Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya
Encyclopedia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
The lines operated include metro and commuter lines in and around the city of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, tourist operated mountain railways, and rural railway lines. They include 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) of 600mm gauge route, 140 kilometres (87 mi) of metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
route, 42 kilometres (26.1 mi) of standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
route, and 89 kilometres (55.3 mi) of broad gauge
Iberian gauge
Iberian gauge is the name given to the track gauge most extensively used by the railways of Spain and Portugal: namely ....
route, making the FGC one of the few railway companies to operate on four different gauges.
Whilst most lines are conventional adhesion railways, the FGC also operates two rack railway
Rack railway
A rack-and-pinion railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail...
s and four funicular railways
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
.
Barcelona metro and commuter lines
FGC operates some of the BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
commuter rail network. All lines are overhead DC electrified
Electrification
Electrification originally referred to the build out of the electrical generating and distribution systems which occurred in the United States, England and other countries from the mid 1880's until around 1940 and is in progress in developing countries. This also included the change over from line...
. There are two distinct (and separate) systems:
- The Metro del VallèsMetro del VallèsLínia Barcelona-Vallès or Metro del Vallès is the collective name under which several rail lines operated by the Catalan rail company Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya are known. They serve several areas of Vallès and the metropolitan area of Barcelona, and their common terminus is the...
and Línia de Balmes are standard-gauge lines that run from Plaça de Catalunya railway station to Av. Tibidabo (L7, brown on the map), Reina Elisenda (L6, purple), Sant Cugat del VallèsSant Cugat del VallèsSant Cugat del Vallès is a town and municipality north of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. In antiquity known as Castrum Octavianum, it is named after Saint Cucuphas, who is said to have been martyred on the spot now occupied by its medieval monastery.Sant Cugat has seen its population increase in...
(S5), SabadellSabadellSabadell is the second largest city in the comarca of the Vallès Occidental in Catalonia, Spain. It is in the south of the comarca, on the River Ripoll, 20 km north-west of Barcelona...
(S2), and TerrassaTerrassaTerrassa is a city in the east central region of Catalonia, Spain, in the comarca of Vallès Occidental, of which it is the co-capital along with Sabadell, the historic capital....
(S1).
- The Metro del Baix Llobregat are metre-gauge lines that run from the Plaça d'Espanya railway stationEspanya (Barcelona Metro)Espanya or Plaça Espanya is one of the most important stations of the Barcelona Metro network, located under one of the city's largest squares, Plaça Espanya, in the Sants-Montjuïc district...
to Molí Nou-Ciutat Cooperativa (in Sant Boi de LlobregatSant Boi de LlobregatSant Boi de Llobregat is a town of 80,000 inhabitants in the Barcelona province in Catalonia, located aside the Llobregat river.The town distributes its territory into six districts: Ciutat Cooperativa-Molí Nou, Marianao-Can Paulet, Barri Centre, Vinyets-Molí Vell, Camps Blancs-Canons-Orioles and...
, L8 - pink on the map), Martorell-Enllaç (S8), Olesa de MontserratOlesa de MontserratOlesa de Montserrat is a town in the comarca of Baix Llobregat, in Catalonia, Spain.Olesa de Montserrat is well known around the nearby places because of its olive oil and textile production, but especially because of its world-famous Passion play , first documented in 1538...
(S4), ManresaManresaManresa is the capital of the Comarca of Bages, located in the geographic centre of Catalonia, Spain, and crossed by the river Cardener. It is an industrial area with textile, metallurgical, and glass industries. The houses of Manresa are arranged around the basilica of Santa María de la Seo....
(R5), and IgualadaIgualadaIgualada is a municipality of the province of Barcelona in Catalonia . It is located on the left bank of the Anoia river, and at the western end of the Igualada-Martorell-Barcelona railway. Igualada is the capital and central market of the Anoia comarca, a rich agricultural and wine-producing...
(R6). There is also a metre-gauge freight line to the port of Barcelona, which diverges from the main line between Sant Boi and Cornellà. Along the Llobregat valley, FGC runs on the northern bank through Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sant Vicenç dels HortsSant Vicenç dels HortsSant Vicenç dels Horts is a municipality in the comarca of the Baix Llobregatin Catalonia. It is situated on the right bank of the Llobregat river, on the N-340 road from...
, PallejàPallejàPallejà is a municipality in the comarca of the Baix Llobregatin Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the right bank of the Llobregat river, on the main N-II road.The main rail lines of the Llobregat corridor pass through the town: the...
and on to Martorell (Enllaç), whereas the broad gauge line R4 runs on the southern bank through towns Sant Joan DespíSant Joan DespíSant Joan Despí is a city and municipality located in the Baix Llobregat area . It is situated on the left bank of the Llobregat river...
, Sant Feliu de LlobregatSant Feliu de LlobregatSant Feliu de Llobregat is a city and municipality in Catalonia, Spain, in the province of Barcelona. It is the capital of the comarca of Baix Llobregat, and the see of a Bishopric since June 2005, when the Archbishopric of Barcelona was divided in three....
, Molins de ReiMolins de ReiMolins de Rei is a municipality located at 18km from Barcelona's city centre, in the comarca of the Baix Llobregat in Catalonia, Spain.It is situated on the left bank of the Llobregat river, on the A-7 autopista from Valencia to La Jonquera and the main N-II road.Its location has made Molins de Rei...
and on to Martorell.
The line numbering is as follows:
- L-prefixed lines (L for Línia - line) are treated as part of the Barcelona metro system, which consists of L1-L5 for the metro proper, L6-L8 on the FGC, L9 and L10 partially open and partially under construction, and L11, a short light rail line system in the northwest - see Barcelona MetroBarcelona MetroThe Barcelona Metro , part of the public transportation system of Barcelona, Catalonia, is an extensive network of electrified railways that run underground in central Barcelona and above ground into the city's suburbs. Since July 31, 2010, Barcelona Metro system consists of 11 lines with 165...
. L6 and L7 used to be known as U6 and U7 (U for Urbà - urban), while L8 was formerly known as S3.
- S-prefixed lines (S for Suburbà) are suburban lines, extending into metropolitan fare zone 2 or 3.
- R-prefixed lines (R for RodaliesCercaníasCercanías is the name given to the commuter rail systems of Spain's major metropolitan areas. In Catalonia and Valencia, however, the term is replaced by Rodalies , while the designation Aldirikoak is used in the Basque Country....
) are Interurban lines, extending beyond zone 3. Lines R1-R4 and R7 are run by Rodalies de CatalunyaRodalies de CatalunyaRodalies de Catalunya is a commuter rail that serves Barcelona and its metropolitan area, other parts of the province and some municipalities of the provinces of Girona and Tarragona...
(currently operated by RENFERENFERenfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF .- History :The name RENFE is derived from that of the former Spanish National...
), R5 and R6 are run and operated by FGC.
Mountain railway, tourist and funicular lines
The FGC operates three mountain railwayMountain railway
A mountain railway is a railway that ascends and descends a mountain slope that has a steep grade. Such railways can use a number of different technologies to overcome the steepness of the grade...
lines:
- The Montserrat Rack RailwayMontserrat Rack RailwayThe Montserrat Rack Railway is a mountain railway line north of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. The line runs from Monistrol de Montserrat to the mountain-top monastery of Montserrat....
, which runs from MonistrolMonistrol de MontserratMonistrol de Montserrat is a municipality in the comarca of the Bages inCatalonia, Spain. The municipality includes the southern two-thirds of the massif of Montserratand the famous Benedictine monastery of the same name...
, on FGC's suburban line to Manresa (R5), to the mountain-top monastery of Montserrat. This line re-opened in 2003, having opened in 1892 and closed in 1957. It is of metre gauge using the Abt rack railwayRack railwayA rack-and-pinion railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail...
system.
- The Vall de Núria Rack RailwayVall de Núria Rack RailwayThe Vall de Núria Rack Railway is a mountain railway line in the Pyrenees mountains in the north of the Catalonia region of Spain. The line connects Ribes de Freser with Queralbs and Vall de Núria...
, in the PyreneesPyreneesThe Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
mountains of northern Catalonia. This is also of metre gauge using the Abt rack railway system, and the two lines, although many kilometres apart, occasionally swap stock.
- The Ferrocarril Turístic de l'Alt Llobregat, which runs from La Pobla de LilletLa Pobla de LilletLa Pobla de Lillet is a municipality in the comarca of the Berguedà inCatalonia. It is located in the upper valley of the Llobregat river and is linked to Guardiola de Berguedà by Road B-402....
to Clot del Moro, also in northern Catalonia. This line is of 600mm gauge, and operates using adhesion only.
The FGC also operates four funicular railways
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
:
- The Funicular de Sant JoanFunicular de Sant JoanThe Funicular de Sant Joan is a funicular railway at Montserrat, near Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. The line connects the monastery, and the upper terminus of the Montserrat Rack Railway, with sacred sites, walking trails and viewpoints higher up the mountain...
, from the upper station of the Montserrat Rack Railway to the summit of the mountain of Montserrat.
- The Funicular de Santa CovaFunicular de Santa CovaThe Funicular de Santa Cova, or Santa Cova funicular railway, is a funicular railway at Montserrat, near Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. The line descends from the monastery, and the upper terminus of the Montserrat Rack Railway, on a continuous curve to a lower station that gives access, via a...
, also from the upper station of the Montserrat Rack Railway to a nearby shrine.
- The Funicular de GelidaFunicular de GelidaThe Funicular de Gelida is a funicular railway in the municipality of Gelida in Catalonia, Spain. The line connects Gelida station, on the RENFE , with the centre of the village of Gelida, which is at a higher level...
, connecting the town of GelidaGelidaGelida is a municipality in the comarca of Alt Penedès, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
with its railway station.
- The Funicular de VallvidreraFunicular de Vallvidreraright|300px|thumb|Funicular cab at Vallvidrera Superior stationThe Funicular de Vallvidrera, or Vallvidrera funicular, is a funicular railway in the Vallvidrera district of the city of Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain...
, connecting a station on the Metro del Vallès suburban line to the top of the TibidaboTibidaboTibidabo is a mountain overlooking Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. At 512 meters it is the tallest mountain in the Serra de Collserola. Rising sharply to the north-west, it affords spectacular views over the city and the surrounding coastline....
hill.
Broad-gauge lines
On 1 January 2005, ownership of the non-electrified broad-gauge line from LleidaLleida
Lleida is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital city of the province of Lleida, as well as the largest city in the province and it had 137,387 inhabitants , including the contiguous municipalities of Raimat and Sucs. The metro area has about 250,000 inhabitants...
to La Pobla de Segur
La Pobla de Segur
La Pobla de Segur is a town and municipality located in the comarca of Pallars Jussà, province of Lleida, Catalonia, in northern Spain. According to the 2009 census , the town has a population of 3,237 inhabitants. It is situated at the confluence of the Flamicell and Noguera Pallaresa rivers in...
passed from RENFE
RENFE
Renfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF .- History :The name RENFE is derived from that of the former Spanish National...
to FGC. This is the most derelict line in Catalonia — the stretch from Lleida to Balaguer
Balaguer
Balaguer is the capital of the comarca of Noguera, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain.It is located by the river Segre, a tributary to the Ebre....
was upgraded (using second-hand rails) in the recent past, but from Balaguer northwards the track is in an appalling state. FGC has a number of plans for this line, including increasing the service frequency from three trains a day to a 30-minute service from Balaguer to Lleida, along the lines of a commuter railway; replacing all the rails and sleepers; introducing new trains to replace the ancient diesel stock currently used; and promotion of the line to tourists (it passes through some scenic countryside at its northern end). There are even plans to extend the line to the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
and possibly on to connect with railways in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
— the plan when the line was built, but never carried out.
See also
- List of FGC lines
- RENFERENFERenfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF .- History :The name RENFE is derived from that of the former Spanish National...
- FEVEFEVEFEVE is a state-owned Spanish railway company, which operates most of Spain's of metre gauge railway.-History:...
- Transportation in Spain
- History of rail transport in SpainHistory of rail transport in SpainRail transport in Spain operates on four rail gauges and services are operated by a variety of private and public operators. The total route length in 2008 was 15,288 km :...