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L1 reopens after fire that left 39 passengers hospitalised
Barcelona’s L1 metro line resumed normal service on Tuesday along the section affected by the catenary fire. The reopening brings relief to thousands of users after an afternoon of smoke, evacuations, and major disruption on one of the city’s busiest lines.
Technical inspections carried out overnight allowed service to be restored between Glòries and Clot without further incidents. During the early hours of the day, trains ran at intervals of around five minutes.
The line once again connects Fondo with Hospital de Bellvitge, although the planned closure for summer works between Florida y Plaça de Sants remains in place. This interruption is unrelated to the fire and continues to be covered by alternative transport options.
The fire broke out just before six in the evening on the catenary, forcing the evacuation of more than a hundred passengers. Smoke quickly spread through the tunnel, leading to the closure of Clot and the evacuation of Glòries.
The response involved 22 units from Bombers de Barcelona, officers from the Guardia Urbana, and 19 ambulances. In total, 136 people received medical attention, mainly for smoke inhalation and breathing difficulties.
Thirty-nine passengers were taken to hospitals and medical centres, though there were no serious injuries. Most were treated at the scene before leaving the area on their own.
The incident disrupted travel for several hours across Sant Martí, the Eixample, and other areas connected by the red line. Many travellers had to use buses, other metro lines, or walk to complete their journeys.
L1 is running again, but it was a day hard to forget for those caught in the smoke. With the section reopened, attention now turns to the summer works and the need for the line to remain reliable in the coming weeks.