It has become the most important transport hub of the city - being the centre of Rodalies de Catalunya including Barcelona suburban railway services and regional services, as well as the main inter-city station for national and international destinations.

The modern Sants station was built in the 1970s as part of construction of the second east–west regional line running under the centre of Barcelona.

The first east–west railway to Estació de França terminus, more to the north,[3] was covered up and is now also in use as a railtunnel for the regional and long-distance trains.

Madrid is two and a half hours away on the AVE Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line, after the link between Camp de Tarragona and Barcelona opened in 2008.

A second major railway station in Barcelona, Estació de la Sagrera, currently under construction, is expected to join it in order to provide a wider access to high-speed and long-distance trains to the north of the city.