Allgemeine Flensburger Autobusgesellschaft

The Allgemeine Flensburger Autobusgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG (AFAG) was a German transport company that operated a substantial share of the public bus network in the city of Flensburg and the surrounding Schleswig-Flensburg region until 2017. It was founded in 1925 as a cooperative of several motor vehicle drivers, making it one of the older bus operators in northern Germany. In its early years the cooperative established and expanded interurban routes linking Flensburg with Kappeln, Husum, Bredstedt and Niebüll, and between 1926 and 1928 extended services to other northern German towns such as Wismar, Wittenberge, Delmenhorst, Eckernförde and Neumünster, as well as further rural routes in the Angeln area. After the cooperative went bankrupt in 1932, Georg Zimmermann and Nis Bögh formed the new AFAG from the insolvency estate. The acquisition of another bus company, Wagner, allowed the firm to expand its coach and excursion business. Following the end of the Second World War in 1945, AFAG resumed operations with two city routes, seven interurban routes in Angeln and four further interurban routes to the west. To compensate for the closure of the Flensburg Kreisbahn, AFAG introduced the first bus routes in North Angeln in 1952 and extended them across the whole area from 1953, operating an outstation in Satrup alongside its Flensburg base. From 1961 the company was split into separate interurban and city divisions; the interurban lines were taken over by Deutsche Bundespost and continued as Kraftpost, while AFAG retained the city services. A new central administration building was occupied in 1962, and in 1971 AFAG entered a partnership with the Flensburg municipal utility's transport arm, creating the Verkehrsgemeinschaft Flensburg (VGFL), which harmonised fares and routes and introduced a joint network concept in 1976. In 1978 AFAG moved to a new depot in Flensburg's western industrial area. In 1988, together with bus operators in the Schleswig-Flensburg district, it founded the Verkehrsgemeinschaft Schleswig-Flensburg (VGSF), which from 1989 offered joint fares across the district. A new Flensburg central bus station opened in 1996, and in 1997 the company was named "Transport Operator of the Year 1997" by the International Road Transport Union (IUCR). After merger talks with Flensburger Verkehrsbetriebe collapsed in 1998, the municipal operator was temporarily taken over by Förde Reederei Seetouristik (FRS) in November 1998; in May 1999 AFAG took over FRS's entire bus operation, spun off its coach division into a subsidiary called Förde Bus GmbH & Co KG, and continued to run public transport in partnership. AFAG remained a private limited partnership (mbH & Co. KG) and was never publicly listed. After 92 years of service, the company withdrew from the Flensburg city scene, and its official website now carries a farewell message thanking passengers, employees and partners for their long cooperation.

The Allgemeine Flensburger Autobusgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG (AFAG) was founded in 1925 as a cooperative of several motor vehicle drivers. In its first years the cooperative established and expanded interurban routes between Flensburg and Kappeln, Husum, Bredstedt and Niebüll. Between 1926 and 1928 it extended scheduled services to other northern German towns including Wismar, Wittenberge, Delmenhorst, Eckernförde and Neumünster, and set up further interurban routes in the Angeln region. In 1932 the cooperative went bankrupt. Georg Zimmermann and Nis Bögh formed the new AFAG from the insolvency estate. The takeover of another bus company, Wagner, allowed the firm to expand its coach and excursion business. After the end of the Second World War in 1945, AFAG resumed operations with two city routes, seven interurban routes in Angeln and four further interurban routes heading west. To compensate for the discontinued Flensburg Kreisbahn, AFAG established the first bus routes in North Angeln in 1952 and extended them to the whole area from 1953; alongside its Flensburg base it operated an outstation in Satrup. Coach services were also offered again. In May 1952 AFAG operated a network of city and interurban lines, including routes such as 010 (Friedenshügel–Südermarkt–Fruerlund–Engelsby), 020 (Krusau (DK)–Wassersleben–Klues–Flensburg ZOB), 040 (Flensburg ZOB–Handewitt–Schafflund–Leck, 33 km), 060 (Flensburg ZOB–Bredstedt, 42 km), 070 (Falshöft–Gelting–Süderbrarup, 27 km), 080 (Flensburg ZOB–Satrup (–Sörup), 24 km), 090 (Flensburg ZOB–Husby–Sterup–Grünholz, 27 km), 100 (Flensburg ZOB–Neukirchen, 22/25 km) and 110 (Husby–Satrup, 20 km). The old Flensburg central bus station (ZOB), used mainly by AFAG, was demolished in 1954 and replaced by a new building that then served as the hub for all AFAG lines. From 1961 the company was divided into separate interurban and city transport divisions. The interurban lines were taken over by Deutsche Bundespost and continued as Kraftpost, while AFAG continued to run the city lines. A new central administration building was occupied in 1962 and the former offices at the ZOB were given up. In 1971 AFAG entered a partnership with the transport operation of the Flensburg municipal utilities, creating the Verkehrsgemeinschaft Flensburg (VGFL), which carried out joint fare harmonisation and route adjustments and introduced a new joint network concept in 1976. In 1978 AFAG moved into its depot in Flensburg's western industrial area. In summer 1979, together with the six bus lines 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8 of Stadtwerke Flensburg, AFAG operated the Flensburg city bus service with four of its own lines: 100 (ZOB–Südermarkt–Fruerlund–Engelsby–Rude–ZOB, weekdays only), 110 (Kaserne Weiche–Friedenshügel–Südermarkt–Fruerlund–Engelsby–Twedter Plack), 120 (Kaserne Weiche–Bf. Weiche–Rude–Südermarkt/Deutsches Haus–ZOB) and 130 (ZOB–Sandberg–Hafermarkt–ZOB, hourly on weekdays only). In 1988, together with the bus operators in the Schleswig-Flensburg district, AFAG founded the Verkehrsgemeinschaft Schleswig-Flensburg (VGSF), which in 1989, after a cooperation agreement, was supplemented by joint fares for the entire district. In 1996 the new and modern Flensburg central bus station was opened. In 1997 the company AFAG GmbH & Co KG was named "Transport Operator of the Year 1997" by the International Road Transport Union (IUCR). From the beginning of 1998 talks were held about a merger with Flensburger Verkehrsbetriebe, but these were abandoned without result during the year. Flensburger Verkehrsbetriebe was then temporarily taken over on 10 November 1998 by Förde Reederei Seetouristik (FRS). In May 1999 AFAG took over the entire bus operation of Förde-Reederei and fully spun off the coach division, founding the subsidiary Förde Bus GmbH & Co KG from it and continuing the public transport partnership. After 92 years, AFAG withdrew from the Flensburg city scene; its website now displays a farewell message thanking all passengers, employees and partners for the many years of good cooperation.

• 2017

  AFAG ceased operating bus lines in Flensburg; after 92 years it withdrew from the city scene.

• 1999

  AFAG took over FRS's entire bus operation and spun off coach division into Förde Bus GmbH & Co KG.

• 1998

  Merger talks with Flensburger Verkehrsbetriebe abandoned; FRS temporarily took over Flensburger Verkehrsbetriebe.

• 1997

  Named "Transport Operator of the Year 1997" by the International Road Transport Union (IUCR).

• 1996

  New modern Flensburg central bus station opened.

• 1989

  VGSF introduced joint fares for the entire Schleswig-Flensburg district.

• 1988

  Co-founded Verkehrsgemeinschaft Schleswig-Flensburg (VGSF).

• 1978

  Moved into new depot in Flensburg's western industrial area.

• 1976

  VGFL introduced a new joint network concept.

• 1971

  Partnership with Flensburg municipal utility transport arm created Verkehrsgemeinschaft Flensburg (VGFL).

• 1962

  New central administration building occupied.

• 1961

  Company split into separate interurban and city transport divisions; interurban lines taken over by Deutsche Bundespost.

• 1954

  Old Flensburg ZOB demolished and replaced by a new central bus station used by AFAG.

• 1953

  Extended North Angeln services to the whole area.

• 1952

  Established first bus routes in North Angeln to compensate for the discontinued Flensburg Kreisbahn.

• 1945

  Resumed operations after World War II with two city routes and eleven interurban routes.

• 1932

  Cooperative went bankrupt; Georg Zimmermann and Nis Bögh formed the new AFAG from the insolvency estate.

• 1928

  Further interurban routes established in the Angeln region.

• 1926

  Began extending scheduled services to other northern German towns.

• 1925

  Founded as a cooperative of several motor vehicle drivers.

Regional public transport and coach operator serving Flensburg and the Schleswig-Flensburg district; a long-established private bus company integrated into regional fare communities.

• City bus lines in Flensburg

  Urban public transport routes operated under the Flensburg city bus network.

• Interurban bus lines

  Regional routes linking Flensburg with Kappeln, Husum, Bredstedt, Niebüll and other towns.

• Coach and excursion services

  Coach travel expanded through the acquisition of bus company Wagner.

• North Angeln bus services

  Routes established from 1952 to replace the discontinued Flensburg Kreisbahn.

1. 1AFAG Bus official websiteafag-bus.de
2. 2Allgemeine Flensburger Autobusgesellschaft – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Allgemeine Flensburger Autobusgesellschaft – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org