New mobility service: Rhesi 2.0 starts in Neunkirchen!

With the start of the “Bergährfer” traffic attempt and the on-demand Club line “Rhesi” in August 2021, an innovative mobility concept was launched in the region. This initiative was financed by 1.48 million euros by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and 500,000 euros from the Rhein-Sieg-Kreis. The test run should originally take three years, but is now extended by four months until the end of 2023.

The main goal of this project is to compare the acceptance between the "on demand" service and the traditional local bus. According to Neunkirchen-Seelscheid , both means of transport were well received. However, it turned out that the "mountain mesh" has a higher capacity utilization and offers lower costs per passenger. In the first year of operation, the "mountainue agent" promoted up to 400 passengers daily, while the on-demand line "Rhesi" transported around 15,000 people annually, but had higher costs per passenger.

conversion to "Rhesi 2.0"

Since "Rhesi" is not continued in its previous form, a reduced version, "Rhesi 2.0", is to be offered. This new variant is operated in two operating areas, west and east of the Wahnbach. Fixed routes and a regulated timing are introduced, but without a published timetable. The waiting times between booking and collection are 30 to 60 minutes.

The operating times remain unchanged: on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays until 1 a.m., Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. and on Sundays and public holidays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The central nodes are the town center of Seelscheid and Antoniusplatz in Neunkirchen. From January 1, 2025, existing "Rhesi" customers will have to register again because a new booking platform of the RVK is introduced. During the transition period, the "Rhesi" offer will be suspended for a few days and is to be resumed on January 6, 2025.

An app is required for the booking because no telephone booking is possible. Registration in the app requires entering the name, email address and password. The booking is made by entering the start and finish stop, either via an input mask or a card. The system checks whether the desired route is in the driving area of ​​"Rhesi". Direct connections are only possible within the control areas of Neunkirchen and Seelscheid as long as no alternative bus ride is available in existing regular traffic.

The operating areas of "Rhesi 2.0" include several towns. The area of ​​Seinscheid includes Breiderheide, Bruchhausen, Busch and Effert, while Neunkirchen localities such as Balensiefen, Birkenfeld and Neunkirchen include. Further details on the operating areas and the use of the new booking platform can be read on the website of the rvk