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Barcelona’s train station is getting a spectacular glow-up

Barcelona-Sants is set to be redesigned with new entrances, concourses, platforms and green spaces

Ed Cunningham
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Ed Cunningham
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If you’ve been to Barcelona’s Sants station in recent years, you’ll probably have noticed that it isn’t, erm, the nicest of rail stations. The Catalan capital’s largest train station is a bit dark and dated – and it certainly isn’t very green.

But that’s all set to change in the next few years, with Sants slated to undergo a spectacular new upgrade that’ll transform it into one of Europe’s swishest transport hubs. Sants’ renovation plans include designs for a new concourse and waiting halls, as well as two brand-new entrances, a metro lobby and remodelled public spaces and platforms. 

And that certainly isn’t all. The new Sants could boast some pretty sweet environmentally-friendly features, from being partly powered by 14,000 square metres of photovoltaic solar panels to using waste energy from the platforms to heat the station and concourse. The redesigned station will also be surrounded by a load of lush, grassy green spaces.

Work on Sants’ upgrade is set to break ground at the end of 2023, with the first phase due to be completed by 2026. It looks like it’ll all be pretty darn swanky – here are a few renders of the designs.

Barcelona-Sants station upgrade
Image: Ajuntament de Barcelona | Barcelona-Sants
Barcelona-Sants station upgrade
Image: Ajuntament de Barcelona | Barcelona-Sants
Barcelona-Sants station upgrade
Image: Ajuntament de Barcelona | Barcelona-Sants
Barcelona-Sants station upgrade
Image: Ajuntament de Barcelona | Barcelona-Sants

Better yet is that a glossed-up Sants will no doubt play a huge part in the ongoing Spanish rail revolution. The country is basking in plenty of new mega-cheap, high-speed routes – and, having set aside tens of billions of euros to spend on rail infrastructure over the next decade, Spain’s enviable train network is set to have us hankering even more for an Iberian rail adventure in the years to come. 

Did you see that Spain is making intercity trains free this autumn?

Plus: Spain’s new high-speed train will link Barcelona and Madrid for just €18.

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