Commuters in central Barcelona will benefit from the H12 bus line arriving every five minutes from 26 January. Consequently, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) is launching a dedicated “central” service between Plaça de les Glòries and Plaça Cerdà. This strategic change aims to tackle overcrowding on the city’s busiest stretches.
The new strategy boosts capacity where demand is highest. By concentrating resources in the city centre, TMB expects to move passengers more efficiently during peak hours. Moreover, this prevents clogging up the outer edges of the network. These changes respond to record passenger numbers on Barcelona’s public transport.
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How the H12 Bus Line Changes Affect Passengers
TMB is adding eight permanent buses to the H12 bus line fleet. These vehicles will loop strictly between Glòries and Cerdà. Therefore, this reinforcement increases passenger capacity by 15% in the central zone. Meanwhile, the area around Glòries is a focal point for urban redevelopment. For example, a major pedestrianisation and tram project near Plaça de les Glòries is also underway.
While this reduces waiting times, it requires a change in habits for some travellers. Passengers boarding a “central” H12 bus line service who need to travel beyond these two plazas must switch to a standard H12 bus. However, TMB officials argue this is necessary to speed up service for the majority of users.
This “split line” approach follows a successful trial on the V19 line near Park Güell last April. In contrast, the changes to the H12 bus line are permanent and apply to the entire working week.
Smart Traffic Lights and New Lanes for the H12 Bus Line
The H12 bus line changes are part of the wider Bus Agenda 2026-2030. This strategy aims to improve commercial speeds across the network. Furthermore, these service improvements coincide with a recent 3.5% fare increase across the network. Engineers are testing smart traffic lights that turn green automatically when a bus approaches. If successful on the H12 bus line, this technology could expand to other key routes.
Beyond the H12 bus line, the city council plans to build 12 kilometres of new bus lanes. Officials are also studying an additional 12 kilometres. The goal is to encourage drivers to leave their cars at home by making the bus a faster, more reliable alternative.
Future Expansion Plans for Barcelona’s Bus Network
The H12 bus line overhaul is just the first step in a broader roadmap for 2026. Three new express lines are scheduled to launch later this year. Additionally, planners are reviewing the locations of transport exchanges to make switching between lines smoother.
This strategy marks a shift away from simply adding more buses. Instead, the focus is on smarter routing—ensuring vehicles run where people actually need them.
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