Karlsruhe and Stuttgart shine: Best local transport in Germany

Von Kl Redaktion

In Germany there are many cities with well -developed public transport, but the current rankings show that some stand out. After a comprehensive examination of the travel voucher portal Tripz, Karlsruhe positioned itself as the city with the best public transport. This exciting analysis includes the 25 most populous cities in Germany and emphasizes remarkable success in public transport in Baden-Württemberg.

On May 1, 2023, the 49-euro ticket was introduced, which offers citizens the opportunity to travel cheaply throughout Germany. This has rekindled the debate about the quality and efficiency of local public transport. While many hope for the new tariffs and the associated travel experiences, the ranking shows that the optimal conditions can be found in certain cities.

public transport ranking: top positions for Karlsruhe and Hannover

The ranking determined the cities based on three important criteria: the number of public transport available, the total number of lines and the speed, which is in relation to the city size. Karlsruhe and Hanover share first place and each reach 61 out of 70 possible points. The high number of points for the speed and minimization of the bypass when driving through the city is particularly noteworthy.

The city of Karlsruhe, with its approximately 250 bus and train lines, enables users to get from one end relatively quickly. Travelers only need about 86 minutes for the north-south route and only 82 minutes for the west-east route, each with only one change. In addition, the S-Bahn can quickly reach the nearby city of Heidelberg or even to the Franco-German border.

Stuttgart and Mannheim also well positioned

Stuttgart, the state capital of Baden-Württemberg, was able to secure fourth place in the ranking with 54 points. Here, passengers are available up to 72 lines that are equipped with buses, subways and trams. This infrastructure enables you to travel from west to east from west to east within an hour. The city also has a cable car and a caval railway that can be used without additional costs and enable numerous excursions to the area.

Mannheim, another important city in the state, landed fifth with 53 points. There are 82 lines of local transport available that enable efficient transportation by the city. To travel from the north to south, the passengers need about 65 minutes, while the west-east passage can be mastered in about 40 minutes. Important cities such as Frankfurt or Saarbrücken can be reached from Mannheim within a short time.

The results clarify that public transport in this state is not only well structured, but also functional. Despite the frequent reviews on the train, the results of the ranking show a positive development for the big cities in Baden-Württemberg. So it could be worthwhile to test the advantages of public transport in this region itself and to get to know the diverse approaches for environmentally friendly mobility.

Karlsruhe and the pioneering role in public transport

The knowledge from this ranking is not only important for travelers, but also underline the efforts of the cities to offer their inhabitants an attractive and comfortable means of transportation. While other regions may still have to catch up, cities such as Karlsruhe, Stuttgart and Mannheim set standards in the area of ​​local public transport in Germany. The public transport ranking brings the high-quality infrastructure and the high efficiency of these cities and reflects a positive picture as a pioneer for sustainable and urban mobility.

public transport in Germany has a long history that goes back to the 19th century. This includes the first trams that came up in cities such as Berlin and Frankfurt. In the first third of the 20th century, the network of street, U- and S-Bahnen developed considerably. The introduction of local public transport has not only revolutionized commuting, but also contributed to urbanization in German cities.

In recent decades, however, the focus has increasingly shifted to sustainability and environmental protection. The trend towards more environmentally friendly means of transport has been supported by initiatives such as "green traffic planning" and programs to electrify local transport. Especially in cities such as Karlsruhe and Stuttgart, where innovative concepts such as the combination offers of buses and trains were introduced, it can be seen that public transport is becoming increasingly important to reduce traffic loads and air pollution.

Future of public transport

With the aim of further promoting the use of public transport, the federal government plans perspectives such as the expansion of bike paths and the integration of sharing offers into transport systems. These measures are intended to help more people switch to public transport and travel fewer cars on the streets. Specific goals are recorded in the "national urban development strategy", which aims to promote climate protection in the urban rooms.

In addition, the digitization of local public transport is increasingly promoted. Mobile apps and digital timetables should make travel easier and improve user experience. Cities like Karlsruhe are already relying on real -time data to give passengers current information and reduce bottlenecks.

Another interesting aspect is the experience during the Covid 19 pandemic. This has shown how important flexible local transport is, especially in view of the increase in mobile work. Public transport has proven to be robust, but was also challenged to take into account the safety concerns of passengers and to introduce new hygiene protocols. Many cities observed a temporary decline in passenger numbers, which illustrated the need for more flexible and customizable traffic solutions.

Statistics and passenger numbers in public transport

According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 10 % of the population in Germany regularly use public transport. In large cities such as Stuttgart or Karlsruhe, this proportion can reach up to 30 %. However, passenger numbers in 2019 and 2020 recorded a decline of around 20 % in the course of pandemic. At the moment, however, there is a slow increase in use, with younger generations in particular prefer public transport to travel environmentally conscious.

The federal states provide significant means to promote and expand local transport. For example, Baden-Württemberg will invest over 1 billion euros in the expansion of its transport infrastructure and plans to further improve the range of lines. The goal is to move from private transport to more efficient and more environmentally friendly public transport. Baden-Württemberg thus becomes a pioneer in the German local transport network and sets standards for other federal states.