The passenger increase, rising from 82 to nearly 90 million in one year, is attributed to high housing prices that have pushed citizens out to the second metropolitan ring and beyond. This situation, combined with constant incidents on the Rodalies rail network, has caused a massive migration of users to the bus, overwhelming the service during peak hours in municipalities such as Esparreguera, Igualada, and Manresa.
“"We are working with the administrations so that nobody is left behind at the stops."
The Catalan Business Federation of Passenger Road Transport (FECAV) forecasts an investment of 800 million euros by 2029 to meet this demand. This investment includes the incorporation of 2,800 low-emission vehicles, increasing the current fleet by 50%, and the creation of 1,750 new jobs, including drivers and technical staff.
The Department of Territory, along with the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) and local councils, is planning the new road transport map. This modernization process includes the creation of rapid bus corridors (BR Cat) and the reinforcement of express services, such as the new Manresa-Barcelona line, which has been operating with hybrid vehicles since last Monday.
One of the biggest challenges is the lack of adequate bus stations in Barcelona, causing queues in places like Maria Cristina or Tetuán and neighborhood complaints. The Generalitat and the City Council aim to locate the start and end points of intercity lines at interchange hubs on the city accesses to prevent central congestion, a position supported by the Public Transport Promotion (PTP) association.
