Works at La Sagrera station continue to advance at a good pace, managing in recent years to overcome the paralysis and delays that have historically occurred in this infrastructure called to be the gateway to the Catalan capital. Adif has reported that "one of the most spectacular and complex phases" is now being faced with the construction of the large roof over the high-speed tracks, with an area of 50,400 square meters, a figure equivalent to five blocks of the Eixample. While AVE trains will pass below this structure, the city's largest urban park, with 40 hectares of surface area, will rise above it.
The central part of the roof, measuring 23,400 square meters, will have an inverted pyramid shape and will be crowned by a skylight through which natural light will enter the tracks and platforms. The two ends, measuring 27,000 square meters, will be characterized by a flat design. Once the assembly of this mega structure is completed, a concrete slab will be built on its surface, which will house the future linear park.
The start of the assembly of the roof of the upper part of La Sagrera is being undertaken after the completion of the lower level of the station, where Rodalies trains already circulate, both those going to Mataró and those heading to Granollers and Girona, as well as the commissioning of Sant Andreu station.
The structure of the intermediate level, which will house the station lobby, parking, taxi area, and a station for urban and interurban buses, is in the final phase of execution. Finally, progress is being made on the upper level, that of high-speed services. Recently, the assembly and electrification of the 18 international gauge tracks of the station have been awarded.
When completed, La Sagrera, designed by Fermín Vázquez's architectural studio, will become the most important station in Barcelona, with a forecast of 50 million annual passengers, including metro and Rodalies, regional, and AVE trains. The Station of stations will be complemented by Sants, creating a railway hub with a capacity similar to that configured by Atocha and Chamartín in Madrid.
New heating and cooling network at the station
Advances in the Sagrera works are complemented by other actions that will serve to configure the new environment that will be generated around the infrastructure. This is the case of the announcement by the Barcelona City Council to develop a heat and cold network in the area of the station. With a planned investment of 21 million euros, it will cover a total area of 920,000 square meters, reaching beyond the train tracks and affecting the offices and homes in the surroundings.
Heat and cold networks provide heating, cooling, and domestic hot water from renewable or residual resources, with energy savings of 30% compared to conventional systems such as boilers or air conditioners. In this case, the phreatic water from the Besòs river and solar energy will be used. In addition to the one that will be in Sagrera, another has been planned in the old Modelo prison, now in full transformation to become a hub of public facilities and a green lung for the residents of Eixample.