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FGC will buy 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 services, improve frequencies and replace some of the rolling stock that has reached the end of its useful life. The announcement comes as demand for public transport continues to grow in Barcelona and its metropolitan area.
Of the 38 units planned, 18 will be allocated to reinforce the service and meet expansion needs between Plaça Espanya and Gràcia. This section is crucial for thousands of travellers who connect Barcelona with municipalities in Baix Llobregat, Bages and Anoia, and any improvement in frequency can have a direct impact on daily journeys.
The other 20 trains will be used to replace rolling stock bought in 1999. After more than two decades in service, those units are beginning to reach the end of their cycle and FGC wants to prepare a renewal that will allow it to offer journeys that are more comfortable, reliable and adapted to current demand.
FGC president Carles Ruiz has acknowledged that there is strong demand for trains from both Ferrocarrils and Renfe, creating pressure on manufacturers. That situation may affect deadlines and timetables, since many European authorities are renewing rolling stock at the same time.
The investment forms part of a broader period of change for FGC. The company is also preparing to launch the new R-Aeroport line, planned for the first half of 2027, which will be operated by Ferrocarrils on Adif tracks alongside Renfe. That model will require stronger coordination between operators and improved passenger-information systems.
For users, these changes should translate into a clearer network, with better frequencies and less sense of overcrowding on the most heavily used sections. In corridors such as Llobregat-Anoia, where the train supports commuting for work, education and the metropolitan area, renewing the fleet is not only 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 for years operated as one of the major rail connections between Barcelona and its industrial and residential surroundings. 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 substantially change many passengers’ everyday experience, especially if it reduces waiting times and absorbs peak hours better.
UPDATE: The project has taken a concrete step and also requires the initial figure to be corrected: the tender currently open by FGC covers the construction and supply of 36 new electric trains from 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 contract signing to deliver the first unit; afterwards, the fleet must be introduced at a rate of two trains per month. The award, however, remains conditional on final authorisation and budget allocation from the Generalitat.