• The work to finalise this infrastructure, part of the first phase of connecting the two tram networks, will continue throughout the summer with integration and dry run tests, with the aim of launching the service in autumn 2024.

• This summer, Barcelona is also unveiling a revamped Avinguda Diagonal, between Carrer de Los Castillejos and Passeig de Sant Joan, with 17,290 m² of new pavements. This iconic city thoroughfare has been completely reconfigured to provide more space for pedestrians, greenery, and sustainable transport.

• The new tram infrastructure section will connect Glòries and Verdaguer in 7 minutes and will link with four metro lines (L1, L2, L4, and L5) and thirteen TMB bus lines. An increase of 24,000 daily trips on this mode is expected, almost double the current figure.

Tonight, the first tram circulation tests on Avinguda Diagonal will begin, in the section between Plaça de les Glòries and Passeig de Sant Joan. The city of Barcelona is taking another step towards the launch of this public transport infrastructure, which will complement the existing services. The integration tests will allow for the necessary checks and adjustments to be made in order to commence service in autumn 2024.

The aim is to test the compatibility of the trams with the new route and the rest of the completed civil works, including platforms and the ground-level power supply (APS). Therefore, it is planned that a tram will run at a reduced speed of 5 km/h along the new section between the new Glòries and Verdaguer stations. The Glòries interchange station will be the starting point of the route, where the tram—one of the 18 adapted to be powered via the third rail—will switch from overhead catenary power to underground power by lowering the pantograph and the skates.

This first tram departure will be accompanied by a team of technical staff from the Project Management Office and will have the collaboration of the Barcelona Urban Guard, which will carry out traffic light regulation tasks at the intersections of the tracks with pedestrian crossings and streets with traffic. The test is conducted at night to minimise disruption to traffic. The outcome of the tests, which begin today and will continue throughout the summer, will mark the start of the dry run, the final phase before service begins.

Testing the continuous ground power system, a pioneering technology

As previously announced, the connection of the tram networks along Avinguda Diagonal will be carried out without overhead contact lines or catenaries and will use a continuous ground power system based on a third rail flush with the surface between the two rails, which powers the trams exclusively as they pass, in a continuous and safe manner. Thus, the trams on this route will switch from one section to another by changing the power system and deploying or retracting the pantograph.

This system, in addition to the installation of the third rail and specific equipment in substations, has required the adaptation of the current fleet and the equipping of new trams. It will be the first time in the country that this technology is implemented on trams and the second time in the world that an operational tram fleet has been adapted to this technology. Therefore, today’s tests will be of great importance to verify its functionality.

The new section will change the operation of lines T4, T5, and T6

The new section from Glòries to Verdaguer, which is expected to start service in autumn, will be operated by the T4 line of Trambesòs, which will no longer run towards Ciutadella Vila Olímpica and will instead head towards the city centre. The T5 and T6 will cover the service from Glòries to the beach in Barcelona.

Phase 1 tram service map

The new tram service will travel 2 kilometres through the city centre and fully enter the urban fabric of the Eixample district. It is expected to accommodate an additional 24,000 trips per day and is estimated to remove around 2,000 cars from the central section of Avinguda Diagonal.

Tram infrastructure works in the final phase

The tram infrastructure works promoted by the Barcelona ATM, the tram service operator, are in their final phase. The entire tram platform has been completed, with the corresponding installation of the tracks, fastenings, and weldings. The installation of the ground power supply (APS) and the platforms and canopies of all the new stops is also finished. As for the traction equipment at the Glòries substation, which will independently power the catenary and APS, these are also complete.

Urban development of Avinguda Diagonal

In parallel with the infrastructure tests, this summer Barcelona is also unveiling the new urban development of Avinguda Diagonal, between Carrer de Los Castillejos and Passeig de Sant Joan, corresponding to the first phase of the tram connection works. The Catalan capital begins the holiday months with a new public space for the use and enjoyment of citizens, located on one of the city’s most iconic and busiest avenues. This new Diagonal is positioned at the forefront of major urban developments, offering more space for pedestrians, greenery, and sustainable transport.

This intervention was carried out as part of the project to connect the two tram networks and involved a reorganisation of current uses and the implementation of the following sections:

Between Passeig de Sant Joan and Carrer de la Marina: In the central trunk, the tram platform has been installed, a bidirectional bike lane has been built, and the lateral pavements have been expanded to the first row of trees. Private traffic has been reduced to two lanes per direction, located on the sides of the avenue, along with a service lane integrated into the tree line on both sides.

Between Carrer de la Marina and Carrer de Los Castillejos: The central promenade has been preserved, and the lateral green strips have been expanded; the mountain side lane includes the tram track, a bike lane, and a service lane, while the sea side lane has the tram track and one lane for private vehicles.

In addition to the major transformation of Avinguda Diagonal, Plaça Pablo Neruda, which serves as a junction between the avenue and Carrer d'Aragó, has also been remodelled, creating a large open space for the use and gathering of Barcelona’s residents.

To date, only the incorporation of greenery remains, which has not yet been possible due to drought restrictions, and the work to install stairs and a ramp at the height of Carrer de Los Castillejos, which will be completed by the end of the month. The original project at this point was modified after listening to residents' requests, opting for this solution to overcome the elevation difference.

The adaptation of the new Glòries interchange is also underway, as part of the ongoing Parc de Glòries project, and is expected to be integrated into the new urban development. The new stop for lines T4, T5, and T6, located in front of Disseny Hub Barcelona (DHub), has been operational since 9 May and is expected to become a major public transport interchange when the urban bus lines begin operating, also maintaining the connection with the L1 metro line.

Wider pavements, more greenery, and a new bike lane

This intervention has resulted in a significant gain for pedestrians, with the addition of 17,290 m² of new pavements. In some areas, the increase compared to the original pavement is significant, from 2.8 metres to 9.7 metres on the section between Passeig de Sant Joan and Sicilia, or from 4.8 to 16 metres in width between Carrer Sardenya and Carrer Marina. New street furniture, including benches and lighting, has been installed on the new pavements.

In terms of greenery, there will be major changes, and starting this autumn, after the drought conditions have improved, 8,965 m² of green areas and 266 new trees will be planted (89 trees had to be removed). In addition, 7,753 m² of green area will be added to the tram route and 1,734 m² of green space in the newly configured Plaça Pablo Neruda.

Finally, in relation to sustainable mobility, the old bike lane on this avenue has been modified and relocated to a new area of Diagonal, gaining width and segregating it from pedestrian traffic. A total of 5,040 m² of new bike lanes have been installed along 1.6 kilometres. Since May, Avinguda Diagonal has had a new bidirectional bike lane, renovated and located on the central roadway between Carrer de Sardenya and Carrer Girona, and on the mountain side roadway between Rambla dels Encants and Carrer Sardenya. The new bike lane is 4 metres wide between Sardenya and Girona and 5 metres wide between Rambla dels Encants and Sardenya. The new bike lane runs adjacent to the tram platform, so the traffic light phases for the bike lane will coincide with those of the tram when it becomes operational.

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