History

Since 1979, the date that Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) was constituted, the company has undergone numerous transformations that have served to adapt the facilities, equipment, stations and mobile goods to customer needs and the new demands for public transportation.

With the passing of time, the historical perspective allows these changes to be seen from a more ample viewpoint, at the same time, it gives value to all the elements that have played their part in the changes.
With the day to day work of the professionals and with the collaboration of the institutions, FGC has taken its place as a point of reference, both within the national and international environment, within the rail transport sector.

Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) is the result of a series of companies with extended railway tradition.
The history of the Barcelona-Vallès line goes back to 1863, the first train belonging to the Compañía del Ferrocarril de Barcelona (Barcelona Railway Company) in Sarriá began to circulate. Despite the success of the line, in 1874 the company had financial problems and was absorbed by the new corporation Ferrocarril de Sarrià (Sarrià Railway), in Barcelona.

Engineer Carles Emili Montañés suggested that North American financier, Frank S. Pearson, should purchase the Barcelona Railway Company in Sarrià and its continuation. In 1912, the Ferrocarriles de Cataluña (Catalonia Railways) society was constituted. In 1917, the dual line track to Sant Cugat del Vallès was inaugurated. In 1919 the line reached Terrassa and in 1922, Sabadell.

In 1929 the routes from Barcelona-Pl. Catalonia to Muntaner were included, and between the 50s and 70s the tunnel to the rest of the Barcelona lines continued to be extended. Also during the fifties, the branch between Gràcia and Avda. Tibidabo was inaugurated.
A precarious economic situation led the company to abandon the service in 1977, only a year after the Sarrià to Reina Elisenda branch was inaugurated. Since then, and until its transfer to the Catalonia autonomous government in 1978, the state company Ferrocarriles de Vía Estrecha (FEVE) (Narrow Gauge Railways) took charge of the line.

The Llobregat-Anoia line traces its origins back to the latter years of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. This lines runs between Manresa-Guardiola de Berguedà, Martorell-Igualada and Barcelona-Martorell.

The line between Manresa and Guardiola de Berguedà, which was known as "el carrilet" due to the narrowness of its track, came into service in 1881, when the company Tranvía o Ferrocarril Económico de Manresa (Manresa Tram or Economic Railway) was constituted in Berga.
In 1893, the Ferrocarril Central Catalán (Catalan Central Railway) was born, this also connected, via narrow gauge track, Martorell and Igualada.

The area's demographic growth motivated the construction of a stretch between Barcelona and Martorell, managed by the company Camino de Hierro del Nordeste de España (North-eastern Spanish Rail Road, which was founded in 1908. The line went into operation in 1912.

In 1919, the various companies jointed together under the name Compañía General de Ferrocarriles Catalanas (CGFC) (Catalonian General Railway Company). For better or for worse, the line kept on being renovated until, in 1977, and also due to the precarious economic situation, it was passed over Ferrocarriles de Vía Estrecha (FEVE) and was subsequently taken over by the Catalonia autonomous government in 1978.

Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) was constituted in 1979 to negotiate the operating of these historical lines that had been transferred by the national government, which also incorporated the Vallvidrera funicular. In 1980, the management of the Gelida funicular was incorporated, and in 1986, the management of the La Molina and Vall de Núria Mountain stations, including the rack train and the Sant Joan and Santa Cova funiculars in Montserrat. In 2003, the new rack train in Montserrat was incorporated, and in 2005 the Lleida-La Pobla de Segur line was transferred from the national government.