Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya will interrupt service between Gràcia and Sarrià for 13 days, from August 11 to 23, due to track renovation works that will affect a key section of the network in Barcelona.
The foreseen incident will affect lines S1 between Barcelona and Terrassa, S2 between Barcelona and Sabadell and L6 between plaça Catalunya and Sarrià. During that period, no trains will run between both stations and an alternative bus service will be enabled to cover the same route.
Works on a section with infrastructure at the end of its useful life
The action responds to the need to renew the tracks between Gràcia and Sarrià after they have reached the end of their useful life. The works are valued at more than 4 million euros and their execution will be carried out by the temporary union of companies UTE Muntaner.
It is a maintenance intervention in one of the corridors with the most passenger traffic within the FGC network in the Catalan capital, with passage through very used stations in the upper area of the city.
Replacement buses in the affected stations
To reduce the impact of the railway cut, FGC has put out to tender a special bus service with an estimated value of 704,000 euros. That amount includes buses, personnel, vehicles, insurance, and fuels.
The road service will have stops in areas close to the stations affected by the interruption, specifically in Sant Gervasi, Muntaner, la Bonanova and Les Tres Torres. The objective is to maintain the connection between the points that will be left without railway service while the works last.
"equivalent to that offered by the railway service, in which regularity, safety, accessibility, and reliability are guaranteed" - Tender document, FGC
Open period for submitting offers
Companies interested in taking on this alternative service have until Thursday, April 9, to submit their offers. FGC seeks to close in advance the operation of the special August device, coinciding with the period in which the infrastructure renovation will be carried out.
The closure will force a reorganization of mobility in an especially sensitive section for users who travel daily between Barcelona and Vallès, although the forecast is that the bus service will maintain the connection between Gràcia and Sarrià until the works finish and the usual train circulation is recovered.