Ara Igualada has reported renewed problems on the interurban bus route between Igualada and Barcelona, including delays, breakdowns and unreliable service information. For commuters and students travelling to Barcelona, the group says the incidents can make it difficult to know when a bus will arrive.
The movement's allegations were published on Sunday 20 September by InfoAnoia. They concern the first days of the new academic year and relate to the service operated by Monbus, the company running the Igualada-Barcelona route.
Reported faults and service problems
Ara Igualada said passengers had reported coaches in poor condition, including cracked windows, dirty or damaged seats and leaking air-conditioning systems.
- Breakdowns that left passengers stopped during their journey.
- Significant delays on the route.
- Service information at stops and on tracking applications that did not reflect whether a vehicle would run.
Xavi Grados, a spokesperson for Ara Igualada, said the problems were not confined to the start of the academic year and had affected users for years.
Calls for more services and public quality checks
Alícia Fernández, another spokesperson for the movement, called for a service designed around current travel demand rather than short-term fixes. Ara Igualada is seeking more frequent services and extra capacity when needed, particularly on early departures from Igualada and evening journeys from Barcelona.
The group also wants more weekend services, a night connection between Igualada and Barcelona, public service-quality indicators and effective penalties for repeated failures. It is also calling for reliable real-time information at stops and in service-tracking applications.
“We are not asking users to be more patient. We are asking for the service to work,” Fernández said.
Ara Igualada said it will continue taking passengers' complaints to public institutions and pressing for a reliable, frequent service for Igualada.
Reported by infoanoia.cat.
