News

The six ski and mountain resorts managed by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) today close the 2024-2025 winter season with very positive results thanks to the excellent snow conditions this year, especially between January and March, and to a very good reception of the complementary activities, focused on providing a comprehensive and attractive offer to all visitors. With a firm commitment to diversifying the offer, promoting school and competitive sports, deseasonalization and sustainability, Ferrocarrils consolidates its position as an economic engine in the Catalan Pyrenees, offering unique experiences throughout the winter season.

The six Ferrocarrils resorts have recovered the influx of previous years in a season marked by abundant snowfall and good weather. In total, the six tourist facilities have received 805,109 visitors, of which 279,859 in La Molina; 170,235 in Boí Taüll; 122,675 in Port Ainé; 102,008 in Vall de Núria; 65,390 in Espot Esquí, and 64,942 in Vallter.

Regarding the conditions of the slopes, up to 189 skiable kilometers have been offered in all the resorts. The snow depths have also been very outstanding. They have reached a total of 539 cm of snow, with maximum thicknesses on prepared slopes of 320 cm, as is the case in Boí Taüll.

This season has also been one of the longest in recent years. The resorts have been open for up to 134 days, from the December long weekend until the end of this Easter, thus reaffirming their commitment to serving the territory.

For the president of Ferrocarrils, Carles Ruiz Novella, this has been “a good season where the snow has finally arrived with force and which has allowed us to reach the end with very good conditions in all the stations. After a more complex previous season, this year we have recovered the influx of visitors, also thanks to a good proposal in terms of complementary activities”.

Ruiz explained that although this year has been good in terms of snow, FGC has an important challenge which is the transformation of the ski resorts into mountain resorts that offer activities 365 days a year. “We are working, in this sense, on the Pirineu 365 project and we are already preparing for the summer season and opening our stations, which are the gateway to nature, from June. An important part of our value is that throughout the year we are strategic partners of the territory in the tourist promotion of the regions and destinations where our operations are located”.

More excitement

Regarding FGC's commitment to diversifying the offer, this year the six resorts have presented a wide variety of recreational activities. Three proposals in particular have stood out, which have been the most attractive for users: the recreational areas of the resorts (amusement parks, sledges, etc.), aimed mainly at a family audience; the outings with rectrac machines, and the rides with ski lifts, aimed at all audiences. In this way, the interest of visitors in exploring the resorts and their natural surroundings, beyond skiing or snowboarding, has been highlighted.

The Après Ski sessions in La Molina and Boí Taüll have also been consolidated as successful proposals. Between the two resorts they have offered 25 sessions this season, which shows their popularity as an entertainment space after a day of skiing.

More gastronomy

Continuing in the area of ​​diversification, FGC Turisme has promoted gastronomic experiences this year, which have attracted more than 2,200 people. In the case of La Molina, in Cerdanya, the experience that combines a ride on a retrac machine and a dinner at Costa Rasa has been very successful, as has the gondola ride followed by a dinner at Niu de l’Àliga.

In Ripollès, in Vall de Núria, visitors have participated in the experience of traveling in a retrac machine and enjoying a charity dinner. And as for the Vallter station, this season has highlighted the launch of new night experiences with a snowmobile and high-altitude dinners at the renovated and expanded Braseria Les Marmotes (at the highest point of the station, at 2,535 meters), which has increased its culinary offer. A new panoramic space, "El Balcó de la Costa Brava", has also been created, with spectacular views, enriching the experience of visitors.

More sport and more competition

Another pillar of Ferrocarrils' strategy is the support and promotion of physical activity and sport, both grassroots and competitive. This season the six stations have consolidated themselves as the venues for numerous competitions in various disciplines. In total, 68 days of competition have been held, with more than 5,500 participants. Of these days, 30 days have been dedicated to alpine skiing competitions, with a total of 25 events.

Ski mountaineering has had an important international event: the Skimo World Cup, which has consolidated Boí Taüll once again as a reference station for this sporting discipline. Including this competition and the others that have been held, there have been a total of 12 days of championships and 8 ski mountaineering events. And as for snowboarding, the FGC resorts have hosted 5 days of competition and 8 events.

They have also hosted other sporting events of great international relevance, such as the final stage of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya in La Molina, thus expanding their competition calendar and reaffirming their commitment to the world of sport.

In the field of school sport, the FGC resorts have continued to support and bet on the Esport Blanc Escolar program, promoted by the Departments of Sports and Education and Professional Training, in collaboration with the Sports Councils of the Pyrenean regions, the Catalan Winter Sports Federation and the Catalan ski resorts, with the aim of promoting and popularizing snow sports among students in the regions of the Catalan Pyrenees and offering the opportunity to learn and learn in their own environment, thus hosting school white weeks. A total of 127,332 students were able to enjoy snow activities at FGC resorts.

More sustainability

During the winter season, FGC Turisme has maintained a firm commitment to sustainability and respect for the natural environment. The six resorts have prioritized the use of renewable energy, which represents 72.43% of the total (within this percentage is included 6.84 of renewable energy self-generated in the facilities themselves).

FGC has also implemented measures to offset the inevitable carbon dioxide emissions generated at various events, such as the presentation of the season held in Vic and the Mountain Ski World Cup in Boí Taüll, with the purchase of climate credits for the implementation of actions and projects aimed at protecting the environment and increasing biodiversity.

Ferrocarrils has also completed this season the deployment of charging points for electric vehicles in all resorts, with the commissioning of chargers at Espot station. In total, the six stations have 44 points for electric vehicles. And the upcoming commissioning of the first fully electric 4x4 vehicle in Vall de Núria, manufactured exclusively for Ferrocarrils, will allow for the optimisation of emission-free mobility within this station. This vehicle, as well as other actions, is part of the Ecovall project promoted so that Vall de Núria becomes a zero-emission place.

Port Ainé has also opened this season, together with the Alt Pirineu Natural Park, a new panoramic viewpoint at altitude 2,000, one of the accessible viewpoints with the largest mountain panorama in all of Catalonia.