Press release of the Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour
Meyer: Expanding services for a sustainable switch to climate-friendly public transport systems
Schwerin, 25 January 2024 The regional bus network was discussed in the state parliament on Thursday. "The introduction of the regional bus network in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with upgraded regional bus services in the regular-interval timetable is already in full swing. Three pilot routes were launched with the timetable change in December 2023. The regional bus network is an important link in the development and expansion of a three-part state mobility network with nationwide, fast, synchronised rail and bus services and on-call buses that also cover the last mile, as envisaged in the mobility offensive. In this way, we are laying the foundations for the people of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to make a sustainable switch to climate-friendly public transport systems in the cities, but especially in rural areas. However, this will not happen overnight. That is why we are taking a step-by-step approach. The aim is to promote and further develop scheduled bus services according to uniform quality criteria, particularly across districts, and thus close the white spots in the state and provide an attractive transport service in terms of services of general interest," said Reinhard Meyer, Minister for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour.
Regional bus routes and on-call bus system agreed according to uniform quality standards
Together with transport companies and local authorities, the state would like to improve mobility in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Among other things, regional bus routes and a state-wide on-demand bus system with uniform quality standards are to be introduced in all parts of the state. To this end, the Ministry of Economics and Transport has signed a "Joint Declaration on the Improvement of Public Mobility Services in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" together with the districts and independent towns in the state. "Our aim is to improve the range of existing scheduled bus services in the area and to create new routes across districts," said Meyer.
The planned bus routes will run every hour and every two hours regardless of school and holiday times - on weekdays between 5 am and 10 pm and on Sundays between 8 am and 8 pm. In addition, the regular-interval bus routes are linked with rail services to create a dense network for the whole of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
First lines already in operation
The first three lines were launched with the timetable change in December 2023. The services on these lines will be expanded, particularly at weekends and during off-peak times. This involves line 170 from Schwerin to Sternberg via Cambs and Bruel. The buses run every hour from Monday to Friday. At weekends, where previously only on-call buses were offered, there will be a two-hourly service for the first time, which will be reinforced by additional on-call bus journeys. Line 012 from Neubrandenburg to Waren (via Penzlin) is operated by Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersche Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVVG). The scheduled buses run every hour from Monday to Friday. At the weekends, there is a two-hourly service, which is additionally extended on Saturday mornings. Line 330 from Wismar to Grevesmühlen via Gägelow is operated by NAHBUS Nordwestmecklenburg GmbH. The buses run every hour from Monday to Friday. There is a two-hourly service at weekends. The next scheduled bus services will be introduced in spring 2024. New services are planned across the district between Sanitz and Greifswald, via Marlow, Tribsees and Grimmen as well as on Rügen, between Königstuhl and Klein Zicker, via Sassnitz, Binz and Göhren. The five above-mentioned regular-interval bus routes operated by regional transport companies will receive a total of around 3.1 million euros in funding from the state in the coming year. "In addition, the state-wide on-call bus system, which is currently being set up and expanded, will complement the regular-interval bus system and cover the so-called last mile. Rail and bus routes connect the municipalities in the area with each other via connection points. Passengers must make a booking by telephone or online before starting their journey. The development, maintenance and operation of the on-call bus system will be supported by the state government with around 13.5 million euros in 2024," said Meyer.
The districts of Ludwigslust-Parchim and Nordwestmecklenburg will offer on-call buses across the whole of the district when the state-wide on-call bus system is launched on 1 January 2024. The district of Rostock is also increasing its on-demand bus service and is expected to be available throughout the district in the third quarter of 2024. In all three districts, compliance with the specified quality criteria is expected in the course of 2024. The districts of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte and Vorpommern-Greifswald are improving and optimising their existing on-call bus systems, such as ILSE and Friedrich. The district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte is also expected to achieve full coverage in the third quarter of 2024, although not yet in compliance with all quality criteria. The realisation of a nationwide on-call bus system and the implementation of the defined quality criteria is not yet foreseeable in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald in 2024. In the district of Vorpommern-Rügen, an on-demand bus system is gradually being established.
The "MV FÄHRT GUT" journey planner
The state-wide journey planner "MV FÄHRT GUT" for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern takes into account all changes to the new timetable. The state's free app is available for Android and iOS (www.fahrplanauskunft-mv.de).
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