Bus delays: traffic chaos in the Osterholz district!

Bus delays: traffic chaos in the Osterholz district!

There is currently a lot of discussion surrounding the topic of bus connections in the Osterholz district. Despite all sorts of improvements, punctuality remains a constant nuisance for passengers at various bus companies. Franz Hartmann, union secretary at Verdi for buses and trains in Lower Saxony-Bremen, points out that traffic jams in the Bremen area have increased. This is of course also reflected in the timetables, which are not always realistic. The Ahrentschildt (OvA) bus company is active in the eastern district of the Osterholz district and operates primarily in Grasberg, Lilienthal and Worpswede.

Although there has been some progress in punctuality, delays are still commonplace. The OvA employees have managed to make the rosters achievable, but the lack of staff remains a major issue. New drivers, many of whom are new drivers, often do not have the necessary local knowledge, which leads to further delays. In addition, there are language barriers among international employees, which make communication and ticket checks more difficult. Construction sites and 30 km/h zones disrupt the flow of traffic and also contribute to tardiness. The dilapidated state road 133 in particular is causing additional delays in the timetable.

New bus service in the district

The new offer is being implemented by the Bremen/Lower Saxony Transport Association (ZVBN) and the district council of the Osterholz district. The timetable includes trips from Lilienthal, Schwanewede to Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Ritterhude, Hambergen as well as to the A 27 business park, Buschhausen and Pumpelberg.

The VBN mobility guarantee

In order to offer drivers and passengers an additional incentive, the VBN mobility guarantee was launched. This applies to all passengers with valid single or time tickets of the VBN tariff within the VBN network area. If there are delays of more than 20 minutes, those affected can apply for compensation. This means that up to two trips per day and ten trips per month are eligible for reimbursement, depending on the ticket type. It is also possible to get taxi costs back up to 25 euros if the delay is over 60 minutes or exceeds 30 minutes between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

When it comes to the timetable change in December 2024, those responsible agree that larger turning buffers will reduce the risk of subsequent delays. Initial results show promising punctuality rates: In the eastern district, around 75% of trips arrived on time, and with a tolerance of five minutes the rate was as high as 90%.

It remains exciting to see how the bus connections in the Osterholz district will develop - but it is clear that both passengers and those responsible are relying on innovative solutions to improve mobility in the region. However, concerns remain, particularly with regard to the transport infrastructure and the timely recruitment of new staff.

You can find more information about the bus connections on the VBN websites: VBN and Amtsblatt Landkreis Osterholz and Weser-Kurier.