Chronology
1906-2022
1906
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August 12.
Having been granted authorisation, La Catalana de Ómnibus officially opens the first bus route in Barcelona between Plaça de Catalunya and Plaça de Trilla in Gràcia.
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November 29.
The City Council approves terms for granting a bus line operating permit because the concession had been given under a legal vacuum.
1908
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December 23.
Following pressure from the Belgian company directed by the Marquis of Foronda, Tramways de Barcelone, the City Council orders the closure of the La Catalana bus line.
1918
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The City Council approves new terms, making those approved in 1906 obsolete. The text was taken through a legal process by the tram company, so it would end up not coming into force.
1920
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November 17.
City Councillors present a motion that indirectly calls for the expansion of the service to vehicles powered by animals or "by another means”. The motion is passed.
1921
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November 16.
It is agreed to open a public tender for the granting of a monopolistic concession of bus lines. Through a third party, the tram company presents two projects to offer the service.
1922
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The tram company’s first buses go into service.
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February 15.
The industrialist Antoni Antich presents a project based on creating four bus lines - A, B, C and D - of a clearly radial nature, focused on Plaça de Catalunya.
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March 15.
The City Council grants the concession to Mr. Antoni Antich.
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March 22.
The Compañía General de Autobuses S.A. is constituted. (CGA). The new company is run by a management committee headed by Alfred Arruga.
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March 24.
Mr. Antich transfers the concession to CGA.
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May 20.
The first three imperial-type (two floors) Tilling-Stevens model TS 3A arrive from London, crossing France.
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October 14.
CGA opens its first line, the A1, which did a periphery route.
1923
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February 7.
The Municipal Council removes the monopolitical clause of the concession to CGA.
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February 16.
Official opening of line B: Sans - San Martín
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March 24.
Official opening of line C: Atarazanas - San Andrés
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May 26.
Official opening of line D.
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September 13.
General Miguel Primo de Rivera’s coup d’état; Spain is under military jurisdiction. The situation leads to union activity at CGA.
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October 12.
Decree from Primo de Rivera that facilitates the nationalisation of public transport companies.
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November.
CGA acquires some premises of the company Aceros San Martín in Poblenou, which would become the Lutxana depot, the administrative, operational and industrial base of CGA.
1924
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June.
The Marquis of Foronda buys 4,000 CGA shares and now controls the company. The Lutxana depot is officially opened.
1926
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October.
The 20th Congress of the International Union of Tramways and Automobile Public Transport is held in Barcelona.
1928
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May 27.
Official opening of the HT (Hospitalet-Torrassa) line, designed to transfer newly arrived workers settled in Collblanc and Torrassa to the the International Exhibition construction works in Plaça d’ Espanya.
1929
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April 17.
CGA puts CGA ‘España’ models, the first self-made vehicles, into service.
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May 19.
Official opening of the Barcelona International Exhibition in Montjuïc. For 14 months, Barcelona was a world leader.
1930
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Tranvías de Barcelona (TB) acquires 6,618 CGA shares, becoming the majority stakeholder.
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GA and Roca to Horta lines are officially opened.
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January 28.
The very weak dictatorship ends with the resignation of Primo de Rivera.
1931
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CNT is carried out with union control of CGA through the Unified Ramo Transporte Union (SURT).
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January 26.
Francoist troops enter Barcelona.
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April 14.
Proclamation of the Republic. The Marquis of Foronda, Director of Tranvías de Barcelona, CGA and Gran Metro resigns. He is replaced by Alfredo Arruga.
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September 3, 4 and 5.
General strike supported by the transport unions.
1932
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Barcelona officially exceeds a million inhabitants.
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June 8.
The City Council approves the regulation for bus stops and the establishment of three terminal stations (Tetuan, Lesseps and Plaça d’ Espanya).
1933
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Enrique Vega replaces Alfredo Arruga at the head of the tram company.
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April 7.
The City Council approves the Joint Plan, under which eight new bus lines are created, which are awarded to Amadeu Torner.
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April 25.
Transport general strike. Civil Government intervention in the company, which involves dismissals and detentions.
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November 18.
SURT decrees the general strike on urban transport in Barcelona.
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December 13.
The transport ends. The balance is two deaths and losses in damage of 300,000 pesetas.
1934
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First year of the Black Biennium, conflicts between unions and the management-State intensify.
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May.
Bus confiscated by the government authority
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June 5.
After serious controversy, the Torner bus concession is cancelled.
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October.
Workers revolution in Asturias and proclamation of ‘the Catalan State within the Spanish Federal Republic’ by Lluís Companys. SURT stops the service. The State of War is declared, and the unions repressed.
1935
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July 27.
Sebastià Nadal, new director of the tram company.
1936
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The EC line (Esplugues-Cornellà) is created, the forerunner of the current 67 and 68 lines.
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July 19.
Military uprising and revolution in Catalonia, which paralysis transport. SURT decides to collectivise all transport companies in Barcelona.
1937
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Collectivised companies issue a voucher system and their own currency owing to the lack of partial currency.
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February 13.
First bombing of Barcelona, which would be ongoing until the city falls. Urban transport will often be halted.
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September 4.
The Republican government eliminates the taxi and bus service by decree. In Barcelona they will continue functioning, although with problems, until the withdrawal in January 1939.
1938
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June.
Collectivised Roca buses stop running.
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December.
The last buses stop running.
1939
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The buses and trams are repainted red and cream, respectively.
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January 24.
A convoy, with two CGA 'España’, one ‘burra’ and two Laffy go into Republican exile.
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April 1.
General Francisco Franco declares nationalist victory.
1940
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Presentation of the trolleybus prototype. The Mayor of Barcelona, Sr. Mateu, and the Count of Gamazo, president of Tranvías de Barcelona.
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July 26.
The bus lines that run parallel to the tram lines are eliminated due to a lack of fuel.
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November 15.
First trolleybus tests.
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December 31.
The dissolution of CGA is signed. The buses depend on Tranvías de Barcelona.
1941
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October 7.
Official opening of the first trolleybus between Paral·lel and Sant Andreu.
1944
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October 20.
The suburban bus company Urbanizaciones y Transportes SA (URBAS) is created with TB capital, which would manage the suburban bus lines.
1948
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New, English, ACLO brand buses come into service.
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September.
Bus, trolleybus and tram fares go up.
1951
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The City Council begins a study to municipalise collective transport.
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March 1.
The tram users’ strike begins due to fare increases. The boycott is general.
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March 6.
Tram fares are reintroduced before December 1950 and the user boycott ends. A general strike is called for the 12th.
1952
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October 30.
The Full City Council approves the project to municipalise transport.
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December 5.
The Spanish government approves the file to municipalise transport in Barcelona.
1954
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The Mejoras Plan for buses, trolleybuses and rolling stock is approved. However, lack of resources prevents its application.
1956
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July 18.
The new double- and triple-decker trolleybuses on the English BUT chassis are presented.
1957
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The City Council acquires control of Tranvías de Barcelona SA.
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New French Chausson buses come into service.
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Seat presents the 600, sold at 67,000 pesetas.
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Chausson Bus Model
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March 15.
Josep Maria de Porcioles, appointed mayor to replace Antoni M. Simarro, is dismissed after the tram strike in January.
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December 26.
The Spanish government approves the Barcelona Urban Transport Organisation Law to resolve public transport problems.
1958
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Buses arrive at La Verneda. The connexion process with the outlying neighbourhoods is long.
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Barcelona’s general plan for collective surface transport is drawn up.
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December 29.
The two metro companies, the tram company and ATUSA join the Transportes Públicos Municipalizados coordination organisation.
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December 31.
The creation of the Barcelona Municipal Private Tram Company culminates the process of municipalisation.
1959
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The night trolleybus and bus services are introduced.
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July 21.
The ‘Stabilisation Plan’ is implemented, which ends with autarchy. Spain opens up to foreigners, foreign capital comes in and imports are deregulated.
1961
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The Barcelona Tranvías Municipal Private Company absorbs the auxiliary company ATUSA.
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Buses arrive in the Congrés neighbourhood (line S).
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April 13.
The new nationally manufactured vehicles, the Pegaso-Seida, start running and are presented at an official event at Plaça de Sant Jaume.
1962
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Buses and trams arrive in the neighbourhoods of Montbau and Sud-oest del Besòs.
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The conversion of double-decker buses into a single deck begins.
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December 25.
40 cm of snow falls on Barcelona and all surface transport is paralysed.
1963
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Buses arrive at Carmel with the new line 10 (Gal · la Placídia-Carmel).
1964
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The bus surpasses the tram in number of users.
1965
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The first 100 nationally manufactured Monotral Pegaso 6035 buses arrive, a symbol of the modernisation of surface public transport.
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March 12.
The Action Plan 1965-1968 is approved to promote the metro and the buses. It had undoubtedly been proposed previously, but the Plan explicitly expressed the intention.
1967
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The articulated version of the Pegaso 6035 buses enter into service. 191 will be purchased.
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The City Council launches a media campaign to eliminate trams.
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First microbus and bus tests without a conductor.
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May.
The 37th Congress of the International Union of Public Transport is held in Barcelona.
1968
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The last double-decker buses and trolleybuses stop running.
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October 21.
The first microbus line, number 91, between La Rambla and La Bordeta is opened.
1969
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The Barcelona Municipal Private Trams Company changes its name to Transportes De Barcelona.
1970
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August 18.
Line 50 changes trams for buses. The tram network gives way to a more flexible bus and metro network.
1971
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March 18.
A sad farewell party for the final trip of the last two Barcelona trams (49 and 51).
1972
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Lines 70 and 72 are created in the Ronda del Mig hub.
1973
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First payment machines with coins on buses without a conductor.
1974
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Lanes reserved for Barcelona buses
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March 19.
The first bus lane officially opens in Diagonal.
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May 26.
Roquetes residents take over bus number 11 to demand public transport. They will do so again on the 23 June and 6 July.
1975
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October 15.
The EC d’ Urbas, the first line that reaches the district of Sant Cosme del Prat de Llobregat.
1977
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April 4.
The free pink transport card comes into use for pensioners.
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May 11.
First trials of a microbus adapted for people with wheelchairs.
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June 15.
First democratic elections since 1939.
1978
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Implementation of T-1 multi-journey cards, allow nine journeys for 100 pesetas. It must be punched using special machines when getting on the bus.
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May 7.
Hijack of a bus to demand public transport in Torre Baró.
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July 26.
The central government transfers most powers to the provisional Government of Catalonia on land transport
1979
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Transports Municipals de Barcelona (TMB) is created to jointly manage all transport in the city.
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April 3.
First democratic municipal elections after the dictatorship.
1980
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Lines 76, 77 and 92 are created (replacing those known in Poblenou as La Catalana).
1983
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October 5.
Line 74 officially opened. After several modifications, it continues to exist in the orthogonal network, renamed H6, Fabra i Puig-Zona Universitària.
1985
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January 15.
Last journey of bus 29, heir to the popular periphery tram.
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June 20.
The general strike in defence of the pension system stops public transport.
1986
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October 17.
Barcelona is designated the headquarters of the Olympic Games. of 1992. Barcelona prepares for its great world staging.
1987
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The Catalan Parliament approves the creation of Entitat Metropolitana del Transport (EMT) to manage, plan and coordinate public transport. TMB becomes Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona.
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Various citizen organisations promote a campaign to claim accessibility to the metro and bus for people with reduced mobility.
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June 10.
Bus Turístic comes into service for the first time.
1990
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October 9.
The State finally agrees to cover a large part of Barcelona’s public transport deficit.
1991
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The night-time bus service (Nitbús) is privatised, run by the companies TUBSAL and Mohn.
1992
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Ring roads are opened.
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May 23.
Bus 60 or Ronda Exprés comes into service.
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July 1.
The first twenty low-platform buses from the German company MAN come into service with access for wheelchairs.
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July 25.
The Barcelona Olympic Games are opened, going on until 9 August. The metro and buses carry over 23 million passengers.
1993
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The new T-Mes and T-Dia cards come into service. The path to fare integration starts.
1995
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TMB transfers old trams and buses to the Transport Museum, Castellar de N’ Hug.
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July 31.
The State, the Generalitat and the local administration sign the metropolitan public transport contract-programme.
1997
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March 19.
The Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM) is constituted to coordinate and plan public transport in the Barcelona metropolitan area.
1998
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August 17.
The first Bus del Barri line (212) is introduced between Avinguda del Jordà and Sant Genís.
1999
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January 15.
The metro and bus control centre installations in La Sagrera are opened.
2000
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Six Bus del Barri lines are created.
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March.
TMB renews the stop poles of the lines that run through Barcelona.
2001
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The design of the interior of the buses is renewed, with a more varied range of colours and better signage.
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January 1.
integrated fare system for different public transport services in Barcelona and its metropolitan area comes into force.
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January 30.
Barcelona buses obtains ISO14001 certification with which it acquires a commitment to the environment.
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November 28.
A total of 35 new buses are put into service with compressed natural gas, an alternative energy that reduces the emission of pollutants in the atmosphere and noise levels.
2002
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The Bus Improvement Plan intervenes in the improvement of bus frequency, extensions and modifications of lines and the extension of the neighbourhood bus network.
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January 21.
The Triangle Ferroviari depot is officially opened in the district of Sant Andreu.
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September 3.
The opening of line 23, which runs between Plaça d’ Espanya and Parc Logístic.
2003
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May 2.
Barcelona tests a new electric bus with a turbine powered by compressed natural gas.
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May 4.
CycloBus starts running, a new public transport service to promote use of the bicycle in the city. It is managed by TMB and Turisme de Barcelona.
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September 22.
TMB presents three hydrogen Mercedes buses that will run through the city as part of the CUTE project. Vehicles do not generate polluting fume emissions or noise and are environmentally friendly.
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December 15.
After more than a century, the Borbó depot stops operating.
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December 19.
TMB launches the new Horta depot, a European benchmark.
2005
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Start of the NOA project to encourage specific training and the incorporation of women into TB staff in an attempt to boost their participation in recruitment processes.
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May 18.
TMB incorporates the first 50 articulated buses that operate with natural gas.
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September 29.
innovative iBus system begins to operate, allowing users, through the mobile or internet, to know how long it will be until the bus comes. The first phase operates on eight lines.
2006
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As part of the centenary celebrations of the first line, a new network model is proposed that breaks with the classic tram model in force since 1872. It is the starting point of the Nova Xarxa de Bus.
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The last high platform or bus with steps is taken out of service.
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The Catalan Government issues a legal provision, granting EMT the responsibility for tourist buses.
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New lines, including 21, 26, 46 and 196, and Bus del Barri number 3 are opened.
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August 4.
The Bus Turístic Nit (now Barcelona Night Tour Bus) is opened.
2007
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TMB recovers historic vehicles loaned to the Transport Museum, Castellar de N’ Hug.
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April 15.
TMB staff bid farewell to the historic Lutxana depot after 84 years, with an event open to the public.
2008
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-The Global Financial Crisis starts as a result of the property speculation bubble. It affects all sectors of the economy, with public coffers seriously harmed. Some low-profit lines are eliminated.
2010
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The TMB Fundació is founded, aimed at conserving and disseminating historical and cultural heritage, as well as promoting the values of public transport.
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The first Nova Xarxa de Bus network (NXB) project is planned to draw up an orthogonal network.
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The running of some lines and the Aerobús service is transferred to private companies.
2012
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May 24.
May. Barcelona City Council announces the final project of the Nova Xarxa de Bus, consisting of 28 new lines: 8 horizontal (H), 17 vertical (V) and 3 diagonal (D), allowing travel to any point of the city with just one change.
2018
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The conversion of the network to the Nova Xarxa de Bus is completed.
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March 20.
March TMB launches the European ZeEUS project (Zero emission Urban Bus System), introducing the first 100% electric vehicles into the fleet.
2019
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TMB invests 116.2 million in asset renovation, the highest figure of the entire decade.
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December.
The first case of COVID-19 is detected in Wuhan, China.
2020
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January 1.
Multi-journey cards are restructured to promote the regular use of public transport. The T-10 becomes the T-Casual, which will be for a single user. The T-Mes changes its name to T-Usual.
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March 11.
The WHO declares the COVID-19 pandemic.
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March 15.
The first state of emergency in Spain is decreed and journeys on public transport decrease considerably. TMB offers a solidarity service to transfer patients who need to continue their convalescence in isolation.
2021
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T-mobilitat begins its implementation in the testing phase. This is a revolution in the method of validation and purchase of fares with a rechargeable card that enables contactless payment.
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The bus network of the Barcelona area closed the year with 146.6 million passengers, 27.4% more than in 2020, in a period marked by the pandemic.
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September 20.
The new semi-direct line X1 XPRESBus comes into operation. It connects Besòs with the Llobregat via the heart of the Eixample.
2022
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70% of the fleet is already low or zero emissions. It is planned to reach 2030 with 100% zero-emission vehicles.
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Celebrating the centenary of Barcelona’s first bus network.
