Free Shuttle Bus Averages 225 Passengers Daily Amid Road Closure

The shuttle bus service between Pas de la Casa and L'Hospitalet continues to average 225 passengers per day since becoming free on Sunday, alongside the RN-20 road closure, government figures show.

Minister and government spokesperson Guillem Casal described the uptake as strong during a briefing on support measures for businesses in the border parish. From Sunday to Tuesday, the service carried 676 passengers in total. Frequencies have increased from four daily minibuses to 12 full-sized buses—both directions—expanding capacity nearly 13-fold.

Monday stood out with 331 passengers across the 12 trips, averaging 28 per bus and reflecting solid demand. This contrasts sharply with pre-closure levels, when daily averages hovered around 18 users and some Sunday, February 1, trips had just one passenger each.

Casal called the numbers "considerable" and said the service "works very well," adding that officials plan to keep promoting it. While some SNCF train users have raised concerns over timing—such as late arrivals and buses not waiting—he maintained that no major problems exist. Efforts continue for "maximum possible coordination" between the bus operator and rail company, with communication tweaks possible if required, though no descoordination has been confirmed.