The historic Tramvia Blau tram cars in Barcelona have been stored in the depot for more than seven years. The small tram service was suspended on 28 January 2018 for the planned reconstruction of Avinguda del Tibidabo, which it used to run on. Since then, employees have only occasionally moved the operational cars around the depot forecourt to prevent them from completely ‘rusting up’.
We reported on this here:
https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/barcelona-reconstruction-of-the-tibidabo-tram-on-hold/
Now, the city administration has finally announced that it will cover the costs of modernising the infrastructure and adapting the track system to the newly designed Avinguda del Tibidabo. The tenders are to be issued in 2026 so that the work can be carried out the following year. The vehicles are also to be adapted to the current requirements of operation on the 1.3 km long steep section connecting the metro terminus of line L7 with the valley station of the funicular railway on Tibidabo. Three of the six railcars built in 1904 were already refurbished a good 15 years ago, losing their original Siemens electrical equipment in the process: Since then, railcars 5, 6 and 7 have only been recognisable as original railcars from the outside. This is not yet the case for the remaining tramcars, including the summer car 129 from the former Barcelona municipal tramway, which is why they were rarely used even before the service was closed in 2018. There is hope that these cars will be modernised more carefully and with greater consideration for the historical technology.
The reconstruction of the Tramvia Blau has two main objectives: on the one hand, the original technical and aesthetic appearance of the tram cars is to be preserved – including the characteristic blue paintwork and semi-open structure. On the other hand, the entire infrastructure is being modernised to meet current safety and accessibility standards. This includes renewing the tracks, modernising the electrical systems and repairing or reconstructing historical components of the vehicles.
A particular focus is on mastering the balancing act between tradition and modernity. The Tramvia Blau is intended to continue to convey the nostalgic flair of the past as a living cultural heritage, but at the same time be reliable and sustainable to operate.
The reconstruction is being followed with great interest in Barcelona, as the Tramvia Blau has great emotional value for both locals and visitors. Its comeback will not only improve mobility in the Tibidabo area, but also bring back a piece of historic city life. For a long time, the reopening was considered uncertain, with the city administration and transport companies expressing concerns, but the public repeatedly called for the return of the historic tram, which was one of only two lines in the whole country to survive the great tram decline of the 1960s and 1970s. New tram systems as modern low-floor systems have only been built in Spain since 1994.
After almost ten years of inactivity, Tramvia Blau will hopefully be back in service by the end of 2027.
