Barcelona Metro line 8

Barcelona Metro line 8
Overview
Service typeLight metro
LocaleBarcelona
First service1912 (original)
2000 (as Line 8)
Current operator(s)FGC
Route
TerminiPlaça Espanya, Barcelona
Sant Boi de Llobregat
Stops11
Distance travelled12 km (7.5 mi)
Average journey time20 minutes
Technical
Rolling stockFGC 213 Series in 3-car composition
based at Martorell depot (on Llobregat–Anoia line) and Sant Boi sidings
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) metre gauge
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead lines
Track owner(s)FGC

Line 8, coloured pink (termini: Plaça Espanya – Molí Nou-Ciutat Cooperativa) and operated by FGC, is part of the Barcelona Metro network, and therefore of the larger ATM fare-integrated transport system. It joins Plaça Espanya, in the Sants-Montjuïc district of Barcelona with metropolitan area municipalities of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Cornellà de Llobregat and Sant Boi de Llobregat.

Overview

The pink line, mostly underground, links Plaça Espanya, in Barcelona proper, with Sant Boi de Llobregat, through L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. It opened in 1912 as a narrow gauge train line (hence predating the first metro Line 3 by 12 years), and was known as S3 until 2003, hence the name of its suburban extended line (S33). It's also part of the Llobregat-Anoia and Metro del Baix Llobregat railway networks run by FGC, from which trains continue from Molí Nou-Ciutat Cooperativa onwards. There is also a freight-only branch line before Sant Boi station that connects to the Port of Barcelona.

The line first took on its current form between 1985 and 1987 when the section Cornellà-Riera – Sant Josep was first moved underground, followed by the section Sant Josep – Espanya. In 1997 Magòria-La Campana station opened, followed by Molí Nou – Ciutat Cooperativa station in 2000.

An extension of the line further into central Barcelona, with a new station in Plaça Francesc Macià, has been discussed since May 1999.[1] The project was finally approved by the government of Catalonia in 2021, with the final alignment serving the stations Espanya, Hospital Clínic, Francesc Macià and Gràcia.[2] It will link both the metro and suburban services of the line with Trambaix routes T1, T2 and T3, Line 5 of the Barcelona Metro and the Vallès line. Preliminary works have already started as of 2022, with tunneling slated to begin in 2023. The extension is expected to be operational by 2028.[3] The line is also projected to extend further towards the Besós river, serving stations such as Joanic, Sagrada Familia and Glòries.

Technical details

Series 213 train

Current stations

Geographically accurate map of Line 8

References

  1. ^ "Barcelona Metro Projects".
  2. ^ "La Generalitat licita sis projectes constructius per al perllongament de l'L8 de FGC". La Vanguardia. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  3. ^ Guerrero, David (8 January 2022). "Las obras de la L8 preparan su arranque este mismo año". La Vanguardia. Retrieved 7 July 2022.

41°22′30″N 2°08′57″E / 41.375°N 2.14916°E / 41.375; 2.14916