Estación de França - Barcelona (Spain)
On May 24, 2018, the Railway Heritage World Blog went to see the Barcelona-Estación de França, the second biggest train station of Barcelona!
History
As one of the first connections between Barcelona and Paris until 1988, this station used to be known as Barcelona-Terminus; its tracks complemented the first railway line of Spain (1848).
In 1854, another railway brunch, which connected Barcelona to Granolles, was built. This new destination was responsible for the curve that the railway tracks does.
Fonte: https://guia.barcelona.cat/es/detall/-estacio-de-franca_92318092327.html
This railway station was built by the MZA Company (Compañía de los Ferrocarriles de Madrid a Zaragoza y Alicante), the rival firm of the Compañia de los Caminos de Hierro del Norte de España, which built the Estación del Nord in Barcelona.
This railway station started to be built only in 1919, due to an International Exhibition that only took place in Barcelona in 1929. The design was made by Pedro Muguruza (1883-1952). In 1988, the station started to receive some renovation work, which ended only in 1992, to receive the 92 Olympic Games.
The Building
Declared of Local Cultural Interest, the Estación de França was built as a real monument; its building has a “U” shape, which has a big hall covered by three domes. Inside it you can see many kind of materials, like marble, decorative glasses and bronze. Currently the station has services like a restaurant.
The Station and the City
According to the digital newspaper El País the Estación de França is in danger. The City Council is studding the hypothesis of using the building infrastructure as a part of a green corridor and a public space between Ciutadella and the sea.
The point is, this railway station receives only 3% of the passengers of Renfe in Barcelona (only 7% of the medium-distance travelers); its platforms are receiving a work of renewal and its façade is ready to be restored, but, the presidente of the Asociación de Amigos del Ferrocarril de Barcelona belives that after the inauguration of the terminal La Sagrera, it will not make sense to maintain the use of the Estación de França.
Final Considerations
It is a pity when a huge and magnificent infrastructure like this becomes obsolete. This monument is receiving some attention, but no one can be sure about its future. Lets hope for the best!
