historic day for Barcelona. The new section of the tram along Diagonal between Plaça de les Glòries and Verdaguer has entered into operation this Sunday after more than two years of construction. It has been launched after an entire summer of integration work on the tracks and a blank marching phase to make the final checks before its final start-up. In addition, it has started operating a day later than planned, because this Saturday its employees called a strike.
Its premiere represents one more step to make the future urban connection a reality that will allow connecting the Trambaix and Trambesòs lines along the Diagonal. It is a union that has been the subject of municipal discussions for decades and that led to a citizen consultation in 2010 in which the ‘no’ won. After repeated attempts to push forward the new infrastructure in previous mandates, the government of Jaume Collboni has been proposed finish the work once and for all so that could be a reality in 2028. Although it warns that the connection will only be possible if there are approved Budgets for 2025.
It will connect Glòries and Verdaguer in seven minutes
The new service will link Glòries and Verdaguer in seven minutes and will have four stops: Glòries interchange, Monumental, Sicily and Verdaguer. According to municipal forecasts, this section, which passes through the center of the city, will serve about 24,000 travelers a day and will allow the elimination of around 2,000 cars a day on Diagonal.
It will be operated by Trambesòs line T4, which since October 21 no longer runs to Ciutadella / Vila Olímpica and ends in Glòries, to prepare Barcelona residents for the changes that will take place starting this Saturday. The T5 and T6 do reach Ciutadella / Vila Olímpica.
Barcelona postpones the opening party
For the grand and long-awaited premiere, the City Council had prepared a party, which was going to feature children’s games, workshops on sustainable mobility and musical performances. However, finally has been postponed as a sign of solidarity and respect for the situation that Valencia is suffering due to the passage of the DANA. The celebration will take place “later”, although there is still no confirmed date.
Next step: reach Francesc Macià
The Government shares with the City Council the objective of bringing the tram from Verdaguer to Francesc Macià and thus linking the Trambaix and the Trambesòs. The Collboni executive already has the executive project and the ATM anticipates that the construction project will be ready at the end of this year to be able to process and tender the works in 2025. These would last 40 months, that is, more than three years, since they also include the urban transformation of the area.
However, the mayor has made it a condition have some accounts for next year, not only in the Barcelona town hall, but also in the Government of Salvador Illa. The first deputy mayor, Laia Bonet, highlighted this when the inauguration of the new section along Diagonal was announced. “We do not separate it from the Budgets, we need to be able to have the security of having the resources“he insisted.
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