the usual long queues for the 27 and 32

Four lifeline bus routes to the centre of Sevilla from outlying barrios are about to be cut off so that tourists in the 5 star hotels in this central area can be “serviced” better. It’s all for them. I have been hearing rumours for a while about plans to pedestrianise the street between Plazas del Duque and Encarnación (Las Setas) and my first thought was wtf were people who rely on the 27 & 32 bus routes (myself included) supposed to do? But it gets worse. The other day I saw an article about the latest plans for the “reurbanisation” of the three squares next to the main Corte Inglés department store: Plazas Duque, Concordia and Gavidia. And this is the first evil step, because it means those bus routes are never coming back to us. Work is to commence in 2026 and finish sometime in 2027.

The announcement came on this cringe video on the Instagram account of the Diario de Sevilla, not even mentioning the removal of these important city bus routes, instead a perky woman is saying “oh wow and we will have the new “Transibus” to take people to the Santa Justa train station. This only takes into consideration a relatively short trip (6 stops) of one of the four routes (the 34). The others will have their central stops eliminated.

Here is the affected area for the 27 and 32 routes (green line outgoing, blue line incoming). Both routes share the first/last two stops, shown arrow to arrow below. It’s about a 15 minute walk if you have no mobility issues, aren’t carrying shopping or feeling tired, can’t afford a taxi…

And here is where both routes go out to… the 27 to Sevilla Este and the 32 to the end of Nervión. I know these maps won’t mean anything to most of you but you can see that these are VERY LONG routes servicing outlying neighbourhoods and these buses are jam-packed day and night.

The other two bus routes affected, the 13 and 14, will soon have to turn around at the end of the Alameda, cutting out one very long stop to/from the centre. This is about a ten minute walk, if you are young and able bodied. And again, not carrying shopping, or in a wheelchair, etc.

These routes go north. the 13 to Pino Montano and the 14 to Poligono Norte (the 13 is the longer route but both are essential). I personally use this service less often but it’s sure come in handy since I’ve been on crutches, especially to get to my health centre. I take it two stops from Duque and it really makes a difference.

My feeling is that because there are so many elderly people taking these buses, and they can travel for free after age 65 (hey, like me!), the city doesn’t consider them of any value. I see them in the queues, with their shopping trolleys, their canes and walkers, even wheelchairs. How the hell are they supposed to get to the centre from the Alameda or Ponce de León, walk those extra 10-15 minutes, which will be either much longer or impossible for them? You know, to do their shopping, to come into town to have lunch with a friend, to basically ENJOY THEIR CITY.

Day or night, these four bus routes are always in demand, there are always queues of locals coming and going from the centre to their barrios. They are crammed full. Often they run as “only drop off” during the routes because they can’t take on any more passengers. “Replacing” them with one minibus, for just one of the four routes, that only takes tourists from their 5 star hotel to the train station, I mean what the fuck.

They did something similar with the Plaza Magdalena a few years ago, removing the “offending” bus stops so patrons of the new 5 star hotels there wouldn’t have to see us, you know, living our lives. Now the 40, 41 and 43 routes to Triana and Los Remedios stop a little further down San Pablo, but only maybe a five minute walk away (if you can walk). Still sucks. One thing I’ve noticed since this change is that the queues have diminished, not so many locals are using the service because, frankly, it no longer serves them. I think that’s really sad.

Anyhow, not sure what is going to happen with this latest “reurbanisation” plan but none of it sounds good for us. It never is. Meanwhile, saw another article reporting that oversupply is reducing demand re: bookings for tourist accommodations in Sevilla. I mean, ya think? Also it’s fucking 42º here this week. Nobody in their right minds should be visiting Sevilla June-August. Just stop coming here please…

PS. If you’re a total bus route nerd (like Peter) you can find them online here: TUSSAM LÍNEAS