Bilbobus

Bilbobus

A Bilbobus unit in Bilbao
Founded	1988
Service type	bus service
Routes	45 (37 daytime and 8 night lines)
Operator	BioBide1
Website	Bilbobus

(Named after the Basque toponym for the city: Bilbo) is the urban public transport service of the city of Bilbao. The current service was established in 1988 as an initiative by the Bilbao City Council to unify and reorganize the city's transport, which until then had been managed by the company TUGBSA (Transportes Urbanos del Gran Bilbao S.A.). The history of its concessionaires reflects the evolution of the sector:

• TCSA (1988–2008): The first operator of the Bilbobus era, maintaining the legacy of the old red buses and the iconic blue microbuses known as "azulitos."
• Veolia (2008–2012): The French multinational took over the service in 2008, marking the first change in management in decades.²
• BioBide (2012–Present): Since May 2012, the company (formed by Alsa and Transitia) has managed the service, consolidating its current modernization.

As of early 2026, the network features a fleet of 143 vehicles with an average age of just 4.90 years, distinguished by their solid red color and the municipal logo (the letter B) above the doors. The service is in an advanced stage of transitioning to zero emissions, focusing on electric and hybrid technology to cover its 45 lines (28 regular, 9 Auzolineak, and 8 night or Gautxori lines). Although the service scope is municipal, it maintains excellent intermodality with Bizkaibus, the Bilbao Metro, Euskotren Trena, the Bilbao tram, and Cercanías Bilbao, even reaching neighborhoods in neighboring municipalities such as Ollargan (Arrigorriaga), Zubileta (Barakaldo), and Enekuri (Erandio). After overcoming the ridership crisis caused by the arrival of the Metro in 1995, Bilbobus reached a historic record in 2025 with nearly 30 million passengers, maintaining a citizen satisfaction rating of 8.07 points.³ Annually, its units travel over 6.3 million kilometers at an average speed of 14.7 km/h, establishing itself as the heart of urban mobility in the city.

Since its municipalization in 1988, Bilbobus has been the heir to a transport tradition dating back over 130 years in the city. Under different names, TCSA (and formerly TUGBSA) operated pioneering milestones in Spain, such as the first electric tram in 1896, the first trolleybuses in 1940, and the emblematic blue microbuses or "azulitos" in 1960. After the unification of the brand, Bilbobus held the exclusivity of urban transport until the inauguration of the Metro in 1995, at which point the service began to evolve to complement the high-capacity network. The management and identity of the service have passed through several key stages:

• Management Evolution:
• TCSA operated the service under the Bilbobus brand until 2008, when the multinational Veolia took over the concession. In 2012, due to economic difficulties, Veolia transferred the contract to BioBide (Alsa and Transitia), which manages the service today.⁴
• Operational Milestones:
• In 2013, advertising was introduced on buses for the first time (managed by Comunitat).
• In 2018, the "on-demand" intermediate stop service was implemented for Gautxoris (Night Service):⁵
• Fridays: From 10:00 PM to 02:00 AM.
• Saturdays: From 10:00 PM to 07:00 AM (uninterrupted service).

This measure was implemented to improve the safety of female users.

• Sustainability and Technology:
• The service currently highlights the Medusa Project, a pioneering system in Elorrieta that uses recovered energy from Metro Bilbao to charge electric buses, saving 426 tons of CO₂ annually.⁶ Between 2024 and 2025, a deep fleet renovation was completed, reaching 26 pure electric units.

Currently, Bilbobus guarantees that 99.8% of the population resides within 300 meters of a stop. With over 100,000 daily trips, the majority profile of the user is female (70%), and the primary reason for travel is work-related (44%). Lines 77 and 56 are established as the most used, each exceeding 2 million annual passengers. The service holds a high citizen rating (7.32/10), with the Gautxori being the best-rated, and remains competitive as the City Council subsidizes 70% of its cost. In 2025, the service reached its peak, hitting a historic record of nearly 30 million travelers.⁷

Annual passenger evolution (Official CTB data)

Year	Passengers	% Var.	Historical Context
1988	31,300,000	—	Pre-metro historical peak
1995	29,150,000	2.1%	Opening of Metro Line 1
2002	27,100,000	1.4%	Opening of the Tramway
2017	25,480,000	1.6%	Opening of Metro Line 3
2020	13,600,000	44%	COVID-19 pandemic
2023	25,900,000	23%	50% fare discount
2025	29,554,323	13%	2025 annual closing data7

Currently, the network consists of 37 daytime lines, divided into 28 regular lines (identified by numbers) and 9 Auzolinea lines (identified by the letter A). Most main lines start staggered between 05:15 AM and 07:00 AM, with A8 being the last to start at 08:00 AM. Daytime service mostly ends between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM. However, Line 30 is the latest to finish, extending its last trip until 11:40 PM.

The Bilbobus night service, known as Gautxori, ensures mobility in the city during weekend nights. It is one of the highest-rated services by citizens, achieving a score of 7.4/10 in satisfaction surveys. Its operations follow these schedules:

• Fridays: From 10:00 PM to 02:00 AM.
• Saturdays: From 10:00 PM to 07:00 AM (uninterrupted service).

A fundamental feature of this service is that cash payments (single tickets) are not accepted; access must be made exclusively via the barik smart card. All Gautxori lines have their terminus or hub at Plaza Circular, facilitating connections between the city center and the neighborhoods.

Bilbobus activates specific transport protocols to respond to mass events, sports competitions, or transport network contingencies. These lines, generally identified by the letter E (Especial), connect the city's key points with the main leisure and sports venues.

During the city's patron saint festivities, the service adapts to absorb high night mobility demand (with peaks of up to half a million trips during the festive period):

• Continuous Gautxori: The night service operates uninterrupted (from 10:00 PM to 07:00 AM) from the first Saturday to the second Saturday of the festivities. On the final Sunday, the night service ends at 02:00 AM.
• Payment Restriction: Following night service regulations, payment is made only via the barik card; cash is not accepted.

The deployment of special lines ensures the orderly exit of the city's major venues:

• Football (Athletic Club): When matches at the San Mamés Stadium conclude after 10:00 PM, reinforcement lines E38, E56, E57, and E62 are activated, along with E28 (in both directions). This special operation manages an approximate flow of 45,000 annual users.¹¹
• Bilbao Arena (Basketball and Concerts): For events at the Miribilla venue, line E7 establishes a direct shuttle with Abando station. Additionally, conventional lines 30, 71, 75, and 76 enable a temporary stop next to the arena.
• Frontón Bizkaia: During Basque pelota festivals, line E2 connects the center (Abando) with the Miribilla facilities.

• Technical Substitution: During periods of scheduled maintenance or breakdown of the Artxanda Funicular, the special E5 comes into operation. This service runs the route between the Castaños neighborhood and Mount Artxanda.

The Bilbobus payment system is fully integrated into the Consorcio de Transportes de Bizkaia (CTB). Since February 1, 2026, fares remain subsidized to encourage public transport use, with the barik smart card as the primary medium.¹²

• Transfers: Transfers between two Bilbobus lines are free as long as they are made within 45 minutes and using a Barik card.
• Current Discounts: The final price paid by the user (bold column) includes the bonus applied by institutions on multi-trip titles.
• Gautxori and Special Services: In night and special fair services, the single ticket is invalid; the use of the Barik card is mandatory.
• Gazte Bio: Users under 26 have an additional 50% discount on personalized youth passes.

The Barik card is the contactless medium issued by the CTB. It costs €3 and comes in three modalities:

• Anonymous Barik (white): For Creditrans use. Can be personalized later.
• Personalized Barik Kide (white): Required for titles with specific discounts like Hirukotrans, Gazte Bio, or Bilbotrans.
• Personalized Barik Giza (red): Specifically for the Gizatrans title (social profile and seniors over 65).

Personalized cards can be processed at the Customer Service Points (PAC) in:

• Bilbao: Licenciado Poza 6 (Bilbobus), San Mamés, Casco Viejo, Abando, and Atxuri.
• Other points: Ansio, Areeta, Durango, Portugalete, Sodupe, and the UPV/EHU Campus (Leioa).

The Bilbobus fleet is undergoing constant renewal, currently operating with a total of 143 vehicles with an average age of 4.90 years, one of the lowest in Spain. Within the framework of the Bilbao City Council's strategic plan for sustainable mobility and decarbonization, 85% of the fleet has ECO or Zero Emissions environmental labels, prioritizing the gradual replacement of combustion engines with clean technologies.¹³

Regarding equipment and technology, the service stands out for the following standards:

• Accessibility: 100% of the fleet is fully accessible, featuring low floors, motorized ramps, and kneeling systems to facilitate access for people with reduced mobility.

• Connectivity and Comfort: Units integrate passenger information multimedia screens, free Wi-Fi systems, and USB chargers.¹⁴

• Fleet Management: All vehicles are monitored in real-time via a GPS-based Operation Support System (SAE).

This table lists the history of vehicles that have provided regular service in the fleet and are currently listed as **WITHDRAWN**, ordered chronologically from the oldest models.

The preservation of these units allows for tracing the timeline of urban transport evolution in the city, from the robustness of the 90s to the total accessibility of the 21st century:

• The Era of Robustness (1991): The Mercedes-Benz O405 (1884) with Hispano VÖV I bodywork is the prime example of high-floor vehicles and high mechanical reliability. After a period of service with the Municipal Police, its entry into the Basque Railway Museum answers the need to preserve the classic square design that defined European mobility in the late 20th century.

• The Transition to Low Floors (1998): With the arrival of the Mercedes-Benz O405 N2 (836), the Hispano VÖV II bodywork was introduced, featuring more aerodynamic lines and, above all, the elimination of steps at the entrance. This open and accessible configuration facilitated its subsequent conversion into the Guztion Ikasgela project, allowing the vehicle to become a fully functional mobile classroom for schools.

• The Consolidation of the Citaro Standard (2005): The Mercedes-Benz O530 (1039) marks the modern standard of comfort and active safety. Being a unit designed entirely by Mercedes-Benz (Evobus), it incorporates advances in acoustic signaling and automatic ramps. These features make it the perfect tool for Road Safety Education, where students are taught not only traffic rules but also how to use accessibility technologies.

v t e Bilbao City View - Circular Route
1. Guggenheim Museum 2. Abandoibarra (Loiola Quincoces) 3. Museum of Fine Arts 4. Doña Casilda Park 5. San Mamés Stadium 6. Euskalduna Palace 7. Itsasmuseum (Maritime Museum) 8. Deusto Bridge 9. Abando Station 10. Casco Viejo 11. City Hall 12. La Salve Bridge 13. University of Deusto 14. Guggenheim Museum

The Bilbao tourist bus runs a circular route through the city's most emblematic landmarks using a Hop-on Hop-off system, allowing passengers to board and disembark freely for 24 hours.

The units assigned to this service are double-decker buses with open-top upper decks, specifically designed for urban sightseeing. They feature an individual audio guide system available in 8 languages (Basque, Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Japanese) providing historical commentary for each stop. Additionally, they are equipped with access ramps for people with reduced mobility and USB chargers at the seats.

• Bilbobus official website
• Bilbao City View official website