Bus trips in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district are canceled due to the demonstration!

Bus trips in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district are canceled due to the demonstration!

Next Wednesday, July 9th, 2025, passengers in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district will have to accept a special restriction on local public transport. Due to a planned demonstration organized by the North Bus Association (OVN), all bus trips will be canceled between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Those particularly affected are students, commuters and other daily passengers who rely on bus-operated connections. This campaign not only affects the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district, but also neighboring regions in Schleswig-Holstein.

The affected bus companies, including Autokraft, were asked to suspend their regular and school services for this period. Klaus Schmidt, chairman of the OVN, expresses clear concerns about the future of local public transport in Schleswig-Holstein. The OVN estimates that the annual deficits of bus companies in the region are between 4 and 5 million euros. In view of rising costs, the question arises as to how the transport companies can finance ongoing transport, especially for students.

Ongoing financial problems

The financial challenges could lead to further restrictions on scheduled and school transport in the second half of 2025. Collective bargaining in the private bus industry is also currently deadlocked, which further complicates the situation. These developments cast a shadow on the quality and reliability of public transport, which is particularly important for older people and people with disabilities.

But it's not just the current demonstrations that concern those responsible. In order to promote the safety and self-confidence of senior citizens and people with disabilities in local public transport, the Regional Development and Mobility Department is planning two traffic safety training courses in July 2025. The aim of these trainings is to increase the mobility and independence of these target groups.

Road safety training in July

The events will take place on July 15th in Rendsburg and on July 21st in Eckernförde. Participants will be trained in various aspects of using local transport: from choosing the right bus route to getting on and off safely. There will also be a practical exercise in which participants will learn how to use ticket machines or digital ticketing solutions. In this way, they receive helpful information that can make their everyday life on public transport easier.

These trainings are organized by the public transport provider, who is also responsible for accessibility at stops. The Rendsburg-Eckernförde district has implemented various measures in recent years to make local public transport accessible to everyone. However, the stops are often only under the influence of the road construction authorities, which means that the district is only involved to a limited extent in their expansion.

In conclusion, it remains to be said that, especially in times like these, active participation in sustainable mobility offers and raising awareness of safety and accessibility in local public transport are of fundamental importance. The current situation highlights the challenges facing local public transport and how important it is to address these challenges together.

For more information about the bus trips, the demonstration and the road safety training, see the websites NDR, Rendsburg-Eckernförde district and Dithmarschen available.