Affordable bus travel: tickets priced as low as 1-2 euros available - Affordable bus ticket prices at just 1-2 euros each.
In a bid to make public transport more accessible and attractive, several cities in North Rhine-Westphalia have introduced affordable travel options. The cities of Bad Lippspringe, Delbrück, and Salzkotten, in particular, have taken the lead with a discounted bus travel scheme, allowing residents and visitors to travel within city limits for just 1 or 2 euros per journey.
This pioneering initiative, launched in 2023, has seen tremendous success. According to local reports, around 44,000 tickets were sold in 2024, averaging approximately 120 tickets per day. Thousands of citizens now regularly use the discounted tickets for their daily commute, shopping, and leisure.
Delbrück's mayor, Werner Peitz, has hailed the project as a significant step forward, praising it as a pioneering role in North Rhine-Westphalia. Salzkotten's mayor, Ulrich Berger, has also emphasised the sustainable contribution to the environment from the discounted tickets.
The discounted bus travel is part of a digital flat-rate tariff available for local transport in Lippe. Passengers in the VRS can also use eezy.nrw, an easy-to-use and fair electronic tariff that bills based on the shortest connection between starting and destination points. However, it's important to note that the 1-euro ticket does not allow journeys between the cities.
In a similar vein, the city of Euskirchen, near Bonn, introduced a City-Ticket about a year ago. Costing 2.00 euros for adults and 1.00 euro for children, the City-Ticket is priced differently from the regular single ticket, with the difference covered by the city. The aim is to improve the climate and parking situation in the city.
While the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) does not offer a 1-euro ticket, other municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia have explored comparable measures to increase public transport use and reduce car traffic. These include the introduction of low-cost or flat-fare tickets for local or regional buses and trams, subsidised or promotional fares for off-peak hours or specific demographics, and the expansion of integrated ticketing systems combining multiple transport modes.
However, for precise conditions, regulations, and adaptations specific to East Westphalia-Lippe, Salzkotten, Delbrück, Bad Lippspringe, and other NRW towns, you would need to consult the relevant local transport authorities or official municipal sources. These sources typically provide the most accurate and updated details on ticket pricing, eligibility, validity, and any recent expansions or pilot programs.
For those interested, official transport websites or municipal pages where such specific information may be available can be found through a simple online search. It's always best to refer to these official sources for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
- The discounted bus travel scheme has been instrumental in promoting the development of less favored regions in North Rhine-Westphalia, providing affordable transportation options for residents and visitors.
- In a scheme similar to the one in Delbrück, Euskirchen introduced a City-Ticket to reduce car traffic and improve the climate situation, contributing to the overall development and lifestyle of the city.
- To further aid the development of less favored regions and increase public transit use, other municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia have explored implementing low-cost or flat-fare tickets, promotional fares, and integrated ticketing systems.
