Operating with very new buses, which all offer free WLAN, Flixbus is right now the best rated long distance bus company in Germany. BahnCard 100 offers unlimited travel on DB trains in Germany for one year for 4.395 euros. In comparison to trains and planes, fierce competition has meant that going by bus is a very budget-friendly option for travelling across Germany and Europe, with a coach from Berlin to Hamburg costing as little as eight euros. A bus sits beside the Autobahn A19 in Linstow near Rostock, northern Germany, Friday, Aug. 17, … Deutsche Bahn, which is the largest operator of buses and not only trains in Germany, is almost certain to increase its domestic bus services. They usually offer free wi-fi and onboard refreshments. Some offer free wifi while drinks on board are similar to kiosk prices. Yet, it is the first […] Prior to the liberalization of the long-distance bus market, trains accounted for 125 million annual travelers versus 2 million for coaches but 2013 statistics will certainly be different. Since then new long distance bus companies have popped up everywhere and made travelling through Germany a lot cheaper and flexible. Ever since the first bus companies launched bus routes connecting various American cities in the 1910s, hopping on a bus is a great way to explore the United States. March 5, 2013 by Henk Bekker in Buses, Germany. Deutsche Bahn (DB) DB is the German national railway company that operates all of the railway systems across Germany. Carpooling is growing in popularity in Germany for two major reasons: it’s a cheap way of getting around, and it’s relatively environmentally-friendly. As costs don't change too much long distance buses are a great option for those on a budget or those who want to be flexible about their travel around Europe. This site is not responsible for the content of linked external sites. Families with children under 14 years, who usually travel for free on Deutsche Bahn trains, should note that child (or seniors) discounts are generally not available on buses. How many people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Germany? The main risk you take, therefore, is that you might get stuck in a car with a stranger for four hours with nothing to say. However on 1 January 2013, this law was repealed leading to a more competitive market for domestic travel within Germany and the launch of many long distance bus operators that are often a much cheaper alternativ… These bus companies all follow basically the same model: tickets are sold primarily online, bus services are constantly being expanded, and growing mostly from southern to central Germany with plans to cover the whole country. For example, a one-way trip from Frankfurt to Barcelona by long-distance bus costs just under 100 euros. Another great option if you are travelling as a group, but just as economical for solo travellers, is the Regional Day Ticket (Länder-Ticket). The main exceptions were services to and from Berlin and international lines with few stops in Germany, … From Terminal 1 you reach the P36 long-distance bus parking lot via Arrival C. Then stay to the right. While Bohr still only sells tickets on the bus, or from a ticket counter at the airport, the same bus ride can now be booked through Flixbus online to ensure payment is completed in advance by credit card and that a seat is available. The travel industry still debates whether intercity buses will provide real competition to Deutsche Bahn trains. I returned to Nuremberg and this time decided to go by BUS! Contact service providers directly before making any arrangements. Germany by bus Travelling by long distance bus in Germany has only recently become popular. Despite years of lobbying by Deutsche Bahn, the protectionist laws that previously prohibited long-distance bus travel have more recently been liberalised. One thing these buses cannot do is transport travelers for less than an hour or less than 50 km – here the official local transportation services maintain their state-subsidized monopolies. BahnCard 50 offers 50 percent discount on the same fares for 255 euros per year. For expats of all colours, shapes & sizes. This is a list of the world's bus operating companies listed by country, with countries placed alphabetically by continent and country. However, by then they may well find the market a bit crowded by the bus services of nimbler competitors. - Since 1931 in Germany long-distance inter-city bus service has been banned by law, according to … Flixbus buses have been off the roads since March 18, but now a total of 26 buses will be back in operation for a total of 50 stops. News > World Long-distance bus overturns on German highway, 22 hurt. Prior to 2013, long distance coach services (anything longer than 50km) was prohibited unless it could be proven that it did not compete with DB’s rail network and during this time coach travel in Germany was restricted to international routes, short regional services and intercity routes in and out of Berlin. FlixBus, based in Germany, launched in 2013 to help tempt drivers out of cars on long-distance trips by making buses more appealing to people who might not have considered it as an option in the past. It costs 62 euros. All continental European Megabus routes are also bookable through Flixbus. Information on German transport associations, ticketing & fare systems & details of transport associations in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Munich & Frankfurt. Luckily, the country’s transport system provides several different options for fast and reasonably-priced connections between its major cities. Europe - Germany Lifts Ban on Long-Distance Bus Travel? It will test vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel batteries for long distances, becoming the first company in the world to do so. Long-distance and intercity bus travel has finally become legal in Germany from the start of 2013. Only in 2012 was this law officially amended and thus a long distance bus market has also emerged in Germany since then. From Terminal 2 you can easily reach the P36 long-distance bus parking lot with our Bus-Shuttle, which departs from Terminal 2 every 10 minutes. Long-distance bus companies in Germany. The company operated at low prices and competed aggressively with the rail services, expanded strongly and incurred losses in the process. Cheap buses provide competition to trains for intercity and long-distance travel in Germany. FlixBus introduced electric buses between Paris and Amiens as a regular service this spring (we reported). BahnCard 25 offers 25 percent off super saver, saver and flexi fares for a year. The main companies for carpooling in Germany are: 2021 in Germany: All of the changes expats need to know about, COVID-19 vaccinations start in Germany today: What you need to know, Germany extends coronavirus lockdown until February 14, Explained: Germany's new mask rule for public transport & shops. Thanks to improved infrastructure, the journey from Berlin to Munich can now take as little as four hours. Flixbus back up and running Flixbus will resume long-distance travel services in Germany from May 28, as well as operations in Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic and Denmark. But it's mor… But finding a reliable, date-specific, and unified source for schedule and price information can be next to impossible. A guide to the German public transportation system for expats: public transport (S- & U-Bahn, tram), taxis, trains, coaches, long-distance buses & driving. If you're lucky, the city you're traveling from will have one main bus station that can offer consolidated timetables online. Up until 2013 travelling by train in Germany was number one which was regulated by law. However, on German Railways own IC Buses the standard children under 15 travel for free is maintained. Great care is taken in writing these articles but no responsibility is taken for errors or omissions. Coaches are often slower but much cheaper than railways. On the other hand, you’re just as likely to make a new friend! In addition to guidebooks and local resources, aggregator sites like GoogleMaps, BusBud, GetByBus, and Rome2Riocan help identify bus operators. Berlin Linien Bus, owned by Deutsche Bahn, has cheap bus services from all parts of Germany. The parking lot for long-distance buses is signposted. Starting this Thursday it serves four times a day between between Frankfurt and Mannheim, including stops at Frankfurt Airport and Heidelberg. Hello Hoppers! The bus veered into a ditch next to the highway and ended up on its side. In most countries, bus routes are operated by multiple companies, each with its own timetables and fares. Cancellation conditions are also more generous on the buses, although read the fine print here too. Baden-Wuerttemberg Baden-Württemberg BEV BYD C9 Electric buses Flixbus Frankfurt Germany Heidelberg Hesse Mannheim. In Germany, long-distance … They usually offer free wi-fi and onboard refreshments. All buses are completely new and in very good shape. Standard prices on buses are generally 20 to 60% below the standard ticket prices on German Railways trains. Four years ago there were 18 IC bus routes and 40 connections from the Berlin-Linienbus (BLB) branch. Specific seats cannot be reserved on buses but a seat is guaranteed for ticket bearers, something that is not the case on trains. Starting at just 43 euros, they offer unlimited train travel in up to 31 European countries. Long-distance and intercity bus travel has finally become legal in Germany from the start of 2013. Most seem to follow the “Ein Po, ein Preis” (One bum, one price) system. They can be booked up to 12 months in advance. Trains are faster and more comfortable with specials (Sparpreise) often available for travelers booking in advance or using a Bahncard. New companies such as MeinFernbus and Flixbus are already providing competition to the existing Berlin Linien Bus and German Railways (Deutsche Bahn). Well, until the 31 of December 2012, it was legally (with a few exceptions) not possible to operate domestic long distance buses in Germany. However, Busliniensuche, a start-up by students from Karlsruhe, is making a valiant effort to at least provide the information and links to bus companies. Operations may … Except for ICE/ICs which is a German high-speed train for long-distance travel, the rest is used for regional transport. Long-distance buses are a type of long-distance transport which connects different cities and regions with each other. In Germany, Flixbus has closed the country’s first electric long-distance bus connection between Frankfurt am Main and Mannheim – due to ongoing problems with the BYD buses and/or their batteries. The ADAC (automobile club) and Deutsche Post (post office) are studying the market and planning a nationwide network from 2014. Long distance bus services which competed with the railways were prohibited in Germany from 1934 until the market was liberalised in 2013. Receive the IamExpat Weekly and Special Offers from our Partners. There are a large number of smaller, local companies, but the biggest operators in Germany are: FlixBus; IC Bus; Eurolines; Carpooling in Germany Here is a selection of articles, news and features you may also like. These new providers often use existing local and regional bus operators to run the actual busses, which thus may not always be painted in company colors. In 2019, roughly 21 million passengers used long-distance buses in Germany. You normally have to pay extra for a seat reservation or to bring a bike on board. Special deals are available – sometimes tickets go for €1 – and price competition may well increase as services expand. Long-distance buses in Germany are generally clean, comfortable and air-conditioned. Due to Germany's many effecient and cost effective long- distance bus companies, traveling from Germany to other European country by bus is a great way to travel. Wherever possible, each country's bus operating companies are divided by the nature of their operations. The bus network is expanding almost weekly at the moment. Many also offer last-minute deals: Germany’s railway network, operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB), is very well-developed, offering fast connections to almost everywhere in the country. There were almost no long distance buses within Germany and only several companies operated international routes and mostly to Eastern and Central Europe. Following a pause due to the coronavirus, travellers and commuters in Germany can once again take long-distance bus journeys from Thursday. Tickets are divided into first and second classes and can be bought in advance on the internet, from an automated ticket machine or from the station’s ticket office. For example, the Bohr bus services from Frankfurt Hahn Airport to Frankfurt am Main can now also be booked as a Flixbus or IC Bus ride. Info on the public transportation system in Germany: modes of transport (S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram, bus), types of tickets, how to buy & validate tickets. 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