The Montserrat Railway, managed by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), has closed 2024 with a record balance in its 21-year history. With a total of 721,713 passengers, this tourist transport has registered an increase of 22.05% compared to 2023 (591,333 passengers) and an increase of 2.79% compared to its previous record year, 2019 (702,157 users).
The president of FGC, Carles Ruiz Novella, attributes this success to several factors, among which are “the total recovery of the international tourist market post-pandemic, the good functioning of the sale of tickets combined with the R5 train from Barcelona and the start of the inauguration ceremonies of the Millenary of Montserrat, which have attracted a greater number of visitors to the Sanctuary”. “These good figures demonstrate that the Montserrat Rack Railway remains a sustainable and efficient transport option to access the Sanctuary, contributing to the reduction of motor vehicles on the mountain” highlights Ruiz.
As for the funiculars, they have also experienced a significant increase in the number of passengers. Overall, they have registered a total of 447,627 users, 13.33% more than in 2019 and 30.66% more than in 2023. In reference to individual figures, the Sant Joan Funicular has had 368,826 passengers this year, that is, 30.49% more than the previous year, in which it transported up to 282,652 users. As for the Santa Cova Funicular, 78,801 people have traveled there this 2024, which translates into an increase of 31.46% compared to 2023, in which it transported 59,941 people.
Key pieces of the sustainable mobility service in Montserrat
The Montserrat Rack Railway offers a panoramic, fast and comfortable journey, with free parking for users. In this sense, both the Rack Railway and the Funiculars are key pieces of the sustainable mobility service offered by FGC on the mountain of Montserrat and which allows visitors to enjoy the multiple possibilities of this destination.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Rack Railway will contribute to mobility in a year in which the different activities scheduled in Montserrat will continue to commemorate the thousand years since the foundation of the Abbey, such as the arrival of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya scheduled for March 27.
The Rack Railway and the Funiculars join the rest of the tourist trains of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya, a recreational and cultural offer that reinforces the company’s values and its philosophy, which promotes the use of public transport and the fight against climate change, respect for the environment and the knowledge and development of mountain areas.
