Alstom unveils the design of the new Coradia Stream train for FGC for the Barcelona airport connection

The new trains, developed and manufactured at Alstom’s industrial site in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda (Barcelona), are set to provide rapid connection services between Barcelona and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, starting in 2026. As a result, they have been designed for the specific needs of this type of journey, with lots of space for luggage and wider corridors to facilitate accessibility. They will also include the most advanced signalling solutions, as well as safety and passenger information systems to ensure the highest safety levels and best on-board experience.

Comfort, accessibility and passenger information

Each of these 5-cars Coradia Stream trains will feature 10 doors on each side (20 in total), with 209 seats (202 fixed and 7 folding), accommodating a total of 656 passengers. In addition to audible signals for door operations, a lighting system — green for opening and red for closing — will assist hearing-impaired passengers in identifying these actions.

Each train will feature 20 panoramic screens dedicated to displaying train information (four per car) and nine panoramic screens for airport information, providing real-time data on flight departures and arrivals. Additionally, all cars will include multiple luggage storage spaces. For passengers on the platforms, the trains will be equipped with 12 exterior LED screens: two front screens (located at the top of each car) and 10 side screens.

The trains will be fully accessible, with no access steps from the platform and an automatic ramp at the doors near the reduced mobility area. Each train will include two reserved spaces for people with reduced mobility, adapted toilets, and two multifunctional spaces for bicycles, trolleys, etc. For the train’s design, which was done in collaboration with the ONCE Foundation, Alstom followed the universal design criteria, with the aim of offering the best travel experience for all FGC users, including those with reduced mobility.

In line with Alstom’s strategy and FGC’s commitment to promoting sustainable mobility, the new trains will be developed using an eco-design criterion: choosing raw materials, traction systems, energy efficiency, and recycling at the end of their life. Ergonomic design, accessibility, low life-cycle costs and fleet reliability will contribute to making these trains an attractive and sustainable option for promoting public transportation, thereby significantly reducing road congestion and CO₂ emissions.

Manufacturing and maintenance in Barcelona

FGC awarded Alstom a €177 million contract for the supply of 10 new Coradia Stream trains and their maintenance for 15 years. Trains are designed and manufactured at Alstom’s industrial centre in Barcelona. Alstom will also construct a new depot in Barcelona to support the fleet maintenance for 15 years. Employing over 1,000 people, the site is a major employer and technology hub in Catalonia.

The new FGC service will connect the centre of Barcelona with both terminals of Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Trains will run every 15 minutes, with a journey time of slightly over 20 minutes between Passeig de Gràcia station and Terminal 1. The line, which is currently under construction, will span 22.7 kilometres and feature nine stations in total: Sant Andreu, Sagrera, El Clot, Passeig de Gràcia, Sants, Bellvitge, El Prat, Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 2.

Alstom’s Coradia series of modular trains benefit from more than 30 years of continuous development and proven technical solutions. More than 4,000 Coradia trains have been sold in 12 countries and are currently operating in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden and Canada. The platform offers a full range of green traction solutions, including battery or hydrogen propulsion for non-electrified lines.

Alstom™ and Coradia Stream™ are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group.

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