Renfe Rodalies In The Barcelona Area
The Barcelona Local Trains Network is run by the Spanish national railway company RENFE and is known as Rodalies.
Until recently the Spanish word ‘Cercanias’ was used for the Local Train Network in Barcelona, but now local train stations and lines are called ‘Rodalies’ and are denoted with a large letter ‘R’.
As you can see below, there are 8 local train lines in Barcelona covering a variety of destinations within Catalonia, some of which are quite a distance away.
This article gives you an overview of local Barcelona trains, but if you know your departure and destination stations and want to consult timetables, you should visit the official Renfe Rodalies page.
- Consult Train Times On RENFE Rodalies
Línia R1: Molins de Rei-Maçanet-Massanes via Mataró
The R1 Line runs from Molins de Rei in El Baix Llobregat up to Maçanet-Massanes in La Selva in Girona Province. The stops in Barcelona are Barcelona-Sants, Barcelona-Plaça Catalunya, Barcelona-Arc de Triomf and Barcelona-Clot-Aragó.
This is a very popular line in summer as it takes in all the beach towns north of Barcelona, including Badalona, Mataró and Calella on the Costa del Maresme and Blanes on the Costa Brava.
- Read More About Rodalies R1: Molins de Rei-Maçanet-Massanes
Línia R2: Castelldefels-Granollers Centre
The R2 Line runs from Castelldefels in El Baix Llobregat to Granollers Centre in El Vallès Oriental. The stops in Barcelona are Barcelona-Sants, Barcelona-Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona-Clot-Aragó and Barcelona-Sant Andreu Arenal.
This line is particularly useful for those going to the Circuit de Catalunya – the Formula One and Motorbike Race Track – at Montmeló.
- Read More About Rodalies R2: Castelldefels-Granollers Centre
Línia R2 Nord: Aeroport-Maçanet Massanes via Granollers Centre
The R2 Nord Line runs from Barcelona Airport to Maçanet-Massanes passing through Granollers Centre and Sant Celoni in the Montseny. The stops in Barcelona are Barcelona-Sants, Barcelona-Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona-Clot-Aragó and Barcelona-Sant Andreu Arenal.
For most visitors to Barcelona, the importance of this line is the Barcelona Airport connection. Please remember that a Single Barcelona Metro Ticket or the T-10 are both valid for journeys between Barcelona City Centre and Barcelona El Prat Airport.
- Read More About Rodalies R2 Nord: Aeroport-Maçanet-Massanes
Línia R2 Sud: Sant Vicenç de Calders-Barcelona Estació de França via Vilanova i La Geltrú
The R2 Sud Line runs from Sant Vicenç de Calders to Barcelona Estació de França. Apart from Estació de França, this train also stops at Barcelona-Sants and Barcelona-Passeig de Gràcia.
The R2 Sud Line takes you to the coastal resorts south of Barcelona with Platja de Castelldefels, Sitges, Vilanova i La Geltrú and Calafell being the most interesting stops for the sun-seeking visitor to Barcelona.
- Read More About Rodalies R2 Sud: Sant Vicenç de Calders-Barcelona-Estació de França
Línia R3: L’Hospitalet de Llobregat-Puigcerdà
The R3 Line runs from L’Hospitalet to Puigcerdà with many trains only going as far as Vic. The stops in Barcelona are Barcelona-Sants, Barcelona-Plaça Catalunya, Barcelona-Arc de Triomf, Barcelona-La Sagrera-Meridiana and Barcelona-Torre del Barò.
This line connects Barcelona City Centre with the important inland town of Vic and then goes up towards the Ripoll and then Puicerdà, which are both entry points to the Catalan Pyrenees.
- Read More About Rodalies R3: L’Hospitalet de Llobregat-Vic-Puigcerdà
Línia R4: Sant Vicenç de Calders-Manresa
The R4 Line runs from Sant Vicenç de Calders in Tarragona Province to Manresa in Central Catalunya. The stops in Barcelona are Barcelona-Sants, Barcelona-Plaça Catalunya, Barcelona-Arc de Triomf, Barcelona-La Sagrera-Meridiana and Barcelona-Torre del Barò.
This line takes you through important inland towns south of Barcelona and then turns further inland to Sabadell and Terrassa after passing through the city centre.
- Read More About Rodalies R4: Sant Vicenç de Calders-Manresa
Línia R7: Barcelona Sant Andreu Arenal-Cerdanyola Universitat
The R7 Line runs from Barcelona-Sant Andreu Arenal to the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona at Cerdanyola. As the R7 serves the north of the city, the only other Barcelona stop is Barcelona-Torre del Baró.
UAB Students travelling from Barcelona City Centre also have a Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat line that starts at Plaça Catalunya.
- Read More About Rodalies R7: Barcelona-Sant Andreu Arenal-Cerdanyola Universitat
Línia R8: Martorell-Granollers Centre
The R8 Line runs from Martorell south of Barcelona to Granollers Centre in the north without going through the city centre.
The main purpose of this Barcelona Local Trains line is to provide a direct connection to the Universtat Autònoma de Barcelona and surrounding municipalities, such as Sant Cugat and Rubí, for travellers from less accessible towns inland from Barcelona.
- Read More About Rodalies R8: Martorell-Granollers Centre