October 28, 1848 marked a milestone in the history of rail transport on the Iberian Peninsula. On that day, the first train of the Barcelona-Mataró line departed from a station located next to the Estación de Francia in Barcelona.
This railroad line, which covers a distance of 28.25 kilometers, was an achievement for its time and would not have been possible without the impetus of the Mataró industrialist Miquel Biada.
Therefore, Mataró commemorated the 175th anniversary of this historic railway journey with a series of events that honored the crucial role played by the train in the industrial and demographic development of the city and the entire Maresme region.
The commemoration of the Barcelona-Mataró railway line
To commemorate this important anniversary, a special train departed on October 28, 2023 at 10:15 a.m. from France Station, traveling the original route of the line.
Prominent personalities traveled on the train, including the Secretary of State for Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, David Lucas, the Minister of Territory of the Generalitat, Ester Capella, the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, the President of the Diputació de Barcelona, Lluïsa Moret, and other regional leaders.
The mayor of Mataró, David Bote, along with several councilors, received the retinue at the station and went to the monument of Miquel Biada, a tribute to the promoter of the construction of the railway line.
The event culminated at the port, where institutional speeches were made in front of the replica of the locomotive ‘La Mataró’, a unique piece that was transferred from the Museu del Ferrocarril de Catalunya in Vilanova i la Geltrú for the occasion.
The anniversary also included a drone show that relived the history of the arrival of the railroad. A total of 175 drones filled the sky of Mataró, representing iconic images such as the train station, Miquel Biada, ‘La Mataró’ and Laia la Arquera, accompanied by characteristic sounds of the train world and Cuban rhythms.
This anniversary commemorates a historic milestone for the region.
Remembering the history of the Barcelona-Mataró line
The first train that ran on this line was a revolution in its time. Thousands of people gathered to witness the inaugural trip and cheered effusively for this new means of transportation that would change life in the region.
Although industrialist Miquel Biada was a key promoter of the line, he sadly passed away before he was able to witness the realization of his dream.
The idea of the Barcelona-Mataró railway line arose when Biada was in Cuba and was amazed by the railway system linking Havana and Güines. Taking detailed notes on the British trains used in Cuba, Biada traveled to London in search of funding and experts to carry out his vision.
