The 213 series is a DC

electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number o ...

(EMU) commuter and suburban train type operated by

Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (, "Catalan Government Railways"; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Ferrocarriles de la Generalidad de Cataluña''), or FGC, is a railway company which operates several unconnected lines in Catalonia, Spain. The lines operated include metro and commu ...

, providing all passenger service on the Llobregat-Anoia line since 2009. First introduced in 1999, the trains operate as single units or coupled as 6 car double units.

Background

At the time of introduction in 1999, the 213 series initially replaced the more obsolete units that were still operating in the Llobregat-Anoia line (3000, 5000 and 8000 series). The new units provided passenger service next to the older 211 series.Carril. Associació d'Amics del Ferrocarril de Barcelona arcelona número 65, 2007. ISSN: 1136-2499 The trains were acquired in the context of modernization of the Llobregat-Anoia line and electrification of the

Igualada Igualada () is a municipality and capital of Anoia county in Penedès, Catalonia, Spain. It is located on the left bank of the Anoia River and at the western end of the Igualada-Martorell-Barcelona Railway. Igualada is the capital and central ...

branch. The first order of trains consisted of 20 units. The units were built by

Alstom Alstom SA () is a French multinational rolling stock manufacturer which operates worldwide in rail transport markets. It is active in the fields of passenger transportation, signaling, and locomotives, producing high-speed, suburban, regional ...

, CAF and Bombardier. They share many design elements with their

standard-gauge A standard-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge of . The standard gauge is also called Stephenson gauge (after George Stephenson), international gauge, UIC gauge, uniform gauge, normal gauge in Europe, and SGR in East Africa. It is the ...

counterpart in the Barcelona-Vallès line, the 112 series.

Design

The EMUs are 3 car units with 2 motor cars (one on each end) and a trailer car (the middle car). There are 2 doors per side on motor cars and 3 doors per side in the middle car. The central door on the middle car is lower than the rest, to provide at-grade PRM access. The rest of the doors include a folding step to allow access on the low platforms of the Llobregat-Anoia line. Every 213 unit includes a WC in car 2, next to the driver cab.

Operations

While most service is provided by single units, 213 units are commonly coupled to cope with demand in peak times. In 2015, the whole 42 units underwent a renovation project, which included upgrades of the interior lighting, seating, the WC and an update to the exterior livery. The front livery was changed from orange to black.

Fleet details

Currently, there are 42 units in service, providing all passenger service in the Llobregat-Anoia line.

Named units

At the time of their introduction, units 213.01 to 213.20 were named after

municipalities A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

served by the line. The municipality's name and

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...

can be observed on the side of the motor cars. After the class's refurbishment in 2015, several other units were named after notable Catalan writers and artists. Their portrait is featured on the train's livery, in addition to a small biographic quote in the interior.

References

Electric multiple units of Spain Train-related introductions in 1999 1500 V DC multiple units Llobregat–Anoia Line Barcelona Metro {{Morecats, date=November 2023