Since 1979, date in which Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) were constituted, the company has gone through a wide array of transformations that have contributed towards adapting facilities, equipment, stations and mobile material to customers’ needs and to new public transport demands.
The historical perspective provided by our years of service allows us to have an extensive view on these transformations and, at the same time, to weigh up to all elements that have intervened in such changes.
Thanks to the day to day work done by professionals and the collaboration of institutions, FGC stands as reference point on the national and international scenes in the sector of railway transport.
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) is the latest in a long tradition of railway companies.
The history of the Barcelona-Vallès Line dates back to 1863, when the first train of the Compañía del Ferrocarril began circulation from Barcelona to Sarrià. In spite of the line’s success, the company suffered financial difficulties in 1874 and was absorbed by a new company called Ferrocarrill de Sarrià a Barcelona.
The engineer Carles Emili Montañés proposed purchasing the Barcelona-Sarrià railway from North American businessman Frank S. Pearson and its prolongation. In 1912 the society Ferrocarriles de Cataluña was constituted. In 1917 the stretch of double way was opened all the way to Sant Cugat del Vallès. In 1919 the line reached Terrassa and, in 1922, Sabadell.
In 1929 the lines were placed underground from Barcelona-Pl. Catalunya to Muntaner, and between the 1950s and 70s the tunnelisation continued until the end of the Barcelona line. During the 50s, the branch was also opened between Gràcia and Av. Tibidabo. A precarious economic situation brought the company to abandoning service in 1977, one year after the Sarrià to Reina Elisenda branch was opened. From then, and until the cession to the Generalitat de Catalunya 1978, the state-owned company Ferrocarriles de Vía Estrecha (FEVE) was put in charge of the line.
The Llobregat-Anoia line has its origins from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th, from Manresa to Guardiola de Berguedà, Martorell to Igualada, and Barcelona to Martorell.
The line between Manresa and Guardiola de Berguedà, previously known as the "carrilet" due to the narrowness of the rails, was put in service in 1881, when the Tranvía o Ferrocarril Económico de Manresa a Berga company was constituted.
In 1893 the Ferrocarril Central Catalán was created to connect Martorell and Igualada, also by means of a narrow gauge railway.
Population growth in the area boosted the construction of a stretch between Barcelona and Martorell, to be managed by the company Camino de Hierro del Nordeste de España, which was in itself set it up in 1908. The line was put into operation in 1912.
In 1919 the several companies joined forces under the name of Compañía General de Ferrocarriles Catalanes (CGFC). Despite some difficulties, the line kept on functioning until 1977 when, as a consequence of the precarious financial situation, it was transferred to Ferrocarriles de Vía Estrecha (FEVE) only to later be absorbed the Generalitat de Catalunya in 1978.
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) was constituted in 1979 to manage the operation of these historical lines transferred by the State, which finally also integrated the Vallvidrera Cable Car.
Management of the Gelida Cable Car was included in 1980 and the mountain stations of La Molina and Vall de Núria were also absorbed in 1986, in addition to the Sant Joan and Santa Cova cable cars in Montserrat.
