Barcelona City Council and the Generalitat have confirmed the Sants intercity bus station will remain operational and receive temporary upgrades. This decision comes as the planned underground interchange at Plaça Espanya faces significant delays. The city also plans to build Barcelona's first large-capacity bicycle parking facility at Sants, starting in the second quarter of next year.
The Generalitat initially requested saving the existing, dilapidated Sants bus station. The City Council supported this, planning urgent works for next year to improve its condition. This temporary solution addresses the soaring growth of intercity buses, which now transport almost the same number of passengers as Renfe's Rodalies commuter trains.
Laia Bonet, Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning, stated, "In the current context, it is essential to maintain the intercity bus station in Sants, at least until the new major infrastructures are executed." She referred to the future underground station at Plaça Espanya, which remains without a budget or timeline from the Generalitat. The City Council owns the Sants station and aims to ensure its continuity for the short to medium term.
Temporary Upgrades for Sants Bus Station
The long-term plan involves the Sants bus station disappearing with the future expansion of the Sants train station. This expansion includes a new pedestrian access, landscaped areas, and a semi-underground patio for taxis. However, this final phase of works has no set date. To bridge this gap, the municipal company Bimsa has been commissioned to draft a project. This project will secure the existence of twelve operational bays for buses travelling to destinations like Igualada and Irún.
Currently, half of the bus bays remain in the original station area. The other half moved temporarily next to the train station construction site. This relocation happened because traffic on the mountain side of Sants was completely cut off. The new road configuration, which directs all traffic to the sea side, will stay in place long-term.
Improved Passenger Experience and Traffic Flow
The City Council proposes maintaining the current bus organisation. Buses will enter via Viriat Street and exit via Passeig de Sant Antoni, all on the Plaça Joan Peiró side. This setup will keep the same lines and companies. However, the plan includes more than just simple canopies. The aim is to make the waiting area more pleasant for passengers.
Concentrating bus traffic on the Llobregat side of the station creates a new opportunity. This area, previously used for parking heavy vehicles, will now host Barcelona's first large bicycle parking facility.
Barcelona's First Large Bicycle Parking
This new bicycle parking will measure 80 metres long and 12 metres wide. It will offer approximately 80 anchor points, providing secure space for up to 160 bicycles. These figures are common in many European cities. However, they are currently rare in Barcelona. The closest existing facilities are the high-capacity Bicibox parking areas. The Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB) operates these near Rodalies stations, such as the one in Gavà.
The City Council will invest 3.6 million euros in the entire mountain side of the Sants station area. This investment covers several improvements. It includes the temporary upgrade of the bus area and the construction of the new bicycle parking. It also involves conditioning Viriat Street and restoring the bidirectional cycle lane. This lane was installed shortly before the works began but disappeared during construction.
Project Timeline and Future Outlook
The City Council aims to carry out the bus station improvements and bicycle parking construction after the first phase of the train station works concludes. Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (Adif) has committed to finishing this initial phase this year. Consequently, the City Council plans to start its works in the second quarter of next year. They expect to complete these projects before the end of 2027. This ensures continued intercity bus services and enhanced cycling infrastructure for Barcelona residents and visitors.
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Originally published by La Vanguardia Catalonia. Read original article.
