Case study · Catalonia
FGC — a voice wayfinding
system for the whole network.
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya deploys NaviLens across signage, fare gates, intercoms and tactile paving so anyone can travel independently.
Bages + Anoia
Counties with initial rollout
L8 · S · R
Llobregat-Anoia and Vallès lines covered
42
Languages with voice readout
30 m
Detection distance
The client
Ferrocarrils de la
Generalitat de Catalunya
FGC operates the Vallès Metro, the Baix Llobregat Metro (L8), the suburban and regional lines S3, S4, S8, S9, R5 and R6, the Montserrat and Vall de Núria tourist rack railways and the Lleida – La Pobla de Segur line.
Its voice wayfinding system, built on NaviLens, was co-designed with visually impaired users and the ONCE to ensure the digital signage answers real needs across urban, suburban and commuter rail.
§ The challenge
Making the whole network speak the same accessibility language.
- 01
A network with many lines
FGC runs Vallès Metro, Baix Llobregat Metro (L8), suburban lines (S3, S4, S8, S9), regional lines (R5, R6) and the historic Lleida–La Pobla line. Navigating so many line and track codes was a challenge for visually impaired travellers.
- 02
Critical decisions at every level
Concourses, fare gates, lifts, platforms and track changes concentrate decisions. Visual signage didn't reach those who couldn't see it, and braille requires touch and prior knowledge of the route.
- 03
Real-time service information
Next train, track, direction, help and SOS had to be available from the rider's phone — in their language — without installing new buttons or screens at every station.
§ The solution
NaviLens on signage,
fare gates and the paving.
FGC embeds NaviLens codes in ceiling and platform signage, on every fare gate, on help/SOS intercoms and —pioneeringly— into the tactile paving tiles at critical platform zones.
Using the free NaviLens app, the user hears the line, direction, next track and available services — in their language — and walks toward the code guided by distance and angle.
§ Timeline
From Bages to all of Catalonia.
- 26 Jul 2023
Launch in Bages and Anoia
FGC officially unveils the voice wayfinding system with NaviLens at stations in the Bages and l'Anoia counties, in a ceremony with regional minister Gemma Capella and the first user, Pep Coll, at Gràcia station (Sabadell).
- 2023
User manual and app
FGC publishes an official manual at fgc.cat/sistemaorientacioperveu and promotes the free NaviLens app, highlighting that its BIDI codes are detected 12× further than a conventional QR.
- 2024
Extension to the Llobregat-Anoia line
Codes reach key Barcelona stations such as Europa | Fira (L8/L9 Sud), with signage on ceilings, fare gates, intercoms and tactile paving.
- Today
A living system validated with ONCE
Each code reports the line, direction, track and available services. FGC maintains the content and progressively adds stations, validated with ONCE users.
§ Walkthrough
Every step of the station, signposted.
Station
Europa | Fira — L8 / L9 Sud
Main station signage with NaviLens codes alongside L8 and the suburban lines S3, S4, S8, S9, R5 and R6.
Platform
Track 1 sign
Each track sign lists lines and destinations (Molí Nou, Manresa, Igualada…) and is read aloud from the adjacent code.
Concourse
Suspended L8 sign
Lift, accessibility and L9 Sud / L8 line directions with NaviLens code built into the ceiling signage.
Access
Entry fare gates
NaviLens codes on validators guide the user to the correct gate, with an LED status arrow.
Access
Gate with passage indicator
A code on every gate identifies passage direction and the luggage, wheelchair or bike pictograms.
Service
Help and SOS intercom
The Help/SOS point carries its own NaviLens code: instructions read aloud in the user's language.
Platform
Codes in tactile paving
FGC embeds the code into the platform's own tactile paving: the blind user finds it with the cane and the phone reads it.
Detail
Code embedded in tiles
Close-up of the NaviLens code manufactured with coloured tactile tiles, durable for intensive use.
Concourse
Safety distance line
Codes in the paving next to the yellow line «Respecteu la distància de seguretat» and information points.
Access
Full fare gate line
View of the Europa | Fira concourse with the gate array marked in NaviLens for blind and low-vision riders.
§ What they said
Voices from the rollout, in their own words.
“FGC és una referència internacional pel seu compromís amb l'accessibilitat, perquè sigui possible utilitzar el sistema ferroviari de manera autònoma per totes les persones.”
“Treballem per eliminar totes les barreres amb què es poden trobar totes les persones. Les administracions hem d'estar atentes, hi hem de ser i hem de treballar col·laborativament perquè tothom gaudeixi en igualtat d'oportunitats de tots els drets.”
§ Results
A rail network for everyone.
Voice
Every sign, gate and lift read aloud in the rider's language
0 works
Codes glued or embedded into existing signage and paving
ONCE
Validated with blind and low-vision users
«With the voice wayfinding system we want anyone, sighted or not, to use FGC independently: from the entry gate to the exact track of their train.»
§ And your network?
Your next station can also speak.
Tell us about your network, your pain points and the KPIs you want to move. We’ll show you how NaviLens would fit —with comparable cases.
