The closure of the L1 line between La Florida and Plaça de Sants for renovation works has caused crowds and complaints from L'Hospitalet travellers, who report unairconditioned shuttle buses and a lack of information.
Thousands of travellers from L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Barcelona have been affected this Friday by the closure of the metro line 1 between La Florida and Plaça de Sants, due to track renewal works between Santa Eulàlia and Mercat Nou. The interruption, which began without prior notice for many users, has generated queues and crowds at the affected stations, where passengers have had to transfer to shuttle buses that, they claim, were without air conditioning and had insufficient capacity.
The problems have been particularly noticeable at the stations of La Florida, Torrassa, Santa Eulàlia, Mercat Nou and Plaça de Sants, which are the stops connected by the special bus service. Several users have told local media that they were unaware of the closure and did not know where to catch the alternative bus. "We found the metro closed and no one was telling us anything," lamented a resident of L'Hospitalet. "The buses were full and the air conditioning wasn't working, it was chaos."
Complaints about lack of information and overcrowding
The lack of prior information has been one of the main complaints from travellers. Although TMB has deployed a team of informers at the entrances to answer questions and guide towards the designated stops, many users claim that the signage was confusing and that they did not learn about the closure until they arrived at the station. "I didn't see any sign at my usual stop, and nothing clear appeared on the metro app," pointed out another user. The overcrowding of the shuttle buses has been another critical point: the vehicles, which connect the affected stations, were running with very high occupancy from early in the morning, causing waits of up to 20 minutes at some points.
The closure of the L1 has occurred on a key stretch for the residents of L'Hospitalet, as it connects the city centre with Barcelona. The Torrassa station, one of the busiest in the municipality, has recorded long queues of passengers trying to access the buses. "It's chaos, I don't understand how they didn't plan for more buses or a better service," criticised a regular traveller. TMB, for its part, has defended the deployment of informers and assured that the alternative service has been reinforced, although it acknowledges that incidents were inevitable on the first day of works.
The L1 works: track renewal and improvements at the Santa Eulàlia workshop
The work is not limited to the stretch where trains run between Santa Eulàlia and Mercat Nou. During the service interruption, workers are renewing the track apparatus at Santa Eulàlia that provides access to the workshop, an intervention linked to the internal operation of the line. Additionally, the works include the renewal of the track, the overhead line, and the signalling at the Santa Eulàlia workshop. The aim, according to TMB sources, is to improve the reliability of the L1 in this sector of the line, which has suffered various incidents in recent months. "These works are necessary to ensure a more stable and safe service in the long term," explained representatives from the metropolitan company.
For the residents of L'Hospitalet, the works represent a change in their daily routine that will last for the coming days. Although the closure is only scheduled for this Friday, the inconveniences could recur if new interruptions are scheduled. For now, users will have to adapt to the shuttle buses, which, as journalists have observed, lack air conditioning in the middle of summer. "It's madness, with the heat and no ventilation," complained a passenger. "We hope TMB improves the service for the next closure, if there is one."
The area around Aprestadora, in Santa Eulàlia, has recently made headlines for other incidents in the neighbourhood, such as a fire that left 40 people homeless. The area, which concentrates several key infrastructures for the metro, remains a sensitive point for transport in L'Hospitalet. Meanwhile, travellers will have to arm themselves with patience and perhaps bring a fan: the air conditioning in the buses doesn't seem likely to arrive in time to relieve the heat.
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