Public transport revolution in the Birkenfeld district: on-demand buses for everyone!

Public transport revolution in the Birkenfeld district: on-demand buses for everyone!

Changes to local public transport are on the agenda in the Birkenfeld district. A comprehensive package of measures was adopted by the Committee for Infrastructure, Economy, Environment and Climate Protection (IWUK) to fundamentally reform public transport. The aim is to reduce operating costs and make bus use more effective by offering fewer empty trips and more on-call buses. District Administrator Miroslaw Kowalski emphasizes the economic and ecological sense of these measures, which are based on recent passenger counts by the Rhein-Nahe-Nahverkehrsverbund (RNN), which showed low demand on various lines. Lines 812, 813, 820, 857, 858 and 890 are particularly affected, with the section between Rhauer and Wildenburg of National Park line 890 to be discontinued.

The planned changes include reduced frequency, route cuts and the expansion of on-call bus services. These adjustments are necessary in order to better tailor the bus service to actual needs. In the best case scenario, this should save several hundred thousand bus kilometers. However, it should be noted that the savings are contractually limited to a maximum of 20 percent of the agreed mileage, although this limit is only expected to be reached for the national park line 890 line bundle. The exact financial savings are currently unclear and should be specified in coordination with transport companies and authorities.

Demand-based mobility in rural areas

Another important element of the reformed public transport is the implementation of on-demand services such as on-demand buses and shared taxis. These flexible forms of operation are particularly important for rural regions with low population densities, where classic public buses often reach their limits. The new handbook from the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research (BBSR) offers planners in districts and municipalities step-by-step instructions for planning and implementing on-demand services. These measures aim to improve the predictability and efficiency of public transport, which is made easier by advancing digitalization.

The handbook also addresses the challenges and opportunities of demand-oriented mobility and offers checklists for jointly tracking the planning steps. The implementation of these on-demand offers could significantly improve the situation in rural areas and thus represent a step into the future of public transport.

• Besonders betroffene Linien: 812, 813, 820, 857, 858 und 890
• Maßnahmen: Taktreduzierungen, Streckenkürzungen, Ausbau von Rufbusangeboten
• Maximale Einsparungen: 20% der vereinbarten Fahrleistung

The approval of the district council is still pending after the package of measures has been further discussed by the parliamentary groups. It remains to be seen how quickly passengers' needs can be responded to and whether these reforms will actually bring about a noticeable improvement. The discussion about public transport in Birkenfeld clearly shows that there is a need for action and that solutions must be developed that are both sustainable and economically viable. While the district wants to bring public transport up to speed through these reforms, relevant developments on a digital level are available to advance the mobility of the future, such as the integration of modern platforms in public transport.

For further information on on-demand services and the topic as covered by the BBSR handbook, those interested can access the publication free of charge on the [BBSR](https://www.bbsr.bund.de/BBSR/DE/startseite/topmeldeen/flexible-bedien Formen-oepnv.html) or follow developments in the Birkenfeld district via the [Wochenspiegel](https://www.wochenspiegellive.de/landkreis-birkenfeld/artikel/oepnv-im-nationalparklandkreis-birkenfeld-soll-drastisch-reformiert- Werden).