Letter Designations on Transport Lines and Barcelona Card
 

Hello...

Heading to Barcelona & Lisbon for the first time next month, and I always try to have a thorough understanding of the transport system in cities I visit.

The Barcelona bus and Metro map presents several questions:

Some buses have letters preceding their number (H, B). Is this information I need to know?

In addition to the L (metro) lines, there are lines designated R, S, and T...apparently part of the Renfe system rather than part of TMB?

Are these R,S, & T lines included (to any extent) with a Barcelona Card or regular metro ticket. If so, to what extent (zones)?

Thank for this and any other tips you can give about navigating the system.

NOTE: I am very much at ease with transport systems in large cities like London and Paris -- where a 1-week card includes all the "flavors" of trains (Metro, RER, Transilien in Paris for instance) within the designated zones -- not a newbie in that respect. I just need to know the rules.

ssander

Barcelona travel card details are given here.
http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/...lona-card.html
Not for RENFE trains.
If letters preceding their number forms part of the bus route number then you need to use it.
There is a very good route planner on this page.
http://www.tmb.cat/en/el-teu-transport
From there you can see what route runs where and even download a PDF map. I will also expect you to be able to look for an app for your smartphone, Android or Apple.

It doesn't matter if a bus line has an H in front of it, they just gave some new lettering system to some of the new routes (begin with H or V, as I recall). What matters is the zone.

If you are only in Barcelona city, you just need zone 1. The Barcelona card covers all kinds of transportation in that zone (except RENFE, I suppose, but it includes local and regional trains in the city itself). None of these include the airport bus.

I just buy a T10 card for zone 1 for about 10 euro, which gives you 10 trips, or 1 euro per trip. The Barcelona card is about 7 euro per day so if you think you'll use that many trips, sure, that's a good choice. The T10 card does not include the airport metro stops, though, I think the Barcelona card does (on line 9).

H, V and D bus lines go Horizontally, Vertically and Diagonally across town - usually over long distances.
It is somewhat helpful for travelers as the letter designates that the bus will stay more or less on the same street or within a certain corridor.
http://www.tmb.cat/ca/nova-xarxa-de-bus

But it's more important what PPs said about zones etc.

Thanks to all...that pretty much explains the buses.

Christina...so, if I understand you, a local or regional train RENFE is covered as long as it is in the city -- sort of like Paris' SNCF lines J and K, which are covered by the Navigo 1-week pass if in the city zones (1-5) but not beyond that. Is that correct?

Cowboy...thinks to you for the excellent link.

ssander

You can see what is covered by a Zone 1 ticket here:
Buses are not shown, though.
http://doc.atm.cat/ca/xarxa_ferrov_global.pdf

Any line that has a color is part of the integrated transit network.
Any line that is grey is not part of the network, e.g. some of the cable cars or funiculars.
Other funiculars, like the ones to Montjuic or Vallvidrera are covered (you can see that those have a color in the map).

The rail network of the city and metropolitan area is run by several companies, but since it is an integrated network, you don't have to care about it - as long as you stay in the zone(s) you paid for.

L = subway/metro, run by TMB and FGC
T = tram
S = suburban trains, run by FGC - mostly serving the hinterland of Barcelona what is beyond Collserola mountain
R = Rodalies (Cercanias) by Renfe - regional trains, often going to quite distant destinations along the coast

You can use any of those trains (and the buses) - just remember to "check in" each time you make a transfer.