FGC
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya or FGC is a Spanish railway company, which operates a system of mostly metre gauge lines in the Catalonia region of Spain, centered on Barcelona.The company operates some of the commuter rail network into Barcelona, all of which is electrified.
There are two distinct (and separate) systems:
The Metro del VallÃÂès and LÃÂÃÂnia de Balmes lines are standard gauge (1435mm) lines that run from the PlaÃÂça de Catalunya to Av. Tibidabo (L7, brown on the map), Reina Elisenda (L6, purple), Sant Cugat de VallÃÂès (S5), Sabadell (S1) and Terrassa (S2).
The Metro del Baix Llobregat lines are narrow gauge (1000mm) lines that run from the PlaÃÂça d'Espanya to MolÃÂàNou-Ciutat Cooperativa (in Sant Boi de Llobregat, L8), El Palau (S7), Martorell-EnllaÃÂç (S8), Olesa de Montserrat (S4), Manresa (R5) and Igualada (R6). There is also a metre gauge line to the port of Barcelona from this line.
Along the Llobregat valley, the FGC run on the northern bank through towns such as Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sant VicenÃÂç dels Horts, PallejÃÂàand on to Martorell, whereas RENFE (line R4) run on the southern bank through towns such as Sant Joan DespÃÂÃÂ, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Molins de Rei and on to Martorell.
The line numbering is as follows:
- L prefixed lines (L for LÃÂÃÂnia) are treated as part of the Barcelona metro system (which consists of L1-L5 for the metro proper, and L6-L8 on the FGC)
- S prefixed lines (S for SuburbÃÂÃÂ ) are suburban lines, extending into zone 2 or 3 of the metropolitan fare zones
- R prefixed lines (R for Rodalies) are Interurban lines, extending beyond zone 3. Lines R1-R4 (sometimes C1-C4, C for CercanÃÂÃÂas) are operated by RENFE, R5 and R6 are operated by FGC.
See also: RENFE, FEVE, Transportation in Spain, Spanish railway history.