Barcelona’s X1 express bus will soon reach Zona Universitària, giving commuters and students a direct route. From 21 September, the X1 will continue along Avinguda Diagonal to the university district instead of ending at Francesc Macià. TMB announced the change to coincide with European Mobility Week, a city initiative focused on sustainable transport and public access to infrastructure.
The extension creates a faster, more direct connection between central Barcelona, especially the Eixample and Glòries neighborhoods, and the university campus. For many students and staff, that means no more transfers or long detours, simplifying daily travel on one of the city’s busiest routes. TMB says the move responds to ongoing demand for better east-west public transport and aims to improve access for residents in Eixample and Glòries.
Registration for free guided visits opens on 14 September via the city council website. The tours cover Gaudí station and the Santa Eulàlia and ZAL workshops.
Alongside the route extension, TMB is using European Mobility Week to open several rarely seen facilities to the public. Over the weekend of 19 and 20 September, people can sign up online to visit the unused Gaudí metro station and two workshops: the historic Santa Eulàlia metro workshops, which date to 1922, and those at ZAL in the Zona Franca. The free tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at Barcelona’s transport network. Registration starts 14 September on the city council’s website. Metropoli Abierta reports that the events are part of a broader effort to connect citizens with the city’s mobility infrastructure.
Bus enthusiasts will also find something new on Passeig de Gràcia, where TMB will display vintage buses on 18 and 19 September. The exhibition is part of the city’s push to highlight its transport heritage and modernization efforts, and coincides with the basic activities of European Mobility Week.
Barcelona’s transport system faces growing pressure to adapt as travel patterns change and demand for efficient, sustainable options increases. The X1 extension is one step in a wider set of transport reforms. Recent disruptions caused by severe weather in Catalonia and other regions have also shown the need for resilient infrastructure, as reported earlier this month.
TMB has officially stated that the X1 extension will improve connections with the metro and tram, along with intercity and metropolitan buses from Baix Llobregat, enhancing intermodality for commuters.
Many are likely to welcome the X1’s new route, which may set a model for future mobility projects in Barcelona. Opening transport facilities to the public during European Mobility Week points to a shift toward greater transparency and civic involvement. For now, the extension is a practical upgrade that should make travel easier for students and workers going between the city centre and the university district.
