Case study · València · Alacant

From Àngel Guimerà to the whole FGV network.

What started in February 2023 as a launch at Metrovalencia's busiest station was completed in September 2024: Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana became the first Spanish rail operator with NaviLens across its entire network — 217 stations and stops between Metrovalencia and TRAM d'Alacant.

Entrance to Metrovalencia's 'Àngel Guimerà' station from the square, with descending stairs, chrome handrails, a brown ceramic frontage and the sign '1 2 3 5 9 Àngel Guimerà'; above the lintel, a colourful square NaviLens code with the logos of Generalitat Valenciana, Metrovalencia and NaviLens.

217

Stations and stops with NaviLens (Metrovalencia + TRAM d'Alacant)

~3,000

NaviLens codes installed across the FGV network

1st in Spain

Full rail network with NaviLens (Sept. 2024)

€693,814

Investment with EU NextGeneration funds

The client

FGV · Metrovalencia + TRAM d'Alacant

Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) operates Metrovalencia and TRAM d'Alacant, the two regional rail networks of the Valencian Community. Àngel Guimerà station —where lines 1, 2, 3, 5 and 9 converge— was the showcase of a much more ambitious plan.

In February 2023, FGV launched NaviLens at Àngel Guimerà (Metrovalencia) and Luceros (TRAM d'Alacant) in an event with regional minister Rebeca Torró, managing director Anaïs Menguzzato and representatives from CERMI, FESORD, ONCE and Plena Inclusión.

In September 2024, FGV completed the installation of around 3,000 codes across 217 stations and stops of both networks, becoming the first Spanish rail operator with NaviLens across its entire network. The project, delivered by Neosistec for €693,814 (VAT incl.), was funded by EU NextGeneration funds. The final launch took place at Russafa station, during Mobility Week, with regional minister Vicente Martínez Mus, managing director Alfonso Novo and FGV's Accessibility Board (CERMI, Helix, FESORD, COCEMFE, Plena Inclusión, ASPACE, ASPAYM, ONCE).

§ The challenge

Wayfinding at the crossroads of the network.

01
Five lines, two platforms, one name
Àngel Guimerà concentrates most central València interchanges: L1, L2, L3, L5 and L9. For a blind person, reaching the right platform towards Bétera, Llíria, Rafelbunyol, Aeroport or Marítim means crossing several levels, stairs and turns. Without audible, geolocated information, any interchange is an unknown.
02
An 80s station that couldn't be rebuilt
The brown ceramic façade, elbow corridors and retrofitted lifts reflect decades of layers. FGV needed a non-invasive solution: no civil works, no new wall-mounted electronics. Just signage that could be stuck on and maintained like any other sign.
03
Real waiting times in your ear
The challenge wasn't only wayfinding — it was hearing the SAE. Users had to know aloud which train enters each platform, its destination and how long until arrival, without relying on PA or visual panels, and in the language of their phone.

Central platform of Àngel Guimerà station with a 4329-series train entering on the right track; in the foreground a hand holds a phone showing the NaviLens GO app with code #220AAF at 5.79 m, lines 3 to Rafelbunyol, 3 to Aeroport and 5 to Marítim, exit instructions and a warning for tracks 1 and 2.

§ The solution

Codes at every decision: descend, validate, change, wait.

The rollout covers every decision point of the station. There are NaviLens codes at the street entrance, the line of turnstiles, every interchange sign, next to the lifts, on the platform intercom columns and on the platform indicators above.

With the free NaviLens GO app, blind or low-vision users scan without aiming and hear aloud their exact position, the destinations by track, real-time waiting times (3 minutes track 1, 4 minutes track 2) and the instructions to exit onto Àngel Guimerà street.

Information always arrives in the phone's language —Valencian, Spanish, English and others—, with no language barrier for visitors and tourists.

§ Point by point

From the street to the train, without getting lost.

Close-up of the entrance sign '1 2 3 5 9 Àngel Guimerà' with the line pictograms in colour —1 yellow, 2 magenta, 3 red, 5 green, 9 ochre— and, on the brown ceramic, a colourful square NaviLens code with the Generalitat Valenciana · Metrovalencia · NaviLens GO branding.

Entrance to Àngel Guimerà station with the colourful sign '1 2 3 5 9 Àngel Guimerà' on brown ceramic; above the lintel, a colourful square NaviLens code; several people walk up the stairs from the concourse.

View towards the street from the top of the access stairs to Àngel Guimerà, with the 'Garage Guimerà' façade and a car park in the background; chrome railings, pedestrians crossing and bikes parked on the right.

Line of 'Pas individual' turnstiles in the concourse with blue 'Junts davant' panels on the left and, on the wall behind, a colourful square NaviLens code that explains priority access for wheelchairs, children or luggage and entry to the platform.

Mezzanine interchange sign reading '1 2 Castelló / Torrent / Torrent Av.' and below '3 5 9 Transbord'; next to the sign, a colourful square NaviLens code and, on the wall below, the zonal maps and circulation calendar of Àngel Guimerà.

White corridor with sign '1 Bétera Seminari-CEU · 2 Llíria Paterna' and, on the tiles, a colourful square NaviLens code; in the foreground a hand holds a phone with the NaviLens app in English saying 'On your right, an elevator to track 1, Line 1 direction Bétera and Line 2 direction Llíria' at 1.97 m.

Central platform column with the vertical yellow band 'Intèrfon', call button and, above it, a colourful square NaviLens code; from the ceiling hang the exit signs 'C/ Cuenca · C/ Sanchis Sivera' and 'Castelló · Torrent 1 · Torrent Av. 2' and the platform with passengers is visible in the background.

Yellow intercom panel on the concourse wall with circular speaker, diamond-shaped push button and trilingual text in Valencian, Spanish and English: 'POLSAR I ESPERAR RESPOSTA / PULSAR Y ESPERAR / PRESS AND WAIT ANSWER', next to a wall clad in intense red, purple and white tiles.

Platform lift hall with metal door, priority pictograms PRM · pushchairs · luggage and, on the right, a colourful square NaviLens code with the Generalitat Valenciana · Metrovalencia · NaviLens branding; in the background, a fire extinguisher and the station's signature red bands.

Inside the station lift with a large-format artistic poster (black-and-white photograph of a young man, chains and a warm-toned background), travertine marble walls and, top right, a colourful square NaviLens code integrated into the cabin.

Glass-walled lift cabin with a metal cabinet for firefighters' use only at its base, transparent glass walls and, above the lintel, a colourful square NaviLens code next to the station safety pictograms.

The same gesture at every decision point —entrances, intercom, turnstiles, lifts, platforms, carriages—. One app, one auditory grammar: ‘code at 2 metres, central platform, track 1 towards Rafelbunyol in 3 minutes'.

§ Why it matters

An interchange station you can use by ear.

+30 m

of detection without aiming: the code is found on entering the corridor, not by pressing against the wall. Behind the white cane, that changes everything.

SAE

the real arrival times from the operation support system are read aloud —line, destination and minutes— at each track, without relying on PA or visual panels.

CERMI

the project was designed with CERMI CV, ONCE, Fesord and Plena Inclusión, aligned with FGV's Universal Accessibility Plan, for cognitive, sensory and motor accessibility at once.

§ Sources