Catalonia Interurban Bus Shock Plan, the region at a glance 

Catalonia is undergoing a rapid transformation of its bus system, responding to record demand while laying the foundations for a new generation of high performance public transport under the eBRT2030 project. In 2025, interurban bus services reached an historic milestone of 90 million passenger trips, confirming the central role of buses in providing accessible and sustainable mobility across the region. 

To address immediate operational pressures such as overcrowding, delays, and capacity constraints, the Government of Catalonia introduced the Interurban Bus Shock Plan for the period 2025 to 2026. With a total of 73 targeted actions and an investment of 17 million euros, the plan focused on rapid and practical measures that could be deployed quickly. These included reinforcing services during peak hours, expanding fleets, adjusting timetables, and improving passenger information. By 2025, nearly ninety percent of the measures had already been implemented, delivering tangible improvements in service availability and reliability. 

The results have been significant. The plan has generated more than 5.7 million additional bus kilometres annually, contributing to a substantial shift away from private car use. This has translated into meaningful environmental benefits, including net savings of nearly 6,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. At the same time, improved services have strengthened public confidence in bus transport, demonstrating that quality and reliability are key drivers of demand. 

While the Shock Plan has been essential in addressing short term challenges, it also represents a stepping stone toward a more structural transformation of the bus system. This transition is being realised through the eBRT2030 project, which promotes the development of rapid bus corridors designed to deliver high capacity, high frequency, and zero emission public transport. 

A flagship example of this approach is the Girona and Salt Rapid Bus Corridor, one of the first projects implemented under the eBRT2030 framework . Completed in 2025, the corridor introduces a new level of service quality through dedicated bus lanes in both directions along a 3.5 kilometre route, combined with improvements to pedestrian accessibility and the integration of cycling infrastructure. Supported by a 5.5 million euro investment financed through European recovery funds, the project reflects a strong commitment to decarbonising mobility while enhancing everyday connectivity between the two municipalities . 

The impact of the corridor is already visible. Services now operate at high frequency, with buses running every few minutes along the main axis, delivering faster and more reliable journeys with travel time savings of up to six minutes. The corridor strengthens connections between key destinations, including the University of Girona, major commercial areas, and regional rail services, enabling seamless intermodal travel. At the same time, the introduction of electric vehicles has significantly reduced emissions, while improving passenger comfort through quieter operation, real time information, and enhanced accessibility . 

Early demand figures confirm the success of this approach. Ridership on the main corridor has increased dramatically, with some lines experiencing growth of up to fifty percent and effectively doubling passenger numbers. Overall, the corridor is generating sustained increases in public transport use, with projections of hundreds of thousands of additional passengers each year. Importantly, this growth reflects the creation of new public transport users rather than a redistribution of existing demand, highlighting the attractiveness of high quality bus systems . 

The Girona and Salt corridor is part of a broader network of rapid bus corridors being deployed across Catalonia as part of the first phase of the eBRT2030 initiative. Together, these projects illustrate how buses can evolve into a high performance mode capable of delivering metro like service levels with greater flexibility and lower investment costs. 

Catalonia’s experience demonstrates the value of combining immediate operational improvements with long term infrastructure investment. Through the alignment of the Shock Plan and eBRT2030, the region is not only addressing current mobility challenges but also building a scalable model for sustainable transport. This integrated approach positions bus systems as a central pillar of the transition toward cleaner, more efficient, and more inclusive mobility, offering a compelling example for cities and regions across Europe. 

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