Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) began operating the extension of the X1 express service on Monday, 21 September 2026. The route, which previously ran between plaça Francesc Macià and Glòries, now continues along the Diagonal to the Jardins Torre Melina at the Avinguda Albert Bastardas. According to TMB, a total of eight additional stops have been designated on the new route: three in each direction and the two new termini. New stops include Maria Cristina, Palau Reial and Zona Universitària. TMB is adding two buses to the route to maintain regular intervals.
The launch coincides with European Mobility Week and the start of the 2026/2027 academic year. According to the operator, the new route speeds up the direct connection between central Eixample and the university district along the Diagonal; it also improves connections to the metro, tram and regional buses along the Diagonal. Commuters and the many students travelling daily to the campus areas of the Universitat de Barcelona and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya are expected to benefit in particular.
The X1 launched in 2021 as a fast cross-city route between Francesc Macià and Glòries, providing a frequent service along the Diagonal independently of the metro. With the extension to Jardins Torre Melina, TMB has filled a gap in east–west links between university campuses. The operator says journey times should be reduced compared with existing indirect routes, without affecting the X1’s characteristic frequency.
In the short term, transfer hubs around Zona Universitària are expected to see noticeable relief, as journeys from Eixample and the Glòries area gain a direct alternative. Whether this leads to a longer-term shift away from private motor vehicles will depend on punctuality, capacity and actual demand, and can only be demonstrated by operational data.
The information given on stops, the terminus and the additional vehicles comes from the operator’s statement. The municipal transport authority is also promoting the extension as part of Mobility Week, as a step towards more reliable and faster bus services along the Diagonal.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).