The Barcelona Metro has taken a major step towards accessibility for people with disabilities with the arrival of 50 new 7000 and 8000 series trains.
The investment of 318.85 million euros has allowed the purchase of the largest number of railway equipment in the history of Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona, TMB.
The purchase was carried out through TMB’s program-contract with the consortium of the Metropolitan Transport Authority, ATM. It was also financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and supported by the European Union’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
New trains that improve accessibility for people with disabilities
One of the main objectives of the acquisition of these new trains is to improve accessibility for people with disabilities on Barcelona’s public transport.
Accessibility conditions have been included to comply not only with current Spanish and Catalan regulations, but also with the guidelines of neighboring countries that inspire the future Accessibility Code of Catalonia.
The units, consisting of five interconnected cars, will be equipped with remote control and sensors for rolling stock maintenance management.
They are also equipped with new information systems and real-time video surveillance cameras, making them more secure and modern.
The four spaces for people with reduced mobility are sensorized so that they can be used safely and easily. In addition, the nearest gates have automatic opening at all stations to facilitate access.
The doors and aisles are wider, making access to the train easier for all passengers.
The familiar warning lights and beepers will also be present to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers during the trip.
Lighting and interior ergonomics have also been improved. High-quality materials and modern design have been used to ensure passenger comfort during the trip.
Other advantages offered by the new trains
These trains are more sustainable and accessible and have been built in accordance with the quality and sustainability features required by TMB.
The acquisition of the new trains has sustainability and accessibility criteria in line with TMB’s Strategic Plan 2025, which seeks to reduce more than 17,000 tons of CO2.
This will be achieved through different measures, such as the reduction of energy consumption in the metro by applying technologies that allow the recovery of the energy generated by the trains themselves.
The president of TMB highlighted that the new cars, in addition to improving accessibility for people with disabilities, also have features such as a lightweight structure, low energy consumption, technical reliability, ease of maintenance and better air filtration.
