Manresa is currently debating two distinct, multi-million euro proposals for extending the FGC railway into the city centre, according to a recent analysis in Regió 7. These plans, which involve significant investment, aim to improve rail connectivity and urban integration within the Bages capital.
One proposal suggests extending the underground line from Plaça d'Espanya to Sant Domènec, potentially reaching La Reforma, with the primary goal of creating an interchange with Renfe services. The second option would extend the line from Plaça de les Oques along the old route to a distant Renfe interchange at El Congost.
Both options involve substantial costs, estimated at over €200 million. Given current resource constraints, these investments are considered highly improbable, if not practically impossible, according to the analysis. The main objective of both proposals is to enable passenger transfers between the FGC and Renfe lines. However, direct train interchange is unfeasible due to different track gauges.
Considering Interchange Options
An alternative for passenger interchange could be Sant Vicenç de Castellet. This location offers two key advantages: functional benefits, allowing Renfe passengers immediate access to a future regional metropolitan network, and economic viability, as Renfe and FGC lines share the same topographical level there.
The debate between the Plaça de les Oques and Plaça d'Espanya options has sparked discussion among proponents. Supporters of the Plaça de les Oques route argue that the current project could undermine their long-term strategy. However, reaching El Congost would incur significant costs. They might not consider the simpler option of creating a short 'spur track' from Plaça d'Espanya to the current Manresa Baixador station, which could then continue towards El Congost.
A similar argument applies if the station were built at Plaça de les Oques and the future underground extension went towards Sant Domènec. This latter option, according to the analysis, makes more sense, as reaching the city centre is a fundamental goal for any urban train service.
Evaluating the Plaça d'Espanya Extension
Ultimately, the analysis suggests that neither option would be definitively threatened by the current project, removing any 'casus belli' between the two proposals. The additional cost of extending the line to Plaça d'Espanya is considered relatively modest, as a station would still need to be built at the current Manresa Baixador location anyway.
Is this an expense or an investment? The analysis argues it is an investment, considering the intermodality offered by Plaça d'Espanya with urban and interurban buses. The square also provides ample space for a future central platform. Furthermore, factoring in the cost of redeveloping Plaça d'Espanya, the extension becomes an investment rather than just an expense.
Extending the line to Plaça d'Espanya would bring the railway closer to the city centre, enhance the square's appearance, and provide a better position and symbolic capacity for what would likely remain a terminal station for a long time. Believing in and dignifying the city's railway infrastructure is also part of this process.
Following the regulated public hearings, the Manresa City Council and the Generalitat de Catalunya hold the right and duty to make the political and technical decisions. This is because urban planning is considered a state structure, much like citizens of Bages do not have the right to decide the director of Regió 7 newspaper.
