The Catalan government has launched its second Shock Plan for improving interurban bus services, with a €21.5 million investment across 94 lines throughout Catalonia. Sílvia Paneque, Minister for Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, presented the plan in Granollers on Monday, 4 May 2026.
The announcement took place at Granollers bus station, which is receiving over €500,000 for upgrades. These works include repairing the manoeuvring area pavement, renewing user information screens and security cameras, improving accessibility for people with hearing impairments, replacing the station's access door, and installing a defibrillator and selective waste collection points.
Alba Barnusell, the mayor, highlighted Granollers bus station as a critical transport hub for the region. It serves 22 interurban lines with over 36 buses, alongside urban lines managed by Transgran, which operates a fleet of 13 hybrid buses. The urban service recorded nearly 2.2 million users in the last year, a million more travellers than two years ago.
Barnusell stressed the need to strengthen key connections, such as the Granollers-Cardedeu-Barcelona line and the link to Sant Celoni. She also noted other routes experiencing increasing demand.
Targeting Overcrowding and Rural Access
The Shock Plan focuses on lines where passengers cannot board due to lack of space or must travel standing. It also prioritises services that provide access to educational, social, or health centres, particularly in rural and low-density population areas. Additionally, the plan addresses corridors parallel to railway lines, especially where rail infrastructure is saturated or undergoing works.
Paneque stated that since 2019, the demand for interurban buses has increased by an additional 20 million journeys. She added that buses have become an essential service for ensuring mobility between municipalities.
