PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The city of Aachen is making the bus route network fit for the future - together with ASEAG and in dialog with citizens.

To cover longer distances in the city quickly and easily without a car, good public transport is important. In Aachen, the city is responsible for organizing bus transport. In this role, it has commissioned ASEAG to operate the bus services.

Every day, many people use public transport to get from A to B in Aachen and the region in a climate-friendly way. Nevertheless, there is still a lot to be done on the way to (even) more convenient public transport in Aachen. To this end, the city is setting the course as much as possible - for continuous optimization and in consultation with citizens.

The buses in Aachen are easy, safe and comfortable to use and run emission-free.

Ongoing improvements

The city and ASEAG are working together to continuously improve public transport services. What is important to the city of Aachen is formulated in a "local transport plan". The opinions of citizens play a major role in this: at the end of 2023, the city conducted an online survey on the bus route network. 3,450 people took part and provided many valuable comments, including on desired connections, shortcomings and the movA app.

ASEAG is also getting involved: It is on the lookout for bus drivers with a major campaign. Among other things, more staff should improve punctuality and help to expand the timetable.

Many stops have become mobility stations where several modes of transportation are linked: Bus / train, car (car sharing), bicycle (rental bike, parking facilities).

Regional bus & rail transport is a model for success. The continuous expansion of the regional rail network has led to a significant increase in the number of passengers traveling between Aachen and the surrounding area. In areas of the surrounding region not served by rail, there are express buses as well as mobility stations where means of transport and journeys are bundled.

City, country, bus ... and train!

In addition to optimizing the bus network, the city of Aachen is promoting the use of quiet and climate-friendly electric buses. A total of 91 electric buses are in service with ASEAG—and the e-bus fleet continues to grow. Fast connections to the surrounding region are also a priority for the city. For example, an express bus service has been running between Aachen and Monschau since 2022. This service is also subsidized by the state. Additional express bus routes are being introduced gradually. And that’s not all: In the future, Baesweiler, Alsdorf, and Würselen will be even better connected to the city center and the main train station via the Regiotram. The feasibility and economic viability of the tram have been proven. The next step is to begin preliminary planning. The city places great importance on engaging with the public, particularly regarding the Regiotram. Residents are encouraged to share their ideas and play an active role in the development of the Regiotram.

Stay in touch

Public transport in Aachen therefore stands on different "legs". To find the best connection in and around Aachen, you can use the apps movA from ASEAG and naveo from the Aachener Verkehrsverbund (AVV).

The Aachen bus network

Residential areas, places of work, shopping and leisure facilities are well connected by public transport with attractive intervals and short travel times. The efficient bus route network has a clear structure:

• Main lines on the strong axes
• Supplementary lines, feeder / collector lines
• Express bus lines

Direct award of public passenger transport services

The City of Aachen is responsible for the planning, organization, design and financing of public road passenger transport (ÖSPV) on its territory in accordance with Section 3 (1) ÖPNVG NRW. It is the competent local authority within the meaning of EU Regulation 1370/2007.

The City of Aachen has awarded public passenger transport services on the territory of the City of Aachen and StädteRegion Aachen (excluding the City of Aachen) directly to ASEAG as an internal operator in accordance with Art. 5 Para. 2 of Regulation 1370/2007 with effect from 10.12.2017 and with a term of ten years.

The direct award covers scheduled services with buses and other motor vehicles in the Aachen transport network, including outbound services to the areas of neighboring public transport authorities and the Netherlands and Belgium. ASEAG is granted an exclusive right to protect the directly awarded scheduled services.

Mobility guarantee

Was your connection delayed or canceled? Every interested user is immediately informed about the causes, consequences and alternatives in the event of deviations from the public transport timetable.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the mobility guarantee entitles you to reimbursement of up to 30 euros during the day and up to 60 euros in the evening and at night from 8 p.m. to 4.59 a.m. for cab costs or sharing offers or the surcharges for using long-distance trains if a local transport service is more than 20 minutes late and there are no alternative local transport connections.

Thanks to a nationwide mobility guarantee, the people of Aachen find public transport very reliable.

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Accessibility

Of the approximately 1,000 bus stops in Aachen, 16.6% are currently fully accessible. There is a priority list based on the importance of each stop, according to which accessibility improvements are being implemented. The city administration is working to move forward with these improvements as quickly as possible. For more information on boarding and assistance, please contact ASEAG.

Participation opportunities

Further topics