Kreisverkehrsbetriebe Saarlouis

Kreisverkehrsbetriebe Saarlouis GmbH (KVS GmbH), commonly shortened to KVS, is a local public transport (ÖPNV) company based in the town of Saarlouis in the Saarland region of Germany. It operates bus services across the Saarlouis district and on selected routes into neighbouring areas, and it is a member of the Saarland-wide transport association, the SaarVV. The company traces its origins to 1913, when it was founded as a stock corporation active both in electricity generation and in operating trams and light rail vehicles in the Saarlouis district. Over the twentieth century it evolved from a tram operator into a bus company, rebuilt its network after the Second World War, and progressively modernised its fleet. Today KVS is structured as a GmbH (private limited company). Its operational transport business was transferred from the former KVS AG to KVS GmbH at the end of 2001, while KVS AG remains the owner of the real estate and a co-owner of KVS GmbH. The company's service area covers the Saarlouis district, with individual lines also serving Düppenweiler in the Merzig-Wadern district, Völklingen in the Regionalverband Saarbrücken, and the St. Wendel district. KVS is a founding member of the SaarVV transport association, established in 2005, and since 2006 uniform route numbers have been used throughout Saarland, with numbers beginning with 400 allocated to the Saarlouis district. KVS operates a range of bus-based services, including regular scheduled routes, school buses, on-demand services (Rufbus) and shared taxis (Sammeltaxi). Its website provides timetable information, a fare calculator, tickets and tariffs, current traffic news, a lost property office and a customer feedback channel. The company has invested in accessibility and environmental standards, purchasing low-floor buses regularly since 2007, Euro 5 vehicles from 2008 and Euro 6 vehicles from 2014, and equipping newly purchased buses with folding ramps at the second door since 1997. In 2010 it introduced Solaris and Scania buses after more than 180 Mercedes-KOM vehicles. KVS celebrated its 100th anniversary in April 2013 with a ceremony and a staff party.

Kreisverkehrsbetriebe Saarlouis (KVS) was founded in 1913 as a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft). In its early decades it was active both as an electricity generation company and as an operator of trams and light rail vehicles in the Saarlouis district, with the town of Saarlouis taking over the narrow-gauge track. In 1925 the network reached its maximum length of 75 km with the opening of line 9 to Creutzwald in France. In 1928, electrically powered bus lines (trolleybuses) were established. After the destruction of the Second World War, the network was almost entirely rebuilt by 1947, reaching 73.5 km. Between 1953 and 1963 the tram network was converted to buses, with French-built buses being replaced by German buses from 1960 onwards. In 1972 the current depot along Am Kleinbahnhof street (the former freight station) was put into service, and the first standard regular buses were purchased. In 1993 the first low-floor buses were bought and a timetable information system was introduced, which was also offered on the homepage from 1996. Since 1994 it has been possible to influence traffic lights for KVS buses in the Saarlouis urban area. Since 1997, all newly purchased KVS buses have been equipped with folding ramps at the second door for barrier-free access. KVG was founded in 1997 as a subsidiary of KVS AG. At the end of 2001, the operational services of Kreis-Verkehrsbetriebe Saarlouis AG were transferred to KVS GmbH, which has since been responsible for operations. KVS AG remains the owner of the real estate and a co-owner of KVS GmbH. In 2005, KVS GmbH became a founding member of the Saarland transport association (saarVV). The following year, uniform route numbers were introduced throughout Saarland, with numbers beginning with 400 allocated to the Saarlouis district; some of the old tram line numbers are still visible. Since 2007, KVS has regularly purchased low-entry buses, from 2008 according to the Euro 5 standard and from 2014 according to the Euro 6 standard. Solaris and Scania buses were put into service in 2010 for the first time after more than 180 Mercedes-KOMs. The 100th anniversary was celebrated with a ceremony on 19 April 2013 and a staff party on 20 April 2013.

• 2014

  New buses purchased according to the Euro 6 standard.

• 2013

  100th anniversary celebrated with a ceremony on 19 April and a staff party on 20 April.

• 2010

  Solaris and Scania buses put into service for the first time after more than 180 Mercedes-KOMs.

• 2008

  New buses purchased according to the Euro 5 standard.

• 2007

  KVS begins regularly purchasing low-entry buses.

• 2006

  Uniform route numbers introduced throughout Saarland; numbers beginning with 400 allocated to the Saarlouis district.

• 2005

  KVS GmbH becomes a founding member of the Saarland transport association (saarVV).

• 2001

  Operational services transferred from KVS AG to KVS GmbH, which has since been responsible for operations.

• 1997

  KVG founded as a subsidiary of KVS AG; all newly purchased buses equipped with folding ramps at the second door.

• 1996

  Timetable information system also offered on the homepage.

• 1994

  KVS buses able to influence traffic lights in the Saarlouis urban area.

• 1993

  First low-floor buses purchased and a timetable information system introduced.

• 1972

  Current depot along Am Kleinbahnhof street put into service; first standard regular buses purchased.

• 1960

  French-built buses begin to be replaced by German buses.

• 1953

  Start of conversion of the tram network to buses (completed by 1963).

• 1947

  Network almost entirely rebuilt after wartime destruction, reaching 73.5 km.

• 1928

  Electrically powered bus lines (trolleybuses) established.

• 1925

  Network reaches its maximum length of 75 km with the opening of line 9 to Creutzwald, France.

• 1913

  KVS founded as a stock corporation active in electricity generation and tram/light rail operation in the Saarlouis district.

Municipal public transport operator providing accessible, environmentally modern bus services within the SaarVV integrated network.

• Local bus services

  Scheduled bus routes covering the Saarlouis district and selected lines into neighbouring districts.

• School buses

  Dedicated school transport services.

• Rufbus (on-demand bus)

  On-demand bus service for flexible travel.

• Sammeltaxi (shared taxi)

  Shared taxi service complementing regular bus routes.

• Timetable information and fare calculator

  Online tools for journey planning and fare calculation.

• Bus advertising

  Advertising space on KVS buses.

1. 1KVS GmbH - Öffentlicher Nahverkehr im Landkreis Saarlouis | KVS GmbHkvs.de
2. 2Kreisverkehrsbetriebe Saarlouis - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3KVS Sarrelouis - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org