on manufacturers. This situation may affect deadlines and schedules, as many European administrations are renewing rolling stock at the same time.
The investment is part of a broader period of change for FGC. The company is also preparing to launch the new R-Aeroport line, scheduled for the first half of 2027, which will be operated by Ferrocarrils on Adif tracks alongside Renfe. This model will require greater coordination between operators and improvements to passenger information systems.
For users, these changes should result in a clearer network, with better frequencies and less feeling of overcrowding on the busiest sections. In corridors like Llobregat-Anoia, where the train supports work, educational and metropolitan journeys, renewing the fleet is not just a technical matter: it directly affects the time, comfort and confidence of those who depend on the service every day.
The Llobregat-Anoia line has been one of the main rail connections between Barcelona and its industrial and residential surroundings for years. It links neighbourhoods, industrial estates, universities and municipalities that do not always have convenient alternatives by car or bus. That is why the arrival of new trains could significantly change the daily experience of many travellers, especially if it helps reduce waiting times and better absorb peak hours.
UPD: The project has taken a concrete step and also requires a correction to the initial figure: the tender currently open by FGC covers the construction and supply of 36 new electric trains of the 214 series for the Llobregat-Anoia line, not 38, with a maximum budget of 437 million euros excluding VAT. The deadline for submitting bids remains open until 10 December 2026 and the specifications set a maximum of 48 months from the signing of the contract to deliver the first unit; after that, the fleet must be incorporated at a rate of two trains per month. The award, however, is subject to final authorisation and budget allocation by the Generalitat.