Public transport in Barcelona: a complex system

Navigating the intricacies of Barcelona’s public transport system is no easy task for the uninitiated. A complex organisation, the city’s network comprises a large number of private and public bodies skilled in various realms and serving different areas. To begin with, it is important to understand that the public transit system is organised on territorial lines, from the Municipality of Barcelona to its surrounding Metropolitan Area (AMB) and the Metropolitan Region beyond (see picture). In each territory, a variety of public and private stakeholders hold sway.

In terms of transport operators, the TMB (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona) is the principal body in the Municipality. This public company, affiliated to AMB, manages eight metro lines, 102 regular bus routes and several tourist transport services, such as the Montjuïc Cable Car. Another company, FGC1, affiliated to the Generalitat of Catalonia (the autonomous government in the region), operates several metropolitan and commuter lines in and around Barcelona. Still more trains, both regional and national, are managed by Renfe, the state-owned railway company.

In addition, there are a number of private stakeholders. For example, the city’s two non-tourist tramway lines are operated by Tramvia Metropolità2, while the Bicing scheme (a bicycle-sharing initiative launched in 2007) is managed by Clear Channel. Finally, the majority of bus routes in the suburbs are administered by dozens of privates companies under the auspices of AMB, which is also involved in the taxi service.

To oversee this complicated system – save for a few exceptions, including tourist services and some parts of the Renfe network – the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM) was created in 1997. A public body, ATM brings together each of the public authorities in the Metropolitan Region that have transport responsibilities: the Government of Catalonia (51 %), the City of Barcelona (25 %) and AMB (24 %)3. ATM’s task is to coordinate public transport services (tariff integration etc.).