Expensive energy and inflation - the situation is also tense in local public transport. From the deadline of December 11, the two Hessian associations RMV and NVV still have some innovations in their program.
Hofheim/Kassel (dpa/lhe) - Additional journeys on some lines and the use of hydrogen-powered trains in the Taunus: When the timetable changes next Sunday (December 11), the transport associations in Hesse are offering passengers improvements. Train lines from the south to Frankfurt are being expanded, as announced by the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV). Additional buses will also be in use. The North Hessian Transport Association (NVV) advertises with more offers in the districts of Kassel and Waldeck-Frankenberg. At the turn of the year, however, many bus and train journeys will become even more expensive - before the "Deutschlandticket" is due to come in 2023.
The use of the new hydrogen trains in the Taunus will begin in stages due to delivery problems, as the RMV announced. This demands patience from the passengers on the RB15 (Frankfurt - Bad Homburg - Brandoberndorf), because in addition to the new trains that have already been delivered, some are also being used on an interim basis that are not approved for the tunnel near Brandoberndorf - passengers would therefore have to change trains in Grävenwiesbach, in individual cases, a rail replacement service will be set up.
In total, RMV has ordered 27 hydrogen trains, which are to gradually run emission-free on the RB11 (Frankfurt-Höchst - Bad Soden), RB 12 (Frankfurt - Königstein) and RB16 (Bad Homburg - Friedberg) lines by spring 2023. This is how diesel trains are to be replaced.
According to the announcement, there will be additional train journeys on the Odenwaldbahn to and from Frankfurt. On the RB82 line (Eberbach - Erbach - Frankfurt) there are hourly trains between Erbach and Frankfurt, as well as on the RB85 line between Babenhausen and Frankfurt. There is also a trip on the RB21 from Niedernhausen to Wiesbaden in the morning, and a third direct connection from Wiesbaden to Limburg in the afternoon. The RB48 (Nidda - Friedberg - Frankfurt) receives a few more journeys in commuter and training traffic. The express bus routes X95 (Enkheim - Büdingen) and X35 (Marburg - Alsfeld) will also be strengthened.
By and large, the RMV is keeping its previous offer, explained Managing Director Knut Ringat: "While elsewhere in Germany there are discussions about cancellations due to inflation and high energy costs, we are keeping the status quo and can even occasionally offer multiple trips." The NVV also emphasized that it was able to offer more connections and new vehicles despite the difficult situation in bus traffic.
The hourly cycle "Every village - every hour" will be continued, the NVV explained. The focus is on the districts of Kassel and Waldeck-Frankenberg. There, passengers benefit from 45 percent more buses around Bad Arolsen, Diemelsee, Korbach and Willingen. There are 25 percent more between Ahne and Fulda in the Kassel district.
On most bus lines there is at least an hourly service. "The aim in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district was to better develop the region with optimized train and bus connections and thus to take particular account of the needs of leisure traffic in one of the most important tourist regions in Hesse," said the NVV.
From April to the end of 2023, passengers in train traffic would have to be prepared for restrictions due to construction work on the Kassel-Fulda ICE route, the association had previously warned. Long-distance traffic will be diverted to local routes. The result is "significant changes for the lines between Kassel, Fulda, Bad Wildungen and Frankfurt".
From January 1st, it will initially be more expensive for many passengers. According to a spokeswoman, prices in the NVV area will increase by an average of 1.5 percent. An RMV spokesman also announced that the costs for passengers will increase by an average of 1.5 percent on a regular basis. This is well below the inflation rate. In addition, there would be new tariff offers, about which the association would still provide information.
In the new year, the "Germany ticket" for buses and trains in local transport will come with an introductory price of 49 euros per month and will tie in with the popular 9-euro tickets from the summer. The start date is still open, the countries are aiming for April 1st.
