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).

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 e-buses. A total of 27 electric buses are in use at ASEAG - and the e-bus fleet continues to grow. Fast connections to the region are also important to the city. Since 2022, for example, an express bus service has been running between Aachen and Monschau. This service is also funded by the state. Further express bus routes are gradually being introduced. And that's not all: in future, Baesweiler, Alsdorf and Würselen will be even better connected to the city center and the main train station by the Regiotram. The feasibility and economic viability of the streetcar have been proven. Now it's time to move on to the preliminary planning stage. The city attaches great importance to communicating with the public, especially when it comes to the Regiotram. Citizens should contribute their wishes and participate 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

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 countryside that are not served by rail, there are express buses as well as mobility stations where means of transport and journeys are bundled.

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.

All information about the mobility guarantee.

Accessibility

Of the approx. 1,000 bus stops in Aachen, around 14% are currently completely barrier-free. There is a priority list depending on the importance of the bus stop, according to which accessibility is implemented. The administration is trying to push ahead with the expansion as quickly as possible. You can find further information on the subject of accessibility and assistance from ASEAG.

Participation opportunities

Further topics