The air hung heavy with the scent of dust and forgotten memories, a subtle metallic tang hinting at decades of disuse. It was the early hours of a Sunday morning, January 11, 2026, when a select few embarked on a journey not just through a tunnel, but through time itself. The destination: Correus, Barcelona’s most enigmatic ghost station, a place where the city’s pulse once beat, now silenced since 1972.
A Centenary’s Gift: Unlocking the Past
The year 2025 marked the centenary of the Barcelona Metro, an occasion that brought with it an extraordinary gift for the public. While many hidden corners of the subterranean network were unveiled, none captured the imagination quite like Correus. For the first time in over half a century, this forgotten station, a veritable time capsule, opened its doors – or rather, its tracks – to a handful of curious souls.
Imagine descending into the depths of the city, not through a bustling entrance, but onto the active tracks of the Jaume I station, under the cloak of night when the regular service has ceased. This is not a casual stroll; it’s an adventure into the unknown, a privileged access granted only after the last train has departed. The air is still, the usual rumble of trains replaced by an eerie silence, punctuated only by the distant hum of the city above.
The Walk Through the Tunnel of Time
From the platform of Jaume I, the journey to Correus involves a walk of approximately two hundred meters through the tunnel. It’s a surreal experience, a path rarely trodden by the public, offering a unique perspective on the city’s hidden infrastructure. Each step echoes in the confined space, building anticipation for the historical relic that awaits.
And then, it appears. The faint glow of emergency lights reveals the remnants of a bygone era. Blue tiles, faded but still vibrant, line the walls. Red signs, emblazoned with the word ‘Correos’ (the Catalan equivalent of Correus), stand as silent sentinels. And most strikingly, vintage advertisements, some more than fifty years old, adorn the walls, their colours a testament to a different time, a different Barcelona.
Correus: More Than Just a Station
Correus wasn’t just a stop on the line; it was a crucial operational point. Initially, it served as a shunting yard at the end of the line, featuring a single track and two platforms. The main platform was for passengers, while a narrower, secondary one allowed the motorman to switch carriages and begin a new service. This unique layout contributed to its eventual fate.
The station’s demise came in 1972, when the L4 line was extended towards Barceloneta. With the new stations being too close to each other, Correus, the middle one, was deemed redundant and closed. The extension of the L4 line obliterated the main platform, but crucially, it left the service platform almost entirely intact, preserving it in a state of suspended animation.
A Paradigm of Ghost Stations
Unlike other disused stations like Gaudí, which offer relatively easier access, Correus embodies the true spirit of a ‘ghost station’ due to its inaccessibility. The need to access it from an active platform and walk along the tracks at night adds to its mystique and exclusivity. This difficulty of access is precisely what makes a visit so compelling and rare.
A Fleeting Glimpse, A Lasting Impression
The visits to Correus in 2025 were, by all accounts, highly restricted, and there are no immediate plans for future public access. Opening Correus requires suspending nocturnal maintenance work and partially opening the Jaume I station, a logistical challenge that underscores the rarity of these opportunities. The historical artefacts within the station, including the tiles, signs, and advertisements, have been carefully cleaned and protected, ensuring their preservation for future generations.
For those who missed the chance to walk through this captivating piece of history, the images and videos serve as a vital link to the past. The ‘Visto y no visto!’ series, dedicated to showcasing inaccessible or hidden spaces, perfectly encapsulates the essence of Correus – a place seen, but rarely visited, a fleeting vision between the Jaume I and Barceloneta stations for those who dare to look closely from a passing train.
Correus stands as a poignant reminder that beneath the bustling streets of Barcelona, there are layers of history waiting to be discovered, silent witnesses to the city’s continuous evolution. It’s a testament to the enduring power of urban archaeology, where even a disused metro station can tell a compelling story of progress, change, and the passage of time.
Source: https://www.elnacional.cat/es/barcelona/visita-casi-imposible-bajamos-estacion-fantasma-correos_1503373_102.html
