Travelers arriving at Sants train station in Barcelona in 2025 found themselves in an unfamiliar situation. The usual cafes, pharmacies, and newsstands had disappeared—of the 30 retail outlets, only five remained open. The reason is a large-scale renovation that has dragged on longer than planned and has completely changed the familiar appearance of one of Spain’s busiest stations.
Since the beginning of the year, the station has become a zone of constant noise, construction dust, and chaos. For many passengers, even a simple task like buying coffee or grabbing a snack before their journey has turned into a real challenge. Most shops and services have closed, and those that remain cannot cope with the crowds. Lines at the only open McDonald’s and a small coffee shop stretch for dozens of meters, and travelers often have no time to spare.
Among the closed outlets are a pharmacy, a bookstore, and a newsstand. Some have relocated to nearby streets, but most employees still don’t know if they’ll be able to return to the station once the work is finished. Many workers are left in limbo: some have been transferred to other locations, some are on forced leave, and some have already lost their jobs.
Delays and new plans
The station’s renovation was originally scheduled to take a year and a half, but work is already eight months behind. The project involves expanding the building toward Plaça dels Països Catalans, adding extra floors, new entrances, and landscaping the surrounding area. Once completed, the station will accommodate a quarter more passengers, making transfers between the metro, commuter, and high-speed trains more convenient.
For now, however, the nearly 47 million people who pass through Sants each year continue to face difficulties. Access to the platforms has become less convenient, familiar waiting areas have disappeared, and information boards and signs often don’t reflect reality. The administration has promised to update guidance and improve information soon, but passengers still face confusion.
What awaits passengers and businesses
Most commercial tenants have negotiated individual deals: some have suspended operations temporarily, while others have terminated their contracts completely. New stores and familiar services are promised only after all renovation phases are completed, but no one is naming exact dates. As a result, the station, once a convenient transport and shopping hub, now resembles a construction site with minimal amenities.
For now, passengers can only hope that the work will be finished soon and that their usual comfort will return. In the meantime, Barcelona welcomes visitors and residents alike with long lines, noise, and a lack of basic services at one of the country’s main transport hubs.
