Transportes

The Autoritat del Transport Metropolità de Barcelona (Metropolitan Transport Authority) was set up on March 19, 1997 as a reflection of the Anglo-Saxon concept of public authority that is responsible for coordinating and operating the different public services. Its objective was to break the technical and political barriers that, at the gates of the 21st century, made connexions difficult between Barcelona and its metropolitan area.

The arrival of the train to Sant Cugat del Vallès in 1917 involved much more than a direct communication with Barcelona, meaning to take one of the first steps towards the electrification of the industry and the daily life in the area. With this book we celebrate the centenary of a badge line that, with subsequent extensions by the different municipalities of Vallès, became one of the most advanced suburban networks in Europe.

The Tramvia-Ciutat Conference, held in Barcelona in March 2017, brought together voices of Bordeaux, Zaragoza, Berlin, Sydney, Florence and Amsterdam, presenting their successful experience in tramway matters. Reviewing the past, present, and future of trams across Europe, this book was the Conference presentation.

The American spirit of the Brill trains reached the heart of Catalonia a hundred years ago thanks to the initiative of two great visionaries: Carles Emili Montañés and Frederick Stark Pearson. The Barcelona-Vallès railway was conceived according to the model of the North American classic long distance trains, favouring the electrification of Catalan industry and life in its path. A unique example in Europe.

The commissioning of the 111 series trains on the Barcelona-Vallès network in 1983 symbolized the modernity and renovation that FGC has bet for since its creation as a public company. Three decades later, while these trains were withdrawn, we got on for one last trip, remembering their history and reviewing their technical characteristics.

After more than 30 years of absence, the tramway ran again through the streets of Barcelona in the morning of April 3, 2004. This renewed, fast, safe, comfortable and luminous means of transport was the wager of the Government of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council to resolve some connectivity shortage of Barcelona’s metropolitan area. The decision was a success and that is the reason why we celebrate its 10th anniversary with this book.