Alstom to install APS, its catenary-free solution on Barcelona's light rail connection - Diagonal tramway line

Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has been awarded, by the Barcelona Metropolitan Transport Authority (ATM - Autoritat del Transport Metroplità), a contract for the electrification of the first phase of the Barcelona tram network connection, connecting the two existing tramway lines, with Alstom’s APS ground-based dynamic feeding system.

APS preserves the beauty of urban environments by removing wayside infrastructure and obtrusive catenary contact lines and masts. The contract includes both work on the infrastructure and the retrofit of 18 trams from the current fleet.

The system consists of power supplied to the light rail vehicles through a segmented street-level power rail. The conductive segments are automatically switched on and off as the tram progresses, ensuring total safety for pedestrians and all road users.

Alstom's APS technology is currently in operation in 11 cities on four continents (including Bordeaux, Tours, Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, Dubai, Lusail and Sydney). Every day, 362 trams use this solution on over 145 km of track in commercial service, representing 58 million km travelled with APS (as for July 2022).

Barcelona Diagonal tramway line

This contract is part of the project to connect Barcelona's two tram networks, Trambaix and Trambesos. This connection, 3.9 kilometres long and with 6 new stops added to the tram network, will improve mobility in the city and will enhance intramodality by connecting the Tram with the suburban and metro networks. Furthermore, once the connection is completed, it will contribute to reducing the carbon footprint by transferring users from private vehicles to the tram. Barcelona's tramway is in the backbone of Barcelona’s promotion of sustainable mobility, with a commitment to eco-friendly, accessible, equitable and healthy urban development.

Barcelona tramway, inaugurated in 2004, has a total of 6 lines and 56 stops in a 29.22 kilometres long systems that moves more than 26 million passengers annually. It is made up of two independent systems: Trambaix (a 15.1 km network that connects Diagonal with Baix Llobregat area) and Trambesos (which connects Barcelona with Sant Adria de Besos and Badalona, on a 14.1 km route). The network is operated by 41 Citadis trams, manufactured and maintained by Alstom in Spain.