Montmeló Temporary Station

While the new underground station of Montmeló was being constructed, the line was redirected to the platform of the Barcelona - French Border High-Speed Line, and a temporary station was built to serve the municipality.

The Butane No. 83856 from Montornés to Tarragona rushes by with a Traxx locomotive with barely a year of service behind it. Interestingly, in the numbering, one can observe the number 253-046-6. This locomotive circulated for two years with the wrong check digit, as the correct numbering is 253-046-7.

In contrast, the veteran 470-035, at the time of the snapshot, the lowest in the series circulating in Catalonia, is serving Regional No. 15812 from Cerbère to Barcelona Sants.

Return to factory for warranty

The Civia unit 465-261 is maneuvering at Mollet - Santa Rosa station to access the Alstom factory branch line in Santa Perpetua de Mogoda, where certain warranty points will be inspected.

The Alstom branch line lacks a departure signal and connects to the main track through a manually switched escape with a Bouré electric lock. Typically, the Granollers Canovellas factor is called upon to perform these maneuvers. Local clearance is required for someone to release the key and switch the escape. This is a centralized maneuver to enable it to bypass the departure signal and merge onto the main track. Unlike normal operations, the centralized maneuver is controlled by the Traffic or CTC Supervisor, allowing the train to move forward or backward. Once everything is completed, the centralized maneuver is removed, the switch is returned to its original position, the key is returned to the lock, the local clearance is withdrawn, and everything is ready.

The maño service

Knowing that its days were numbered, I made a concerted effort to photograph this unit as much as possible before it was too late. This is the 448-028, the last one in its original state in regional services.

Here we see it operating its usual Regional Express service No. 15015 from Barcelona Termino to Zaragoza Delicias as it passes through Villanueva y Geltrú.

International sausage

The Trenhotel Pau Casals No. 00274, originating from Zürich HB, along with the Trenhotel Salvador Dalí No. 11274, originating from Milano Centrale, are being pulled swiftly by the 252-071 through Mollet - Sant Fost. Inside, passengers are finishing waking up, and the earliest risers are already in the cafeteria.

Writhing

While the new underground station of Montmeló was being constructed, the line was rerouted onto the platform of the Barcelona - French Border High-Speed Line. The connection between this line and the original was a double curve shaped like an "S", with a rather impressive change in gradient.

In the photo, we see the Catalan Talgo No. 00073 from Barcelona Termino to Montpellier winding along this curious curve.

Shortly thereafter, the Estrella Costa Brava No. 00370 from Madrid Chamartín to Cerbère appeared.

The old Intercity

Knowing its days were numbered, I made an effort to photograph this unit as much as possible before it was too late. This is the 448-028, the last one in its original condition in regional services.

Here we see it operating its usual Regional Express service No. 15015 from Barcelona Término to Zaragoza Delicias as it passes by the entrance to Villanueva y Geltrú.

Alaris leaving Barcelona - Término

Due to the All Saints' Day holiday, the Alaris No. 01111 departing from Barcelona Sants at 11:00 AM departs empty, in a double composition, from Barcelona Término station.

Goodbye Montmeló

The first image holds a unique significance. On July 30, 2010, after 156 years of service, marked the final day of operation for the original Montmeló station, where trains ran on a single track.

Interestingly, it featured the then-only unit painted in the colors of Rodalies de Catalunya, which had been in operation for only a few days and hadn't yet appeared on this line, making this photo truly one of a kind.

The 447-057 makes a scheduled stop at Montmeló on an R2 service bound for Sant Celoni.

Shortly afterward, the Catalan Talgo No. 00071 from Montpellier to Barcelona Término emerged.

Their last days

In July 2010, the 440 units of the Barcelona suburban services were retired.

On one of the final days, at the end of June, we can observe the 440-240 unit leading a double composition on the R2 service from San Vicente de Calders to Barcelona Término. This unfortunate unit ended up being decommissioned a few weeks later, like its counterparts, specifically in Algodor.