Initial 60-Metre Excavation Begins This Month
The tunnel boring machine for the L8 extension project will start limited operations this October, excavating a 60-metre stretch within the construction site on Gran Via in Barcelona. This preparatory phase will allow final assembly of the machine’s six trailers, according to the Department of Territory. The full-scale excavation towards Gràcia will not begin until early 2027. The announcement was confirmed by Territorial Policy Minister Sílvia Paneque during a site visit, who stated that despite delays from the original June timeline, the overall schedule remains intact.
The calendar today remains as initially conceived.
Ramon Ramírez, Director General of Mobility Infrastructure, clarified that the pause after the initial 60 metres was pre-planned and would not affect the broader timeline, with only a possible one-week variance either way.
Full Tunnel Completion Expected by Early 2028
The entire four-kilometre tunnel between Gran Via and Gràcia is expected to be fully excavated by the first quarter of 2028. The new underground link will connect the Llobregat-Anoia and Barcelona-Vallès lines operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (FGC), which are currently separate. Currently, the Llobregat-Anoia line terminates at Plaça Espanya, while the Vallès line runs through Gràcia to Plaça Catalunya. Once complete, passengers from Sabadell, Sant Quirze, and Sant Cugat will be able to travel seamlessly to destinations like Manresa and Igualada via transfers at the newly connected stations.
Service Launch Delayed to 2032
Passenger service on the new L8 segment is now expected to begin in 2032, two years later than the original 2030 target set in 2022. The delay was acknowledged by Minister Paneque during her visit, citing updated planning assessments. The project cost has also increased, reaching nearly €500 million, up from the initial €430 million budget. The funds cover both tunnel construction and the logistical infrastructure, including the excavation gallery beneath Carrer Llança and material transport to Parc Joan Miró for removal. Parallel works continue on completing the extraction logistics route under Carrer Llança, essential for removing spoil during full tunnel boring operations.
More Barcelona coverage on Barna.News: L8 Tunnel Boring Machine Starts Work in October.
Reported by diaridesabadell.com, liniaxarxa.cat, elnacional.cat, elpais.com, 20minutos.es, FGC Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya, [email protected], lavanguardia.com, en.ara.cat, beteve.cat, larazon.es, Diari de Sabadell.
