New mobility concept Go-SiWi-Go: revolution in public transport for Siegen!

New mobility concept Go-SiWi-Go: revolution in public transport for Siegen!

Something exciting is happening in the area of ​​local transport in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district. The “Go-SiWi-Go” pilot project aims to make the organization of local public transport (ÖPNV) more flexible and customer-friendly. Practical “on-demand” on-call buses are being considered, which will be tested in Bad Berleburg and Freudenberg in 2026. This new system could improve transportation while increasing the sense of mobility in rural areas. As the Siegerland newspaper reports, the project is being implemented as part of the local transport plan 2025+, which is intended to shape transport services until 2038.

The special thing about “Go-SiWi-Go” is the concept of the flexible transport service. Passengers can make individual bookings via an app and these routes are then linked together taking other passengers into account. This is called “pooling” and it could be a big advantage, particularly for rural populations, to be well connected to transport hubs such as bus and train stations. The Regional South Westphalia emphasizes that the aim is to specifically take people's needs into account and to integrate these modern forms of transport into the new local transport plan.

What does the future of mobility bring?

The development of the project is also supported scientifically: The University of Siegen is on board to evaluate the results and gain insights that will benefit the entire region. With planned support of 400,000 euros per project over three years, the total costs for implementation are estimated at around 1.7 million euros. A look at the financial aspects shows that the costs per passenger transported are between 10 and 13 euros and the costs per passenger kilometer are between 2 and 4 euros.

The mayor of the municipality of Bad Berleburg has already welcomed the project. However, there are also critical voices: While the SPD supports the project, the Greens, FDP, AfD and CDU express concerns. As if that weren't enough, a final decision on the future of Go-SiWi-Go will be made at the district council meeting on July 4th, and it is already clear that there is both support and reservations from various political camps.

The background of on-demand traffic

The concept of on-demand transport is not new, but it offers a promising solution given the challenges in rural areas. According to a study by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, public transport in urban regions often has a better structure than in rural areas, where 56% of journeys are made by car. Here, on-demand transport could help close gaps and advance the mobility transition. The Federal Ministry emphasizes that flexible and user-oriented mobility solutions are crucial for the quality of transport services.

Autonomous shuttles are another topic that is being discussed as a perspective in the context of the Go-SiWi-Go project. This future-oriented technology could provide even more flexibility and efficiency in local transport in the long term. Apart from that, the focus is on introducing harmonized data and booking systems, which could strengthen the attractiveness of public transport.

Overall, the “Go-SiWi-Go” project is sure to generate excitement and could serve as a model for similar initiatives in neighboring regions. The question of how these new services will actually perform remains to be seen. Decisions must be made by July 4th as the region hopes for a positive transformation of its transport structure.