Barcelona City Council will invest €3.6 million to reform the Sants intercity bus station in 2027. This project aims to reorganise and upgrade the terminal, which has faced significant disruption due to ongoing works by Adif. Currently, six of the station's 12 bays operate from provisional locations, leading to a dispersed and precarious layout for vehicles and passengers.
Municipal sources explained to El Periódico that the City Council is currently drafting the project. The reform will dignify the terminal by regrouping the bays and urbanising the entire area. The station will maintain its current capacity of 12 bays, ensuring no reduction in service for the many routes it serves. Buses will continue to enter via Comtes de Bell-lloc street. They will exit via Sant Antoni promenade, maintaining established traffic flows and minimising disruption to local roads. This specific investment for Sants forms part of a larger €12 million plan by the City Council. This comprehensive plan aims to improve intercity bus stops with high passenger traffic across Barcelona.
Addressing Current Disruption at Sants
The Sants bus station, a vital transport hub for Barcelona residents and visitors, has seen its operations significantly impacted. Adif's extensive transformation works at the main Sants train station have encroached upon the adjacent bus terminal. This has reduced the bus station to a "dispersed puzzle of spaces," as described by the source material. The temporary relocation of half its bays has created inconvenience for thousands of daily commuters and visitors relying on intercity services. The City Council's reform seeks to restore order and functionality to this critical transport point, improving the daily experience for passengers.
Wider City Bus Stop Improvements
The broader €12 million initiative also includes improvements to Fabra i Puig station, another key intercity bus hub. This project is awaiting its final draft, however, the Generalitat will carry out an initial phase before summer. Additionally, the City Council plans to install new bus shelters, benches, and better infrastructure at key entry points to the city. These include stops along Meridiana, Diagonal, and Gran Vía. These locations currently feature only a single pole, despite serving up to 20,000 users daily. The lack of proper facilities at these high-traffic stops affects both residents and tourists.
The plan also considers revising pedestrian routes and crossings around these stops. This will help manage the flow of people more effectively and improve safety. The City Council will install shade systems, litter bins, and where possible, public toilets and information kiosks. A key objective is to separate some bus stops by several metres. This will prevent large crowds from gathering on pavements, enhancing passenger comfort and safety.
These efforts represent immediate solutions to the current issues and aim to improve the daily experience for bus users. However, they are distinct from the Generalitat's critical and urgent plan for terminal stations. This larger regional plan will systematically organise the arrival and departure of intercity buses across all city corridors. These are substantial, long-term projects designed to create a more integrated and efficient regional transport network.
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Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.
