https://turistren.cat/en/trains/mont...nd-funiculars/

The other option to travel between the R5 train and the monastery is via the Montserrat Rack Railway. Like the Aeri, one can buy a combo ticket at Plaça d'Espanya that includes the cremallera, but if done via a round-trip, the cremallera has to be taken both up and down. One-way tickets can be purchased at the Montserrat station at the monastery, including the combo, and there are English-speaking staff standing by to assist. The combo Cremallera-FGC ticket to/from Plaça d'Espanya is a ZONE 4 ticket and cost 15,05 € one-way.

The train is large and modern with ample seating and large picture windows. Best views are from the left side going up and the right going down. The ride takes about 15 minutes between the Monistrol de Montserrat station (on the R5 from Barcelona, this is the station just after the Aeri station) and the terminus station at the monastery. The trains run every hour and are timed nicely with the R5 schedule. I rode the cremallera down and the last stop is the same platform as the R5 to Barcelona, You have about five minutes to walk from the end where the cremallera lets you off to the other end where the R5 stops.

Pros

• Large station with clean bathrooms that requires less walking than the Aeri
• Large trains with ample seating and standing room
• Good timing to connect to/from R5 train
• The Monistrol de Montserrat station is before the Aeri station on the R5 line to Barcelona so better chances to get a seat on the R5 train

Cons

• Slower than the Aeri
• Only runs once an hour