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The L8 extension moves forward with the transfer of the tunnel boring machine
In the early hours, Barcelona witnessed one of those operations that goes almost unnoticed by most residents, but marks the progress of a major project. The extension of the L8 de Ferrocarrils has taken a key step with the transfer of the cutter head of the tunnel boring machine to Gran Via, where the machine that will dig the new tunnel will be assembled.
The piece, weighing about 300 tonnes, was transported from the port to the launch shaft on Gran Via. The operation took place at night and was coordinated by the Guardia Urbana to avoid congestion, longer closures, and inconvenience in an area that is especially sensitive for daily mobility.
At the same time, the drive system for the tunnel boring machine arrived from Sant Boi de Llobregat, another essential part needed to complete the assembly. The project is now entering a more visible phase, even though the main work will take place underground over the coming months.
These special transfers are part of an operation that has been underway since the start of the year and will continue until the summer. The aim is to have the tunnel boring machine ready to open the 3.5-kilometre tunnel between Espanya y Gràcia, a connection set to change many journeys within Barcelona.
The L8 extension will add new stops at Hospital Clínic y Francesc Macià, two strategic points for daily mobility. The connection will improve links between the Llobregat-Anoia area and some of the city's busiest zones, and will reduce reliance on other overcrowded interchanges.
For residents, the works mean inconvenience for now, but also a significant improvement in the medium term. Once completed, the line will make it easier to travel between neighbourhoods, healthcare centres, office areas, shops, and transport hubs that currently require transfers or less direct routes.
The L8 is a key part of FGC and metropolitan mobility. Its extension not only brings Espanya y Gràcia closer together, but also strengthens an increasingly necessary idea in Barcelona: moving more people underground, by public transport, and reducing pressure on streets, buses, and private vehicles.
The transfer of the cutter head is a powerful image of the transformation the city is undergoing. While Barcelona continues to function above ground, a new connection is being prepared beneath its streets that could change the way people cross the city and reach the centre from the Llobregat area.