Barcelona's historic Tramvía Blau leaves the workshop

BarcelonaSeven years after its last run, Barcelona's historic Tramvia Blau (Blue Tram) took a decisive step this Thursday toward returning to service. From the depot of this iconic transport system, Mayor Jaume Collboni explained that the city council will launch a participatory process in 2026 to finalize the tram's restoration project and the accompanying redevelopment of Tibidabo Avenue. The goal, he said, is to approve the final design during 2027 and, "if all goes well," begin construction that same year. Collboni, however, declined to commit to a specific date for when he expects the Tramvia Blau to resume operations. After meeting with the Tibidabo Avenue Residents' Association to present the project, he emphasized that it is an undertaking that extends far beyond this particular transport system. He explained that, in addition to renewing the tram infrastructure, the project also involves redeveloping Tibidabo Avenue between Kennedy Square and Doctor Andreu Square and remodeling the stormwater reservoir underneath. All of this, he admitted, will require a budget of between 40 and 45 million euros. Speaking to reporters, the mayor celebrated that after years locked away in the depot, the Tramvia Blau (Blue Tram) is finally seeing the light of day. With it, he said, Barcelona will recover one of its "most important elements of identity." "We want to maintain what represents us and makes us unique," he said. The promise to revive the tram comes after years of struggle by residents, who demanded the restoration of service to the only surviving tram of Barcelona's old network.

The Tramvia Blau (Blue Tram) last ran on January 28, 2018. It was shut down with the promise of modernization and a return to service, but without a defined reopening date. Now, the City Council has set initial dates for the tram's resumption, although the exact timeline remains uncertain. This Thursday, Collboni emphasized the complexity of the project, as it involves renovating Tibidabo Avenue and, moreover, ensuring the safety of the service. In 2012, an accident between the tram and a truck resulted in approximately fifteen injuries.

Wider sidewalks

Regarding the draft executive project that the municipal government has begun presenting to groups and residents—and which will now have to be debated during the participatory process that will begin in 2026—few details are known at the moment. One of the key aspects will be the transformation of Tibidabo Avenue, which will have wider sidewalks and plans to maintain one lane uphill and two downhill, although, for now, there is no segregated bike lane.

As explained All of BarcelonaThe City Council's plan is for the Tramvia Blau (Blue Tram) to operate, as before, only on weekends and holidays, running between John F. Kennedy Square and Doctor Andreu Square. First Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet explained this Thursday that of the seven remaining Tramvia Blau vehicles, four will be refurbished to equip them with the necessary technology and safety features, while the other three will be preserved as heritage vehicles. The City Council intends for the service to continue being managed by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB).