Suche
Mein Konto
Schweinfurt in turmoil: New bus concept costs half a million more!
Schweinfurt is discussing the new city bus concept 2.0, which is more expensive and shortens trips. The FAIRTIQ app simplifies bus travel.
Schweinfurt in turmoil: New bus concept costs half a million more!
In Schweinfurt, the new city bus concept 2.0 is causing lively discussions. The two engineers Ines Bender and Hartmut Bach, who critically examined the concept, even speak of a “Schildbürger prank”. According to their calculation, the new system will cause additional costs of around half a million euros per year, which seems questionable given the current financial situation reports the Main Post.
A key point of criticism from the engineers is that around 130 trips will be canceled compared to the old bus system. This not only limits the frequency but also the flexibility of use for passengers. While the buses at the new terminus are now idle for over 60 hours per working day, there is a kind of money burning caused by buses not running. Bender and Bach point out that citizens and bus users do not benefit from these shutdowns. In addition, the new concept requires the employment of ten additional bus drivers, which further increases the already worrying additional costs.
Departure for digitalization
The introduction of the cashless payment system requires a one-time registration of passengers. They then have the option of using the “Smart Stop” function, which enables automatic check-out if you forget to end it manually. This innovation is part of a new transport network that will be created in Mainfranken from 2025 and will not only make traveling easier, but also more efficient.
Challenges for local transport
But what does it say? “The devil is in the details.” In order to operate independently in the area of local transport, certain requirements must be met, as is the case in the Report from DB Regio is executed. The transport companies must submit applications to the responsible licensing authority to ensure that their offer meets the authority's standards. This could be a challenge for some operators, while others could benefit from the new regulations. Independent transport has the advantage that it relieves the burden on the public budget and motivates private providers to compete.
The city and the responsible transport companies must now have a good hand in order to make a success of the changes and not let the new concept become a boomerang. To what extent the critical voices and the new digital offerings can be reconciled remains to be seen. One thing is certain: Schweinfurt bus drivers and passengers have to prepare for exciting, albeit challenging, times.