Heilbronn: City bus route 67 remains and gets new counting systems!

Heilbronn: City bus route 67 remains and gets new counting systems!

Something is happening in Heilbronn in local public transport: the city is planning to equip more than half of its city buses with automatic passenger counting systems. This project aims to generate reliable utilization figures for bus routes, which are of great importance for the planning and organization of local public transport. According to stimme.de, Heilbronn receives almost 1.7 million euros annually from the state, and this data is crucial for the financial allocations that the city needs to operate its public transport efficiently.

The implementation of the system will initially require costs of an estimated 85,000 euros, which will be borne by the city's subsidiary Stadtwerke. This will be supplemented by the creation of a new position in the Heilbronner Verkehrsverbund (HNV), which is responsible for processing and supplying data from all companies operating in the region. Furthermore, the Stuttgart Transport Association (VVS) will make the processed data available to the state, which further simplifies planning and control.

The continuation of bus route 67

Not only are the new systems the focus, the city bus route 670 has also been a topic of conversation. This will not be discontinued, as originally feared, but will continue to operate as city bus route 67 from 2026. The new connection will connect Kirchhausen and Biberach with the Böllinger Höfe and the SLK Clinic at Gesundbrunnen. Despite the largely positive feedback, there were concerns: the Heilbronn district will no longer continue the line due to lack of interest, which means that the communities of Massenbach and Massenbachhausen will no longer be connected to the bus network from next year.

Despite a strained budget and additional annual costs, the local council approved between 40,000 and 50,000 euros for the city side. Some city councilors emphasize the great importance of the bus route for public services and proximity to the citizens, while others prefer to speak out against its continuation. This shows that there really is a red line between different views and interests.

Future of local public transport

The decision to reduce the frequency of the newly named city bus route 67 to every 90 minutes and to close gaps in the morning timetable shows that the city is responding to the needs of its citizens. This regulation will initially apply for the years 2026 and 2027, and it will be interesting to see how the opening of the bus route will affect user behavior.

The introduction of automatic passenger counting systems is part of a larger plan that is supported by VDV recommendations, as set out in VDV document 457. The aim of these recommendations is to create uniform statistical bases and standardized framework conditions for technical solutions in public transport. This means that counting systems are intended to optimize public services in local transport, which is of great importance for citizens.

Overall, there is a lot going on in the area of ​​public transport in Heilbronn. It remains to be seen how these developments will impact in the coming years - not least on the satisfaction and mobility of citizens.