A "small, but very necessary" work, with a modest budget compared to those considered for large railway infrastructures, but with great effectiveness in taking some pressure off one of the most saturated Rodalies lines. The Minister of Transport, Raquel Sánchez, and the Minister of Territories, Juli Fernàndez, made official yesterday, the last day allowed by the electoral regulations, the start of work on the extension of the platforms of the Arc de Triomf station in Barcelona.
The works have a budget of just 2.89 million euros, but once completed, they will allow the two platforms of the Arc de Triomf station, one of the most central in Barcelona, to reach 200 meters, instead of the current ones 170. With this long-awaited simple solution, trains will be able to run in double composition and carry more passengers or those currently traveling have more space.
Currently, the Arc de Triomf station is the closest thing to a bottleneck in the Rodalies system, which limits its capacity. The solution that is now starting to be implemented was already proposed in 2008, but it took 15 years to start working on it, with the expectation that it will be operational in 2024. The works have an execution period of ten months Although the platforms should already be extended within seven months if the schedule is met. This extension will also act on the current lifts and stairs, and will allow more light to enter the platforms.
The state, regional and local authorities did not miss the opportunity to show up at this start of work. In the station lobby, the minister Raquel Sánchez, the minister Juli Fernàndez and the third deputy mayor of Barcelona, the socialist Laia Bonet, took the floor, who were accompanied by other authorities such as the new delegate of the Spanish Government in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto; the president of Renfe, Raúl Blanco; and the coordinator of the Rodalies plan, Pere Macias.
Sánchez highlighted the investment effort of the Government of Pedro Sánchez in the Rodalies network by ensuring that more than 1,000 million euros have already been executed, almost 30% of the 3,460 million planned until 2025, while the awards have exceeded 2,200 millions of euros.
The act was not left out of the continuous battles between the Spanish and Catalan governments when addressing the problems of Rodalies. Faced with the eternal demand for a "comprehensive" transfer of the service, the minister replied that, "in the face of those who continue to subscribe to the grievance, the facts are the best proof that an investment is being made." That is why it demanded that the Generalitat close the program contract with Renfe to ensure the operator's investments before going on to discuss the terms of a possible economic transfer of the tariff deficit and the difference between the cost of the service and the amount collected through the Sale of tickets. For his part, the Minister of Territories insisted on the will of the Generalitat to have a "comprehensive rail system" available shortly. Regarding the specific action in Arc de Triomf, Juli Fernàndez recalled the delay with which it has been carried out: "It is good news that after 15 years this will allow an increase in capacity by improving the infrastructure." Meanwhile, Laia Bonet described the work as "fundamental" for Barcelona, despite being a "surgical operation" that must be carried out with "great care".
This action should allow, according to the estimates referred to by the Barcelona councilor, that the annual validations at the Arc de Triomf metro stop reach the figure of five million.
