The future of interurban bus travel flexes to demand
It´s true that interurban bus travel 🚍 has long been a vital part of regional transportation networks, connecting cities and towns that due to demand and geography (and budgets) may not be well served by rail or not served at all 🚉
🤷 But what has that to do with demand responsive transportation I hear you cry, allow us to enlighten you….
Interurban bus travel: where have we come from and where are we going?
I think we can all agree that our sturdy reliable interurban buses are very capable, and in fact best placed, to offer flexibility in interurban routes and scheduling, allowing operators to adjust to passenger demand more easily than trains for example. And these very same buses have, until now, been able to reach smaller communities directly, making them an accessible option for rural dwellers seeking affordable and convenient intercity mobility.
👉 But cast your eyes further toward the horizon🌅 to 2028 specifically which will see a complete revamp of the current public road transport model. The historic intercity bus concessions which date back to the 1950´s are up for renewal and with demand having shot up by 17% in just four years 📈 to 82.6 million users per year – the local government has opened a tender to design the new intercity transport map, with the aim of modernising and rationalising the current network.
Bus operating the Vitoria-Bilbao route c.1950 / Archivo Municipal de Vitoria
On-demand stops bring connectivity and flexibility to smaller communities
🛣️ The birth of direct high-capacity routes will create the new interurban bus network in the main corridors where buses will compete and operate an express-style service, be competitive on pricing and add convenience in terms of travel time to attract passengers. The new interurban bus network will not only compete with the rail network but also the private car, and this is where commercial speed and efficiency comes into play.
However, offering a speedy, comfortable, and reliable service on high-demand corridors ultimately means leaving out the smaller communities that fall off the public transport network.
💡 Enter the star of today´s article 👉 on-demand stops that can offer the same flexibility including off the grid stops but only when there is demand on certain routes or schedules (time of day, day of week, season of year / term /non-term time)
Rail travel is arguably faster on longer routes, especially where congestion or road conditions can delay buses. But rail travel is completely inflexible to changes in demand. So as road networks improve and new technologies—such as Nemi´s software for on-demand stops, electric or autonomous buses—emerge, interurban bus services will continue to evolve 🚏
Nemi launches on-demand interurban bus route in northern Spain
In reality in many regions, they remain not just an alternative to trains, but an essential component of a balanced and efficient public transportation system. Take the new interurban on-demand service Nemi just launched in the Girona province of northern Spain.
Screen shots from Nemi´s user app: the whole interurban route / flexible on-demand stop off the main highway
The operator´s perspective
Alex Gilabert, CEO of local transport operator Teisa explains, “the new service between Hostalric and Vic has a total route of 75 km, of which 30 km is highway. On this section, it is essential to maintain a high commercial speed so that the journey between the two regions by coach is competitive with private vehicles in terms of travel time. The small villages that lie off the main highway have the status of on-demand stop meaning that a digitalised request must be made to board or alight the bus, so that only when a customer actually wants to use the bus does it request a detour from the highway. So effectively we can meet the requirements of a quality express service, serving low-demand areas and nearby towns without compromising service quality and customer perception. It´s a win-win for everyone!”
For more information please contact lisa.grace@nemi.mobi
