A new railway connection, the R-Aeroport, is expected to link El Prat Airport's Terminal 1 (T1) directly with Barcelona city centre by the first half of 2027. This development aims to resolve long-standing public transport challenges between the airport and the city, according to statements from Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC).
The new service will connect T1 with Passeig de Gràcia station, a key central hub. FGC will operate the line, marking its first significant experience managing a service on ADIF infrastructure. Carles Ruiz, president of FGC, told El Periódico that while exact dates are difficult, the line should be operational in the first six months of 2027.
Historically, connecting El Prat Airport to Barcelona by public transport has presented difficulties. The Aerobús service currently offers a reliable bus link to Plaça de Catalunya. The existing Rodalies R2 Nord train line serves Terminal 2 (T2), but passengers for T1 must use a shuttle bus or the L9 Sud Metro line to transfer between terminals.
Addressing Past Transport Gaps
The L9 Sud Metro, which reached the airport in 2012, improved connectivity but still requires transfers at peripheral stations like Torrassa (L1) or Zona Universitària (L3) to reach central Barcelona. Its route through El Prat de Llobregat also extends travel times to the city. Furthermore, the L9's full potential is limited by delays in completing its central section, now expected by 2031-2032.
The new R-Aeroport line is a short-term solution to these issues. It will be the first train service to directly connect T1 with central Barcelona. The Ministry of Transport is responsible for the infrastructure, which represents an investment exceeding €400 million.
Infrastructure Details and Future Plans
The project includes a new 5.2-kilometre double-track branch line from T1, connecting to the Barcelona-Vilanova line near El Prat station. This new section features a new intermediate station at T2 and a 4.3-kilometre underground stretch, with 3.1 kilometres passing beneath the airport's runways. Once operational, the current branch line connecting El Prat to the old T2 station will be dismantled, along with the elevated 400-metre walkway. A new underground connection between T2 and the L9 Sud Metro station is planned.
Construction of the new branch and the two new stations at T1 and T2 was 95% complete in its second phase by January 2025, according to the Ministry of Transport during a visit by Minister Óscar Puente. Works on the crossing and connection with the Barcelona-Vilanova line, as well as electrification of the new branch, were finished by that date.
Service and Stations
FGC plans for trains to run every 15 minutes, with a journey time of just over 20 minutes between Passeig de Gràcia and T1. The service is projected to serve approximately seven million passengers annually. The R-Aeroport line will be 22.7 kilometres long and include nine stations: Sant Andreu, Sagrera-TAV, El Clot, Passeig de Gràcia, Sants, Bellvitge, El Prat, Aeroport T-2, and Aeroport T-1. It is important to note that the Sagrera-TAV station will not open until 2032, and both Aeroport T-1 and Aeroport T-2 stations are entirely new constructions.
The new line's launch could also see the opening of the high-speed train station at El Prat, a station where trains have passed without stopping since 2008. This would partially realise the abandoned project of extending high-speed services to the airport terminals.
Regarding fares, the new line's pricing is yet to be finalised. Current references include the Metro's specific €5.90 airport fare, which does not apply to regular pass users like T-Usual or T-Jove, and the Rodalies R2 Nord, which is integrated into the ATM Barcelona fare system. FGC will use ten Alstom-manufactured trains for the new service.
