Public transport in Barcelona's La Marina neighbourhoods, specifically La Marina del Prat Vermell and La Marina de Port in the Sants-Montjuïc district, is undergoing major changes. These areas, centred around Passeig de la Zona Franca, are experiencing rapid residential expansion, with an estimated 30,000 new residents expected in the near future, according to El Nacional.
These developments, particularly in the area bounded by Carrer Foc, Carrer Metal·lúrgia, Carrer Motors, and Passeig de la Zona Franca, highlight the need for improved infrastructure. New housing, half of which is protected, and the arrival of 8,000 to 11,000 workers for new administrative centres, including the Catalan Tax Agency and the Generalitat's new administrative district, are driving demand. Essential services like a primary healthcare centre (CAP) and a nursery are already planned, alongside sports, educational, cultural, and community facilities.
Mobility is a critical concern for these neighbourhoods, which are separated from the city centre by Montjuïc mountain. The main transport artery is Passeig de la Zona Franca to Plaça Cerdà, connecting to Gran Via towards Plaça d'Espanya and Ronda del Mig towards Sants and Les Corts. The opening of Metro L10 Sud stations Foc and Foneria in 2018, followed by the X3 bus line in May 2025, which links the area to Plaça Espanya via Montjuïc, marked initial improvements. Now, several new projects are set to transform public transport.
Immediate Bus Route Changes
One immediate change, implemented this week, involves a significant alteration to Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) bus line V5. This line, previously running between Mare de Déu de Port and Pedralbes, has extended its route. Its new origin/terminus is at Carrer Acer with Carrer Motors, adding eight new stops and covering a wider area of the expanding neighbourhood.
The V5 line's route name has also changed to Marina del Prat Vermell - Pedralbes. It now extends south from Carrer de la Mare de Déu de Port, travelling along Carrer del Foc and Passeig de la Zona Franca to the corner of Carrer Motors, and then to Carrer del Acer. From there, buses turn onto Carrer de Cal Cisó before rejoining Passeig de la Zona Franca, extending the route by nearly two kilometres. Three stops have been cancelled: two in the sea direction (2495 on Carrer Mare de Déu de Port and 3517 on Carrer Cisell) and one in the mountain direction (the former origin/terminus 3546 on Passeig Zona Franca-Sant Eloi).
The V5 line carried almost 2.8 million passengers in 2025, a 4.5% increase from 2024. It records an average of nearly 9,000 validations on weekdays, 3,500 on Saturdays, and 2,700 on public holidays. The V5 operates from 5:50am to 10pm on weekdays and from 6am to 10pm on Saturdays and public holidays. The route extension will not affect the usual service frequency.
New Express Bus Line
Also in the short term, a new express bus line is expected to start service in 2026, connecting La Marina with Drassanes via El Morrot. As reported by Betevé last Thursday, this line will offer a fast connection between La Marina del Prat Vermell and Drassanes and Ciutat Vella, linking the neighbourhood directly to the city centre. Raquel Gil, the Sants-Montjuïc district councillor, announced at the last La Marina neighbourhood council meeting that the line is intended to be operational by the end of 2026. This new line is seen as a first step in converting the entire El Morrot area into a civic corridor, bridging the two sides of Montjuïc currently separated by the port area. This broader conversion, however, is a long-term project.
Metro L10 Sud Expansion
In the medium term, the Motors Metro station on the L10 Sud line is set to open. Located between the existing Foc and Zona Franca stations, at the intersection of Carrer Motors and Passeig de la Zona Franca, this station will significantly improve mobility for current and future residents closer to the sea, as the Foc station is currently a kilometre away. While no specific opening date has been set, sources from the Department of Territory told ElNacional.cat that its opening will coincide with the activation of the central section of Metro lines L9 and L10. This programme of works includes connecting the northern and southern branches in 2031 and opening the final stations in 2032.
Long-Term Metro L2 Extension
The most ambitious long-term project is the extension of Metro L2. This long-standing plan aims to connect central Barcelona with Montjuïc and La Marina, eventually reaching the airport via the L9 infrastructure. The L2 extension was part of the original Olympic dream, with initial progress in 2006 halted in 2009. However, in December 2024, Barcelona City Council and the Catalan government agreed to restart the project. This involves building a six-kilometre tunnel extension, requiring an investment of approximately €1 billion. Work is currently focused on updating the 2009 construction project, which will be followed by tendering and execution of the works, though no specific timeline or funding plan is yet in place.
The updated project, based on the 2009 plan, will start from the current Sant Antoni station. It will then proceed to the L3 station at Poble Sec, meaning the current L2 branch to Paral·lel would no longer be in commercial use. From Poble Sec, the line will enter Montjuïc, with stations at MNAC, near Font Màgica, and at INEFC (previously proposed as Foixarda) within the Olympic Ring area. It will then cross to the other side of the mountain, connecting with the L10 Foc station and the L9 Fira and Parc Logístic stations.
This project includes six new L2 stations: Poble Sec, MNAC, INEFC, Foc, Fira, and Parc Logístic, starting from Sant Antoni. The six-kilometre tunnel will mostly be excavated using a tunnel boring machine, with a 600-metre section built using screen walls. The long-term plan also maintains the possibility that once the L2 reaches Parc Logístic station, its trains could connect to the L9 infrastructure and continue to the airport.
