In Girona province, Adif has started the process to commission projects for a major overhaul of Maçanet-Massanes station, in Maçanet de la Selva. The aim is to reorganise tracks, platforms and access points so the station can handle more Rodalies commuter, regional and freight trains.
The contract is valued at an estimated €2.56 million and also covers studies for Sant Celoni and Sant Vicenç de Calders stations. It has a total timeframe of 30 months, with 18 months for drafting and processing the projects, followed by 12 months of technical support in the next phase.
Maçanet-Massanes is a key junction in Catalonia’s rail network. It links the Barcelona, Granollers, Girona, Figueres and Portbou line with the Barcelona and Mataró line. It also serves as a terminus for R2 Nord and R1 services, and forms part of the RG1 route between Maçanet and Portbou. More Catalonia news
Its position also matters for freight traffic on the Mediterranean Corridor, which connects Barcelona and the rest of the peninsula with the Portbou border. That means passenger, commuter, regional and freight trains all share a point where capacity is already tight.
The technical brief sets out a clear goal, create new spaces for trains up to 200 metres long to stop or park, and reorganise the station to cope with higher demand. The current layout leaves limited flexibility, because some trains must use specific tracks to reach the platforms, which can force manoeuvres that affect other movements.
Adif has asked for studies into options that reduce track changes and improve circulation. One proposal would keep track 1 as the main northbound track, while moving the preferred southbound track towards the mountain side. That would create more room between the main tracks for secondary lines where trains can stop without blocking the main route.
The project will also examine access points, inter-platform passages, accessibility, passenger flows, a new passenger building, car parks and possible urbanisation around the station. The documentation also includes studies for the new track’s passage under the LAV050 high-speed viaduct and a new bridge over the Santa Coloma stream. The contract does not set a start date for works, it begins the planning phase that will decide how the station grows.
