Metropolitan Transportation Authority (ATM) – a consortium established by it The central government, Barcelona City Hall, the Barcelona Metropolitan Region, and the Urban Transport Association, which controls public transport fares and schedules, have come to the conclusion forcing the change: “The turning point in Barcelona’s transport has been shortened.” Telework and labor flexibility have encouraged citizens to leave work and return home sooner. Transport services will need to be modified in the coming months after the pandemic has created the potential for full or partial changes to face-to-face working conditions.
ATM has recently issued a statement acknowledging the change in behavior in the movement of citizens. In this case, Trembé warned that it is facing unprecedented demand until 15:00 every day. This demand requires more frequencies at this time. A spokesperson for the transport consortium acknowledged that public transport mobility users have been left behind since the coronavirus outbreak. “A very decent increase in demand has been observed over the past few hours, especially in the afternoon,” ATM assures, acknowledging that the movements are “varied and complex.” ATM found that fewer people use public transportation at night and on weekends, when people prefer to work remotely.
Xavier Flores, a representative of Barcelona’s Metropolitan Transport Board (TMB), warned that telework alone has changed the behavior of citizens. Previously, the T10 (individual ticket for 10 rides) was most commonly used on both the metro and buses. Currently, TCasual (as it was called in T10 in 2020) is used by only 10% of users, even though it was managed by 42%. Currently, there is an increasing proportion of titles that require a flat fee. This refers to quotas such as TUsual or TJove that can be used without limit over a period of time (month or quarter). In 2019, these subscription titles were used by 24.6% of users; now they are 67.7%. Flores argues that holders of these titles make extensive use of public transport, which, combined with telework and, above all, work flexibility, means a modification of the concept of working time. “Before the pandemic, peak hours were between 8am and 9pm. Since 2019, the number of users in this area has increased by 5.6%. However, between 7pm and 8pm it has increased by 13% and between 6pm and 7pm it has increased by 35%,” asserts the TMB representative councilor. It’s clear that telework, flexibility, and subsidized subscription titles have changed user behavior. “Currently, there are many business days with over 1,600,000 verifications. In 2019, there were only two days with over 1,500,000 verifications. We know that the month is a busy day, and we understand that it is suitable for telework. Our working hours are 8:00 to 9:00, minimum hours are 13:00, 14:00 down, 17:00 “In the morning there is less movement, but in the afternoon and at night we see that people use the subway to travel to leisure places,” Flores concluded. The number of bus verifications exceeded 800,000 during the business day. “Buses are the gateway to public transportation for children. Schools have bus sales between 5pm and 6pm,” Flores asserts.
Oriol Juncadella, director of operations at Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Cataluña, confirms the change in user behavior. “Due to the pandemic, many people moved from Barcelona in search of green areas, and at the same time many companies left Barcelona. Our traditional business hours are from 7:30 to 9:30. From 7:00 to 8:00, points can be moved according to demand. From Monday to today there will be a 14:00-15:00 punt and a 14:00-15:00 punt. That’s right, when there is no 18.00-19.00 punt,” he concluded. Juncadella asserts that there are also days of “Martes, Miercoles, Juèves” in relation to telework. Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat (104 trains and 2 lines: La del Vallès and La de Llobregat-Anoia) will be closed this year with 100 million verifications (Rodalis performed 130 million). The line between Catalonia’s capital and Valles carries 30,000 passengers per hour during peak hours, and 11,000 from Llobregat Anoia. “We’re doing 20% more than we did in 2019,” he says. “People have been going to work for a while now. Train occupancy has increased a bit, but we are not in a situation of collapse. The points are expected and are growing slowly. If the demand increases further, we will not have to buy more trains, but we will just increase the supply throughout the day with more operating costs and more train drivers. We are studying and believe that this change will be made on the wire within a year,” concluded the Director of Operations.
The situation for Rodary de Renfe is even worse. Sudden crises due to the concentration of infrastructure or ADIF work complicate performing calculations about user behavior. Still, keep in mind that the incidence is constant and everyone seeks alternatives to this type of transportation whenever possible. The spokesperson also asserted that “Renfe monitors demand behavior in line with traveler needs and emerging trends.” Changes are often made to accommodate vacancies or sporting events. At Renfe, hours are 7:00 to 9:00 and 18:00 to 19:00. The time you arrive at work or home (morning or afternoon) is always unpredictable.
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