Criticism of local transport: Free voters demand more transparency in the district council!

Criticism of local transport: Free voters demand more transparency in the district council!

In the Schwalm-Eder district, the voices of the Free Voters have become loud: They are calling for more transparency in the local transport association (NVV). Parliamentary group leader Engin Eroglu sharply criticizes the district administration because he discovered a costly system without sufficient economic audit. In particular, the increased costs since the introduction of the one-hour cycle are in the firing line of his criticism, which the parties now want to address in the upcoming district council meeting. The district emphasizes that the additional costs were clearly communicated from the start and that the one-hour cycle is based on a majority decision made by the political committees in northern Hesse. The exact figures for these additional costs are currently being compiled by the NVV and the Schwalm-Eder district.

District Administrator Winfried Becker has rejected the Free Voters' allegations and sees no reason to assume that there is a lack of transparency. The district also does not share Eroglu's demand to examine the structure of the NVV and RMV transport associations. Instead, Becker calls for suggestions for alternative structures and highlights the positive development in passenger numbers: In 2024, there was an increase of 10.3 percent in regional bus traffic, while the national average is only 7.3 percent. Strengthening the public transport offering is important in order to keep the region attractive for companies and as a place to live.

New bus offer from December 15, 2024

An answer to the criticism could lie in the NVV's upcoming supply offensive, which will come into force on December 15, 2024. More than 30 new bus routes and 73 new vehicles will be used in the region. This initiative provides for a significant improvement in bus services in the southern Schwalm-Eder district and neighboring areas such as Bad Zwesten and Borken. A continuous bus connection from Bad Wildungen via Borken to Homberg will be set up, while an hourly service will be offered between Borken and Fritzlar every weekday between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.

The new infrastructure results from a legally required Europe-wide tender. The award for the three bus bundles went to Reisedienst Bonte, Zulauf Reisen and Frölich Linien. Green buses will be available that are air-conditioned and can accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. Safety standards such as turn assistants and camera monitoring also make the buses a safe choice for passengers, who are informed via a modern passenger information system.

Public transport as an important alternative

The importance of local public transport (ÖPNV) should not be underestimated. However, according to Statista, only a few people currently use public transport compared to previous years. In 2023, public transport use will still be below 2019 levels. It is essential that transport providers ensure high reliability and easy access to services in order to encourage more people to switch to buses and trains.

The Deutschlandticket, introduced in May 2023, which allows public transport to be used throughout Germany at an attractive price, could also increase user numbers. Forecasts point to 13 million users, with a possible additional two million by the end of the year. Continuously improving public transport offerings remains a challenge, but the federal government has increased funding to promote the expansion of transport infrastructure and keep public transport worthy of funding.

Overall, current developments show that local transport in the Schwalm-Eder district will continue to gain in importance. On the one hand there are the demands for more transparency and better review of costs, and on the other hand there are the exciting new offers that will soon hit the streets.