When the first section of the future connection of Barcelona’s two separate tramway networks TRAMBAIX and TRAMBESOS along the Avinguda Diagonal entered service on 10 November 2024 (see HERE for more info) – after long preparation – it marked something entirely new for Spain: for the first time Alstom was able to install its catenary-free ground level power supply system APS (alimentation par le sol). This system supplies electricity via a central rail embedded in the ground, which is only energised when a tram passes over it. The system is already in use at several other locations in different countries.
For operation on the 1.7 km section between Gloriès and Verdaguer, 18 of the 41 Alstom Citadis 302 vehicles in Barcelona, now some 20 years old, were retrofitted accordingly by the manufacturer. The same contract also included the delivery of an initial three new vehicles of the current Citadis X05 type. Like the older models, they are five-section trams and were delivered during the summer from Alstom’s nearby Santa Perpètua factory to the transport operator. Since September 2025 they have been regularly running on the line in test service, with their introduction into scheduled passenger service expected shortly.
Here we present the first images of the test runs.
