Barcelona launches rapid XPRESBus X1 line connecting opposite ends of city in 20 minutes

Barcelona is now home to a new rapid bus line, the XPRESBus X1, which transports commuters from one end of the city to the other in around 20 minutes.

With only 6 stops in each direction between Francesc Macià and Glòries and buses every 8 minutes, Barcelona's transport authority TMB believes it will be up to 40% faster than other lines: the bus network's average speed is 12 km/h, but the goal is for XPRESBus X1 to run at 15 km/h.

The line's low-emissions buses will run from Monday to Friday from 7 am to 10 pm between the months of September and July.

TMB expects there to be around 4,000 commuters on the X1 daily and around a million annually.

The Catalan capital's transport authority will also consider the possibility of expanding the route to the Maria Cristina area as well as of getting other lines up and running.