Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe/Friedrichsdorf. Bad Homburg and Friedrichsdorf are paving the way for a modern and sustainable bus transit system: A new transit contract will ensure city bus service in both municipalities for another ten years. The contract runs from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2036.
As part of a Europe-wide bidding process, the previous operator, Transdev Rhein-Main GmbH, has once again been selected. “This means that a partner that has proven itself since 2016 will continue to be responsible for providing transit services on behalf of the two cities,” explains Mayor Dr. Oliver Jedynak.
“The new transit contract thus creates key conditions for the further development of bus service in Bad Homburg and Friedrichsdorf: Bus service is secured for the long term, a completely new fleet of vehicles will be introduced, electric mobility will be significantly expanded, and the proven intermunicipal cooperation will continue,” Dr. Jedynak added.
“An efficient city bus system is of great importance to the city of Friedrichsdorf, as it provides people with reliable mobility while also strengthening the business environment for our companies. “I would like to thank the city of Bad Homburg for the excellent cooperation. It is a strong sign that we are moving forward together here,” said Friedrichsdorf Mayor Lars Keitel, emphasizing the importance of city bus service for his community.
Transdev also views the renewal of the contract as a sign of the long-standing, positive collaboration. “We are very pleased that we were once again able to succeed following a rigorous bidding process. The renewal of the contract is a testament to the trust that Bad Homburg and Friedrichsdorf place in our work. This success is the result of a trusting partnership with both municipalities that has grown over many years,” say Claudia Wolf and José Luis Lombardi of Transdev.
A key component of the new transit contract is the procurement of an entirely new bus fleet. The new vehicles are expected to be put into service gradually throughout 2027. This phased transition will ensure a smooth shift from the existing fleet to the new one.
The fact that Transdev will continue to operate the transit system in the future offers particular advantages from the perspective of both municipalities: The vehicles currently in use can initially continue to be used for regular service and gradually be replaced by the new buses. The use of additional or third-party transitional vehicles is therefore not necessary. For passengers, service will remain largely unchanged during the transition phase.
Focus on Electric Buses
A particular focus of the new transit contract is on electric mobility. A total of 15 electric buses will be procured. As a result, approximately one-third of the vehicle fleet will be electric in the future. Twelve electric buses will be used on Bad Homburg’s city transit routes, and three vehicles on Friedrichsdorf’s transit routes.
The new electric buses represent the current state of the art and are designed specifically for regular route service, particularly with regard to their range. They are to be used as extensively as possible and given priority in daily operations.
“By expanding our e-bus fleet, we are taking an important step toward a more climate-friendly and sustainable public transit system. The electric buses will make a noticeable contribution to reducing emissions. At the same time, this development shows that electric mobility has long since become an established part of daily scheduled service,” Dr. Jedynak and Keitel are convinced.
The transition to alternative propulsion technologies is supported by extensive funding. The Federal Ministry of Transport is providing approximately 3.1 million euros in funding for the procurement of the electric buses. The city will receive an additional one million euros for the necessary charging infrastructure.
The successful intermunicipal cooperation between Bad Homburg and Friedrichsdorf will also continue under the new transportation contract. Both cities remain committed to shared infrastructure. As is already the case today, the vehicles operated in both municipalities will continue to be managed centrally from the bus depot in Bad Homburg.
This joint organization makes it possible to continue leveraging existing structures and operational experience while creating synergies. At the same time, it establishes important prerequisites for an efficient and attractive public transit system in the region.
