Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya
April 21, 2021Metro Lines, Local Trains, Funiculars and Rack Railways
The Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) are a kind of cross between a metro and local train that operate in the Barcelona area, which are property of the Catalan government, the Generalitat of Catalonia, rather than the Spanish national railway company RENFE.
In fact, three of the lines (L6, L7 and L8) form part of the Barcelona metro system whilst the lines that go out out to Terrassa and Sabadell are known as the Metro del Vallès and the lines serving the south of Barcelona from Plaça d’Espanya are known as the Metro del Baix Llobregat.
Other lines serve the comarcas of L’Anoia and El Bages and these lines include funicular and rack railway (cremallera) services to Montserrat.
The FGC company also operates a service in the province of Lleida that runs from Lleida capital to the Pobla de Segur.
As with all Barcelona Transport Services, all Ferrocarril de la Generalitat journeys within Zone 1 of the Barcelona Metropolitan area are part of the TMB integrated system, which means you can use the same ticket as you do on the Barcelona metro, buses, local trains or the Barcelona tram system.
The ten-journey T10 is an excellent choice for getting around the city or if you are coming as a tourist, I strongly recommend investing in a three, four or five-day Barcelona Card, which not only covers all your transport needs but also gives you access to museums and tourist attractions as well as discounts in shops and restaurants.
Barcelona FGC-Metro Lines
There are three Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya lines that form part of the Barcelona Metro system.
The Lilac L6 FGC-Metro Line runs from Plaça Catalunya to Reina Elisenda in Sarrià.
The Brown L7 FGC-Metro Line, also known as the Línea de Balmes, is the section of the Terrassa line that runs from Plaça Catalunya to Avinguda Tibidabo.
The Pink L8 FGC-Metro Line, also known as the Metro del Baix Llobregat, runs from Barcelona-Plaça Espanya to Molí Nou-Ciutat Cooperativa in Sant Boi de Llobregat.
- Read More about the Barcelona Metro
Barcelona-El Vallès Line
All trains on the Barcelona-El Vallès line leave from Barcelona Plaça Catalunya in the direction of the comarca of El Vallès Occidental inland from Barcelona.
The L6 and L7 lines are part of the Barcelona metro system as they have terminus within the city of Barcelona.
The other lines are preceded by S and serve Terrassa-Rambla via Sant Cugat (S1), Sabadell-Rambla (S2), Rubí (S3) and the Universiat Autònoma de Barcelona (S33).
Llobregat-Anoia Line
All trains on the Llobregat-Anoia line leave from Barcelona Plaça Espanya and offer services to the comarcas to the south of Barcelona of El Baix Llobregat and L’Anoia.
Four lines comprise what is known as the Metro del Baix Llobregat, including L8, which runs from Plaça Espanya to Molí Nou-Ciutat Cooperativa.
The other lines are preceded by S and serve Can Ros in Sant Vicenç dels Horts (S33), Olesa de Montserrat (S4) and Martorell (S8).
The R5 and R50 lines, which connect Plaça Espanya with Manresa-Baixador, and the R6 and R60 lines, which connect Plaça Espanya with Igualada, are all part of the Rodalies Barcelona Local Trains network.
Funiculars and Cremallera Trains
The Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat also operate special transport services at Montserrat.
These are the tren cremallera de Montserrat, which connects the station of Monistirol with the top of the mountain, as well as the Funicular de Sant Joan and the Funicular de La Santa Cova, which take you to different parts of the mountain.
FGC also operates the Funicular de Vallvidrera and the Funicular de Gelida in L’Alt Penedès and other services outside Barcelona Province.