Railways promote intermodality with bicycle parking at its stations.

For years, the Catalan Railways (FGC) has been committed to promoting modal interchange when using public transport, facilitating the combined use of different modes of transport on a single journey.

One of the increasingly common combinations, optimal from a sustainable mobility perspective, is using a bicycle to travel to train stations and take the train. To promote this train-bike combination, the Spanish Railways (Ferrocarrils) opened the first of its 11 bicycle parking spaces in 2021. These are enclosed spaces designed for secure bicycle parking.

In its commitment to intermodality and promoting the use of sustainable means of transport to decarbonize mobility, Ferrocarrils makes it easier for users to park their bicycles safely, next to the stations, before boarding the train. This way, it seeks to avoid short car trips to train stations, except for school or university.

The 11 FGC bicycle parking lots, which have a total of 291 parking spaces, are located at the Bellaterra, Valldoreix and Can Feu stations | Gràcia, on the Barcelona-Vallès line; and in Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Pallejà, Sant Andreu de la Barca, Martorell Enllaç, Piera, Sant Vicenç-Castellgalí, Vilanova del Camí and Olesa de Montserrat, on the Llobregat-Anoia line.

These 291 spaces are in addition to the 150 FGC stations at the stations of Sarrià (Biciestación), Sant Boi, Sant Quirze, Universidad Autónoma, Terrassa Naciones Unidas, and Sabadell Nord. Thus, Ferrocarrils offers a total of 441 bicycle parking spaces with security systems.

Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

The bike parking facilities also offer greater benefits because they operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and have an automated control system via a mobile app. Furthermore, the system is interoperable and open, making it compatible with future transport tickets. During the first year of registration, the service is free for the first 24 hours from the moment you park. Space availability can also be checked online. fgc.cat and the mobile application.

The Catalan regional government's railways are evolving from a rail service provider to a mobility company, promoting intermodality as a lever to drive modal shifts with its shuttle parking and bicycle parking. Furthermore, it is furthering its digitalization strategy by incorporating technology into all the services it offers users, thus facilitating access to information.