The Trambesòs network will expand 1.4-kilometres along the Besòs coastline, connecting the existing Sant Adrià de Besòs station to Badalona Port. The Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM) greenlit this project, which will introduce two new stops and forms a critical component of the ambitious Catalunya Media City urban regeneration scheme.

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Officials confirmed a target completion date of summer 2033 for the new line. It will serve the burgeoning district developing around the iconic, decommissioned Tres Xemeneies (Three Chimneys) thermal power plant. The T4 and T6 line extension is expected to cost €23.6 million.

A Catalyst for Catalunya Media City

The tram extension is intrinsically linked to the development of the Catalunya Media City. The Generalitat de Catalunya describes this project as the region’s most significant strategic undertaking since the 1992 Olympic Games. The plan aims to transform the 32-hectare post-industrial site into a leading audiovisual and digital hub for Southern Europe.

El País reported the announcement followed the third monitoring committee meeting. Representatives from the Catalan government, the city councils of Sant Adrià and Badalona, and the Consorci del Besòs attended this meeting.

At a press conference, Minister Albert Dalmau described Catalunya Media City as a project aiming to consolidate the country as Southern Europe’s main audiovisual hub. He expressed confidence that “the industry will grow and flourish in Catalonia,” noting that the government is in talks with local and international firms.

The former power plant’s vast turbine hall will become the project’s centrepiece. It will house educational facilities for 2,500 students in vocational and university-level audiovisual studies. This core facility is on track to be operational by 2028.

Route Details and Timeline

The new tram section will run parallel to the existing Rodalies train tracks along Carrer d’Eduard Maristany on the seaside. The two new stops will be strategically located to serve the new development:

  • Tres Xemeneies: Situated directly adjacent to the iconic industrial landmark and the future media hub.
  • Port de Badalona: Located opposite the marina, this will become the new terminus for the T4 and T6 lines.

Overall urban development works are scheduled to begin in 2027 and 2028. However, construction on the tram line itself is planned to start in early 2031. The project’s timeline reflects the complexity of redeveloping the site, which has faced challenges, including the discovery of toxic metal contamination in nearby soil. The iconic but derelict chimneys have also recently attracted unauthorised base jumpers, highlighting the site’s current state of disuse.

Reimagining the Urban Landscape

Beyond the tram, the master plan includes the construction of approximately 1,783 new homes, public parks, and new streets. The architectural firm Batlle i Roig is responsible for public space design. Architect Enric Batlle detailed a forward-thinking approach.

El Periódico reported that Batlle explained the new streets will be “highly pacified with a lot of vegetation.” A key feature will be their ability to manage heavy rainfall, a crucial consideration for this area near the Besòs River delta, which is prone to flooding. “The days of rainwater just disappearing down a metal grate are over,” Batlle stated, envisioning visible drainage systems that act like “small rivers.”

To connect the new seaside neighbourhood with inland areas across the railway tracks, planners envision two large, vegetated footbridges for pedestrians, cyclists, and service vehicles. Private traffic will route through a new underpass on Avinguda del Maresme.

This new connection marks a significant step in improving public transport infrastructure in the Barcelonès Nord region. It follows the success of other recent expansions, such as the link along Avinguda Diagonal, which led to a 30% surge in Trambesòs ridership. By integrating this isolated coastal strip into the wider metropolitan network, the extension is poised to unlock decades of development potential for Sant Adrià and Badalona.