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Diari de Catalunya

Catalan Government Promotes Redefinition of Six Bus Stations in Barcelona Due to Growing Demand

The Generalitat seeks to adapt transport infrastructure to cope with the increase in passengers and enhance the sector's competitiveness.

Generic image of a modern, empty bus station with large windows.
IA

Generic image of a modern, empty bus station with large windows.

The Catalan Government has emphasized the need to redefine at least six bus stations in Barcelona to accommodate increasing demand and solidify the sector's essential role in Catalonia's mobility.

A representative from the Catalan Government highlighted that the bus sector has become a crucial component of Catalan transport, arguing that buses should compete with trains, not merely complement them. Therefore, they stressed the importance of rethinking the current model and existing infrastructure.
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"The employers' association, the Barcelona City Council, and the Generalitat must work together."

a Catalan Government representative
Among the strategic projects on the Catalan Government's agenda is the new station planned for Plaça Espanya, aimed at decongesting entries via the southern corridor. Also deemed crucial are the new Sagrera bus station, currently under construction, and improvements to the Nord and Fabra i Puig stations, which are already operating at their capacity limits. Furthermore, the need to maintain the Sants bus station was emphasized, despite the current renovation project not including it, and to define a new station on the Diagonal. The exact location of the latter, between the Zona Universitària and Plaça Francesc Macià, remains a point of debate.
The president of the sector's employers' association stated that they are "saving mobility in Catalonia" thanks to the efforts of bus companies to reinforce routes and ensure no passenger is left at stops. Demand has doubled in five years, rising from 50 million journeys in 2021 to a forecast of nearly 100 million by 2026.
Despite acknowledging their efforts, the Catalan Government representative urged the sector to expand their fleets with more modern and sustainable vehicles. They noted that, out of 1,500 interurban buses, fewer than 30 are electric, underscoring the "extraordinary work in decarbonizing the fleet" that needs to be undertaken.
This discussion occurs at a pivotal moment, as current concessions expire in 2028, following 25 years of extensions. The Catalan Competition Authority (ACCO) has repeatedly recommended against further extensions to foster competition and improve services, prices, and sustainability. Despite pressure from the sector to maintain them, the good rapport between the Catalan Government and the companies was evident at the meeting, where the topic of concessions was not directly addressed.

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