David J.
Yelp
Barcelona Sants is the city's main railway station, operated by the national train company, Renfe.
Virtually all long-distance and medium-distance regional trains depart from Sants, including the new high-speed AVE service, which can get you to Madrid in just over two and a half hours, sleeper services to most other regions of Spain, and the Euromed service to Valencia. It is also the centre of the extensive suburban train service (Rodalies or Cercanías), which includes the half-hourly airport train on line C10, and the trains to the popular resort of Sitges (4 trains per hour) on line C2. Located some distance to the northwest of the city centre, it is a major hub for Barcelona metro (lines L3 and L5) and bus services (lines 27, 30, 32, 43, 44, 78, 109), and has a plentiful supply of taxis, as well as car parking.
The station sits between two large squares, and is currently undergoing a major modernisation and expansion of its facilities in connection following the inauguration of the AVE trains to Madrid, and preparation for the extension of the high-speed line into France, currently under construction. This modernisation has been completed at platform level, transforming what was one of Europe's least pleasant station environments (on a par with Birmingham New Street) to a more modern and brighter feel, although it is still all underground. Six platforms have now been converted to the European standard gauge, for use by the AVE services, with 8 for other Renfe services on the wider Spanish gauge tracks.
It's also worth knowing that, until summer 2008, travel is free on lines C2 and C10 going west (towards Sitges, Vilanova and the airport) in recompense for service disruptions in 2007. Ask staff at the ticket barriers for a free ticket.
Above the platforms, the main station circulation area is spacious and bright, although signage is poor, and the layout with separate ticket offices and information points for local, medium and long-distance trains can be rather confusing. During the modernisation, there seem to be a lot of staff around to help, although few speak much English, so be prepared with to speak Spanish. Be warned that the modernisation is set to take until 2012, so facilities may move around or be withdrawn during the works.
Facilities within the station are extensive and include: the four-star Hotel Barceló Sants, a left-luggage office, car hire, restaurant, cafeteria, bookshop, pharmacy, newsagent, facilities for people with hearing difficulties, a Tourist Information Office with hotel reservation service, currency exchange booths and cash-points. (A good local tip is that a number of the shops sell sandwiches and soft drinks at lower prices than the cafeterias.) The current refurbishment will also see step-free access extended throughout the station.