National bus route
The concept of the regional bus line is a non-uniformly used name for special routes of the road-bound public transport in Germany, which serve to complement the rail network . They are intended to ensure that structurally weak areas are not cut off from the supra-regional traffic, which mostly runs by rail. For this purpose, regional transport companies are commissioned or their existing connections are specially promoted by the state's own local transport authorities .
Regional bus routes are offered in some transport associations under the name PlusBus . This brand was developed by the Central German Transport Association (MDV) and registered under trademark law , the first use took place in 2013. The brands "TaktBus", "StadtBus" and "RufBus" now also exist. These are released for use by other transport associations, which increases their recognition value.
The criteria for a nationally significant bus route vary between the various authorities. Usually from Monday to Friday an hourly or two-hour cycle with even, easy-to-remember departure minutes and two-hour connections on weekends must be offered. Furthermore, there must be effective links to rail traffic, with emphasis on the shortest possible transfer times.
Brandenburg
In Brandenburg there is a network of important bus routes that are marketed as PlusBus by the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB). These are offered or planned in most regions and are sponsored by the districts . An hourly service Monday to Friday with at least 15 pairs of trips is required. There should be at least six pairs of journeys per route on Saturdays and at least five pairs of journeys on Sundays and public holidays. The transfer times to trains should not be longer than 15 minutes.
Lower Saxony
In 2015, a study on the introduction of a so-called "state bus network" to assess 35 potential route proposals was drawn up and presented in Lower Saxony . This resulted in numerous practicable connections from medium-sized centers to regional centers as well as closing gaps in the existing network, which are intended to strengthen the structurally weak regions in the northwest of the country in particular. State-relevant bus routes have been funded by the Lower Saxony Regional Transport Company (LNVG) since 2017 . The districts and urban districts as well as transport associations can apply for funding for bus routes that are important for the state there. The clock criteria here are an hourly, fast connection that must be offered on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The buses must have air conditioning , WiFi , comfortable cross-country seating and barrier-free access . These criteria correspond to the standard of rail transport.
Rhineland-Palatinate
In Rhineland-Palatinate , so-called “RegioLinien” have been operating since 1996, which go hand in hand with a dense “bicycle bus” network. The existing network was fundamentally revised as part of the 2015 Rhineland-Palatinate cycle . Since then, sub -centers have also been more closely involved.
Saxony
In Saxony, the term “regional bus route” is not used. However, all five transport associations have a network of regular bus routes with similar criteria, which are known as PlusBusse. Each association sets different requirements for a minimum offer.
The Mitteldeutsche Verkehrsverbund (MDV) is the first in Germany to establish a PlusBus network. In particular, communities are connected that are not served directly by the S-Bahn in Central Germany . In the Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe (VVO), the PlusBus network has existed since June 2018, in the Verkehrsverbund Mittelachsen (VMS) since August 2019 and in the Verkehrsverbund Vogtland (VVV) since October 2019. In the Verkehrsverbund Oberlausitz-Lower Silesia , four PlusBus lines were opened in December 2019 Bautzen district introduced. In most of the associations, the offer is to be expanded in the future.
Saxony-Anhalt
In Saxony-Anhalt , the most important bus routes are organized in the state network of Saxony-Anhalt and marketed as "Mein Takt". This is done in cooperation with the state and Nahverkehrsservice Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH (NASA). The first supraregional bus routes have existed here since 2008, and 29 routes are now available under "Mein Takt" (status November 2018) . The clock criterion in the state network Saxony-Anhalt is a two-hour clock, which is offered every day of the week from early in the morning to late in the evening.
Since December 2019, the brands “PlusBus” have also been used for hourly and “TaktBus” for two-hour offers.
Thuringia
In Thuringia, a network of regional bus routes has been set up under the sponsorship of the Nahverkehrsservicegesellschaft Thuringia (NVS) since 2016 . In this context, a list of eligible connections was published, on the basis of which the regional transport companies can then plan their timetables and frequency and apply for classification as a regional bus route. There are currently 59 routes listed there. As of August 2018, 18 lines were supported by the special funding measures.
The minimum classification criteria are the provision of eight (Monday to Friday) or four (Saturday and Sunday / public holidays) daily trip pairs, whereby a regular schedule must be available. There must be no seasonal restrictions. The transfer times to rail traffic should be a maximum of 15 minutes.
The “PlusBus” brand is currently only used in the district of Greiz and the district of Altenburger Land , the latter being part of the Central German Transport Association (MDV). The Verkehrsverbund Mittelthüringen (VMT) has the right to use the brand, but does not currently use it.
literature
- NVS-Nahverkehrsservicegesellschaft Thuringia (ed.): Regiotakte . No. 03/2018 , July 2018.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ PlusBus Germany - The background. Retrieved February 3, 2020 .
- ↑ PlusBus VBB. Retrieved September 2, 2019 .
- ↑ National bus routes. Retrieved November 4, 2018 .
- ↑ State bus routes. Retrieved November 4, 2018 .
- ↑ Promotion of nationally important bus routes. Retrieved November 4, 2018 .
- ↑ Bus regional lines. Retrieved November 4, 2018 .
- ↑ When are the plus and clock buses coming
- ↑ Local transport service Saxony-Anhalt: Minister of Transport Webel takes stock and gives an outlook on PlusBus offer. Retrieved February 3, 2020 .
- ↑ Thuringian Ministry of Infrastructure and Agriculture: State significant bus network starts - media release. Retrieved November 4, 2018 .