Alstom and FGC revealed the first Coradia Stream for the new express link to Barcelona-El Prat Airport
posted on 24th Oct 2025 10:55
On 24 October 2025, the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa; the Catalan Minister for Territory, Sílvia Paneque i Sureda; the President of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), Carles Ruiz Novella; and the President of Alstom Spain and Portugal, Leopoldo Maestu Miedes, presented the first of ten EMUs that will connect Barcelona city centre with El Prat Airport. These trains, operated by FGC Mobilitat, are scheduled to begin service between late 2026 and early 2027.
The new trains will link the city centre with both terminals of Barcelona-El Prat Airport, running every 15 minutes, with a journey time of just over 20 minutes. The new line, currently under construction, will span 22.7 km and include nine stations: Sant Andreu, Sagrera, El Clot, Passeig de Gràcia, Sants, Bellvitge, El Prat, Airport T-2, and Airport T-1.
Each five-car Coradia Stream will feature 10 doors on each side, with 202 seats (197 fixed, 7 folding and 2 PRM), accommodating up to 656 passengers. In addition to audible signals for door operations, a lighting system - green for opening and red for closing - will assist hearing-impaired passengers in identifying these actions.
The new trains, developed and built at Alstom's Santa Perpètua de Mogoda (Barcelona) works, are designed to provide rapid connections between Barcelona and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport. They have been tailored for airport travel, offering ample luggage space and wider corridors to facilitate accessibility.
Each train will be equipped with 20 panoramic screens displaying service information (four per car) and nine panoramic screens for airport information, providing data on flight departures and arrivals. All cars will include multiple luggage storage spaces. For passengers on the platforms, the trains will be equipped with 12 exterior LED screens: two front screens (located at the top of each car) and 10 side screens.
The trains will be fully accessible, with step-free access from the platform and an automatic ramp at the doors near the reduced mobility area. Each train will include two reserved spaces for people with reduced mobility, adapted toilets, and two multifunctional spaces for bicycles, trolleys, etc. The PRM area will be located in the second car, which will also house an accessible toilet with an electrically operated door.
Static and dynamic tests are currently being carried out at Alstom’s site in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda. The validation tests required for certification, which will take place on the General Interest Railway Network, will include traction, braking, dynamic behaviour, signalling, and telecommunications, among other checks.
In April, construction began on Alstom's new depot, located on the same site as the Santa Perpètua de Mogoda factory, which will handle the maintenance of the trains for 15 years. The depot is expected to be completed by spring 2026.