The Barcelona metro refurbishment programme represents a significant investment in the city’s public transport. Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) has initiated an €82.8 million Barcelona metro refurbishment project to extend the operational life of 34 aging trains. Consequently, commuters on two of Barcelona’s busiest underground lines will see substantial improvements by 2027.
TMB has opened the bidding process to modernise the Series 5000 trains currently operating on the L3 and L5 lines. These units have reached their 20-year milestone, prompting a comprehensive technical and aesthetic overhaul. Therefore, this mid-life refurbishment will keep them operational for decades to come.
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Home » Barcelona Metro Refurbishment: €83m Upgrade for L3 and L5 Trains
Barcelona metro refurbishment: Better accessibility and new interiors
Work will proceed on a maximum of three trains at a time to minimise service disruption. TMB expects the first completed unit to return to the tracks in spring 2027. This timeline follows approximately one year after contract signing.
Passengers will notice immediate changes to carriage interiors once the fleet returns to service. The current grey seating will be replaced with red fixtures. Meanwhile, areas designated for wheelchair users will undergo redesign to meet stricter accessibility standards.
Technical upgrades include a complete switch to LED lighting throughout the trains. Additionally, engineers will install a new hermetic closing system for the driver’s cabin. They will also replace flooring, update fire detection systems in 10 units, and overhaul the video surveillance network to improve security.
Barcelona metro refurbishment follows stalled tender for new rolling stock
This investment in existing infrastructure comes after a setback in TMB’s plans to purchase brand-new vehicles. In December, the operator declared a separate €388 million tender for 39 new trains void.
Alstom was the sole bidder for that contract, which aimed to supply trains for the future L9 central section and existing lines. However, TMB rejected the proposal as inadequate because it lacked a specific economic offer. While Alstom intends to bid again, the delay places greater importance on the reliability of the current fleet. This development follows extensive reporting on Alstom’s intention to re-bid for the major train contract.
That procurement process faced earlier complications regarding Alstom’s presence on a United Nations list concerning business activities in occupied Palestinian territories. Although the company was later cleared and allowed to bid after the list was updated in September 2025, the tender ultimately failed on technical grounds. TMB officials stated they are working to relaunch the tender with minimal delay.
Barcelona metro refurbishment addresses record passenger numbers
The urgency to maintain a reliable fleet reflects growing pressure on Barcelona’s transport network. TMB closed 2025 with a record 700 million passenger validations across its metro and bus systems. This figure highlights TMB’s record 700 million passenger validations in 2025 as a significant milestone for the city’s public transit.
This represents a 2.4% increase compared to 2024. The metro network alone handled over 479.9 million passengers, with the L1 and L5 lines remaining the most heavily used routes. The year’s high demand was punctuated by a record metro ridership in November 2025. Companies interested in the refurbishment contract have until 31 January to submit their proposals.
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