Barcelona Metro line 1 explained

Barcelona Metro line 1
Type:Conventional metro
System:Barcelona Metro
Locale:L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Barcelona, Spain
Start:Hospital de Bellvitge
End:Fondo
Stops:30
Status:Operational
Owners:TMB
Operator:TMB
Distance:20.71NaN1
Journeytime:35 minutes
Depot:Santa Eulàlia, Sagrera
Stock:4000, 6000 & 8000 series
El: rigid overhead wire
Map State:uncollapsed

Line 1, shortened to L1, coloured red and often simply called Línia vermella ("Red Line"), is the second oldest Barcelona Metro line, after line L3. It is the longest line of the Barcelona Metro, and links L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Santa Coloma de Gramenet. Originally operated by the independent Ferrocarril Metropolitano Transversal de Barcelona, it is today operated by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) and is part of the ATM fare-integrated main transport system. L1 is the only metro line in Spain to use Iberian gauge tracks, as used by most Spanish main line railways.[1]

The line was created in 1926 as a means to join the rail stations the city had in the 1920s, and in preparation for the 1929 Universal Exposition. It has been growing since then to become a large line made up of 30 stations, as of 2007, the network's busiest one. These stations are architecturally homogenous, and as in the case of most metro lines in Barcelona, ornamentation is virtually absent from them. Some of them are improving their artificial lighting. Most of the line is underground, except for one short section, and at one point it shares tunnels with mainline tracks.[1]

Future plans are for the line to be extended southbound into El Prat de Llobregat and from its north terminus into Badalona, where it will join L2 in Badalona Centre.[1] [2]

History

Route

The line runs from Hospital de Bellvitge, in the municipality of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, and Fondo, in Santa Coloma de Gramenet. Most of the line is underground, except for a short section between Plaça de Sants and Santa Eulàlia stations.[2]

Between Catalunya and Arc de Triomf stations, L1 shares tunnels with an ADIF owned main line railway, carrying RENFE operated Rodalies de Catalunya suburban passenger services. With four tracks in the tunnels, the outer tracks carry L1 metro services whilst the middle two tracks carry main line services. At Catalunya station, the L1 metro trains stop at side platforms, whilst the Rodalies de Catalunya trains serve an island platform. At Arc de Triomf station, the Rodalies de Catalunya trains stop at side platforms, whilst the L1 trains serve platforms in flanking single track tunnels. At the intermediate Urquinaona station, the L1 metro trains stop at side platforms, whilst main line trains do not stop.[2]

Stations

The line serves the following stations:[2]

LocationStationOpenedConnections
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat1989
1989
1987FGC

L8, S33, S4, S8, R5, R50, R6, R60

1987Rodalies de Catalunya

R1, R3, R4, R12, RG1

1987
1987
1983Barcelona Metro

L9, L10

1932
Sants-Montjuïc, Barcelona1926
Plaça de Sants1926Barcelona Metro: L5
1926
1926FGC: L8, S33, S4, S8, R5, R50, R6, R60
Barcelona Metro: L3
Eixample, Barcelona1926
1926
1926Barcelona Metro: L2
1926Renfe Media Distancia

R12
Rodalies de Catalunya: R1, R3, R4, RG1
FGC: L6, L7, S1, S2, S5, S55
Barcelona Metro: L3

Urquinaona1926Barcelona Metro: L4
1932Rodalies de Catalunya: R1, R3, R4, RG1, R12
Sant Martí, Barcelona1933Trambesòs

T4

1951Trambesòs: T4
Clot1951Renfe Media Distancia: R11 (at)
Rodalies de Catalunya: R1, R2, R2 Nord, RG1 (at)
Barcelona Metro: L2
Sant Andreu, Barcelona1953
1954Renfe Media Distancia: R12
Rodalies de Catalunya: R3, R4
Barcelona Metro: L5, L9, L10
1954Renfe Media Distancia: R12 (at)
Rodalies de Catalunya: R3, R4, R7 (at)
1968Renfe Media Distancia: R11 (at)
Rodalies de Catalunya: R2, R2 Nord (at)
1968
Trinitat Vella1983
1983
Santa Coloma de Gramenet1983
1992Barcelona Metro: L9

External links

41.387°N 2.17°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: L1 – Hospital de Bellvitge – Fondo . ca . trenscat.com . 21 November 2014 .
  2. Web site: Track map of the Barcelona Metro . cartometro.com . 2014-11-15.