The Catalan government will review current regulations allowing passengers to travel standing on interurban buses, following a crash on Sunday 25 October 2026 that left 37 people injured, eight of them seriously. The accident involved a Sagalés bus operating in the Montseny area, which plunged 15 metres down a ravine near Fogars de Montclús.
The bus was carrying at least 83 people, though sources suggest up to 90 were on board, despite having only 65 designated seats. According to the Mossos d'Esquadra, it is currently legal for certain interurban buses to carry standing passengers, but investigators are verifying whether the number exceeded the vehicle’s permitted capacity.
Interior Minister Núria Parlon confirmed on Monday 26 October that the Generalitat is considering a ban on standing passengers, particularly on mountain and high-risk routes. Speaking on RAC1, Parlon described it as a 'miracle' that no fatalities occurred and suggested that passengers 'perhaps should travel seated and wearing seatbelts'.
Legal Framework and Vehicle Class Rules
Interurban buses in Catalonia fall under Class 2 vehicle classification under international technical regulations. These buses are permitted to carry standing passengers if travelling below 80 km/h, even on motorways. However, speed limits are routinely exceeded on roads leading in and out of Barcelona, undermining this safety condition.
The Generalitat also stipulates that standing passengers are only allowed on routes shorter than 50 kilometres. This means buses travelling from Berga to Barcelona cannot carry standing passengers, but those going to Sitges may. The crashed vehicle was operating under such a concession granted by the Generalitat to private operators like Sagalés.
“Passengers on intercity routes, and even more so on mountain roads, perhaps should go seated,”
said Minister Parlon, stressing that the review could extend to key commuter corridors like those linking Maresme with Barcelona.
Pushback and Practical Challenges
Technicians from the Servei Català de Trànsit and the Department of the Interior met on Monday morning to assess options. While Trànsit prioritises road safety, the Department of Territori remains cautious about making immediate changes.
The Association for the Promotion of Public Transport (PTP) warns that banning standing passengers without increasing service frequency or fleet size could leave many daily commuters unable to board. “We do not see it as good to prohibit standing if the service is not reinforced beforehand and an adequate offering is provided,” said Carles García, PTP president.
Fecav, the Catalan Business Federation of Passenger Road Transport, stated that while passenger comfort, meaning seated travel, is their priority, operators follow rules set by the Generalitat. Any ban would require investment in more buses to meet existing demand.
Sources: La Vanguardia, Ara.
