• A lift has been installed to improve access for people with reduced mobility
• The remodelling works of the vaults of tracks 1 and 2 in Pl. Catalunya station are underway

Ferrocarrils of the Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) has finalized the works to improve accessibility for people with reduced mobility (PRM) in the Bergara lobby of Pl. Catalunya station. The works have consisted of the installation of a lift on Bergara street, at the crossing with Balmes street, which connects the surface with the lobby. Once inside the ticket barrier, the installation of another lift facilitates the access to the platforms.

With this action, budgeted at 522,000 euro, FGC completes the works that begun in February to improve the lobbies of Pl. Catalunya station, which is FGC’s most crowded station, registering an annual footfall of about 12 million people.

Improvements in the Rambla lobby

In June, Ferrocarrils finalized the redistribution of the other lobby of the station, the Rambla one, an action that has made feasible to free up space and improve users flow in the station entrance/exit and in the purchase of journey tickets from the ticket-dispensing machines, placed in the space where the Customer Care Centre was located.

The reform, with a budget of 200,000 euro, has also entailed the installation of a new ceiling and of new luminaires with LED lights; the renovation of the entire lobby pavement; the covering of the vertical surfaces with the FGC traditional bevelled white tile; the lining with board in the area of the ticket-dispensing machines; the dismantling of the metal lining of the two pairs of old round pillars, which recover their original appearance; as well as the conditioning of the current ventilation duct, among others.

One of the most innovative changes has been the implementation of a double curtain air system at the accesses in order to increase the feeling of comfort of both customers and FGC staff. This system consists of a curtain of air that on one side expels air and on the other one sucks it, what avoids air currents derived from the circulation of trains.

Remodelling of the vaults of the station

The works to upgrade the vaults in Pl. Catalunya station are underway. In recent months, the coating has been improved, the concrete has been repaired and the vaults have been waterproofed, which makes it possible to eliminate water infiltration and to place value on the characteristic mosaics of the vaults of this station.

The works on the vaults of tracks 3 and 4 have already been completed. With regard to tracks 1 and 2, the waterproofing works of the vaults have finalized and the bidding process for the regularization and painting works will shortly begin. The total cost of these works is 770,000 euro and their completion is forecasted for the end of the second quarter of 2017.

Energy savings

In the last three years, FGC has carried out different actions in Pl. Catalunya station to improve technologically and optimize the reliability of different elements related to circulation.

Among the works carried out, with an investment of 4 million euro, of special note is the renovation of the tracks with new equipment that offers greater comfort and smooth running, the extension of platform 5, the replacement of flexible catenary with rigid catenary and the renovation of different electrical installations. In addition, currently there is a tendering procedure to improve the lighting of the platforms with the installation of LED lights, with more light and that enable important energy savings compared to traditional light bulbs.

This series of devices and interventions have more advanced technical and technological characteristics that enable to improve the circulation of trains and the maintenance of the infrastructures.

Almost 100% of stations adapted

With the Sarrià lifts already in operation at the end of this year and the works of the Putxet station finalized in March 2017, FGC will have 100% of stations adapted to people with reduced mobility. This achievement will make FGC a world leader among railway operators in adapting its network.

In the case of the Barcelona-Vallès line, 34 of the 36 stations and 100% of the trains have already been adapted. On the Llobregat-Anoia line, all trains and stations are accessible.