Seville has inaugurated its new Bus Rapid Transit (BTR) system, popularly known as the 'tranvibús,' connecting the eastern districts of Torreblanca, Alcosa, and Sevilla Este with Nervión and Santa Justa. The service launched this Monday with ten articulated, 18-meter-long electric buses operating on dedicated lanes. During its first week of operation, rides are free to encourage residents to experience this pioneering transportation system that other cities like Barcelona and Marseille already utilize.
The new TB1 line features ten stops and provides direct connections to key transit hubs including the Eduardo Dato metro station, the Luis de Morales tram line, Santa Justa train station, and the San Bernardo commuter rail stop through an exclusive platform. The electric vehicles can transport up to 120 passengers per trip, equivalent to removing approximately 90 cars from the road for each journey. Passengers can board through any of the bus's four doors, paying with cards as on other Tussam transport services.
Travel time savings represent a significant improvement for eastern Seville residents. The journey from Torreblanca to Nervión now takes just 28 minutes compared to the previous 46 minutes, while the trip from Polígono San Pablo has been cut in half from 20 to 10 minutes. Seville Mayor José Luis Sanz confirmed these improvements after a test ride, noting a 24-minute travel time from the end of Sevilla Este to the city center near El Corte Inglés at Plaza del Duque.
Despite the efficiency gains, the tranvibús has sparked mixed reactions among residents and social media users. While environmentalists appreciate the electric vehicles' emission-free operation, some community members have expressed concerns, and local content creators have humorously described the hybrid system as "neither fully bus nor tram." Mayor Sanz emphasized that the tranvibús does not replace the planned Metro Line 2 expansion, which remains a municipal government priority to serve the 150,000 residents of Sevilla Este, Alcosa, and Torreblanca.
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