Coordinating Barcelona’s Renfe high-speed train network from Sants station

Passengers traveling on Renfe's high-speed trains from Barcelona must be on the platform just minutes before departure. However, the journey begins much earlier—at Renfe's operations offices.

A new office at Barcelona Sants train station now coordinates all high-speed and long-distance Renfe trains departing from the Catalan capital to destinations across Spain and France.

This new operations hub manages services like AVE, Avlo, Euromed, Alvia, Intercity, and Avant. The facility, which spans over 140 square meters, features a large 9.3 x 1.5-meter screen that displays real-time information about various parts of the network.

The central section of the screen is dedicated to trains at Sants station. A dedicated team is ready to address last-minute issues, such as arranging alternative transportation like taxis or buses in case of delays.

The Barcelona office oversees all aspects of high-speed and long-distance train operations in Catalonia, from scheduling arrivals and departures to daily service management and long-term planning. 

Renfe also has a team to manage its Spanish services to Valencia and Madrid, as well as its French rail services, which serve Lyon, Marseille, and, starting in early 2025, the southern city of Toulouse. 

This new hub enables an expansion of the workforce dedicated to managing Renfe's high-speed network in Catalonia, which covers approximately 3,000 kilometers and includes key connections to Lyon (600 km), Marseille (500 km), Madrid (600 km), Valencia (600 km), and Alicante (700 km).

According to Renfe president Raül Blanco, the upgraded facility will allow the company to respond "faster and more efficiently" to operational challenges.

In addition to this new office at Sants, Renfe operates similar management rooms for the Rodalies commuter train network at Estació de França and Clot stations.