Omnibusverkehr Zügel

Omnibusverkehr Zügel is a private, family-owned bus company and travel operator headquartered in Wüstenrot in the Landkreis Heilbronn, in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It was founded in 1931 by Ernst Zügel, then 23 years old, who began with taxi services and patient transport using a Hanomag car. Two years later he converted a truck into his first bus and opened a scheduled service between Heilbronn and Wüstenrot. The company has remained in family hands and today operates scheduled routes, occasional and charter services, and its own travel agency under the Zügel Reisen brand. Within the Heilbronner Hohenloher Haller Nahverkehr (HNV) transport association, Zügel operates two bus routes under its own concession, and it also runs further scheduled services as a subcontractor for Regional Bus Stuttgart (RBS). The company maintains two locations: its main office in Wüstenrot and a second depot in Mainhardt-Bubenorbis, acquired through the takeover of Auto Braun on 1 January 2008. Alongside local public transport, Zügel Reisen organises coach holidays and excursions, advertising destinations such as the Zillertal Arena in Austria and South Tyrol, and publishes seasonal travel catalogues. The business has been shaped by decades of cooperation with regional transport partners. From 1987 the Bahnbus (successor to the Kraftpost) and Zügel mutually accepted each other's tickets at weekends, and from 1 August 1989 this cooperation with Regional Bus Stuttgart was extended to all days of the week with coordinated timetables — a model that served as an example for other partnerships in the Heilbronn district. Since 1997 Omnibusverkehr Zügel has been a cooperation partner of the Heilbronner Verkehrsverbund (HNV). In 2021 the company celebrated its 90th anniversary. It remains a mid-sized, regionally rooted private operator combining public-service bus transport with a travel-agency and coach-tour business.

Omnibusverkehr Zügel was founded in 1931 by Ernst Zügel, who was 23 years old at the time. He initially offered taxi rides and patient transport with a Hanomag car. Two years later he put a converted truck into service as his first bus, opening a scheduled route between Heilbronn and Wüstenrot. In 1934 the company acquired its first omnibus, and in 1935 its first brand-new touring coach. During 1936 and 1937 the fleet was expanded with further used buses. Between 1939 and 1945 the buses were partly requisitioned for wartime service and, because of fuel shortages, converted to wood gas (Holzvergaser) operation. After 1945 a rivalry developed between Zügel's route and the Kraftpost, which also ran a line between Heilbronn and Wüstenrot. From 1987 the Bahnbus, successor to the Kraftpost, and Zügel mutually accepted each other's tickets at weekends and jointly publicised weekend services. Cooperation between Heilbronn, the Sulmtal and the Löwensteiner Berge with Regional Bus Stuttgart was strengthened from 1 August 1989: from that date tickets were mutually recognised on all days of the week and timetables were coordinated. Within the Landkreis Heilbronn this model served as a template for further cooperation agreements. Since 1997 Omnibusverkehr Zügel has been a cooperation partner of the Heilbronner Verkehrsverbund (HNV). On 1 January 2008 Omnibusverkehr Zügel took over the company Auto Braun from Bubenorbis, where Zügel's second depot is now located. In 2021 the company was able to celebrate its 90th company anniversary. The firm has also experimented with tourism-oriented services: after a trial phase in autumn 2011, from May to October 2012 Zügel deployed buses with a bicycle trailer carrying up to 20 bicycles on weekends and public holidays on HNV line 635, supported by the tourism associations Heilbronner Land and Hohenlohe, in order to open up the Löwensteiner Berge better for cycling tourism.

• 2021

  The company celebrates its 90th anniversary.

• 2012

  From May to October buses with bicycle trailers run on HNV line 635 at weekends and on public holidays.

• 2011

  A trial phase for a bicycle bus takes place in autumn.

• 2008

  On 1 January the company takes over Auto Braun of Bubenorbis, establishing a second depot.

• 1997

  Omnibusverkehr Zügel becomes a cooperation partner of the Heilbronner Verkehrsverbund (HNV).

• 1989

  From 1 August, cooperation with Regional Bus Stuttgart is extended to all days of the week with coordinated timetables.

• 1987

  The Bahnbus and Zügel mutually accept each other's tickets at weekends.

• 1939

  During the war years buses are partly requisitioned and converted to wood gas due to fuel shortages (through 1945).

• 1936

  The fleet is expanded with further used buses (through 1937).

• 1935

  The first brand-new touring coach is acquired.

• 1934

  The first omnibus joins the fleet.

• 1933

  A converted truck is used as the first bus, opening a scheduled route between Heilbronn and Wüstenrot.

• 1931

  Ernst Zügel, aged 23, founds the company, offering taxi rides and patient transport with a Hanomag car.

Regional, family-run full-service bus operator and travel organiser combining public transport contracts with a travel agency and coach-tour business.

• Scheduled bus services (Linienverkehr)

  Two HNV routes operated under own concession, plus further routes as a subcontractor for Regional Bus Stuttgart.

• Occasional and charter services (Gelegenheitsverkehr)

  Coach hire and group travel services.

• Coach holiday tours

  Organised holiday trips advertised under the Zügel Reisen brand, e.g. to the Zillertal Arena and South Tyrol.

• Travel agency

  The company operates its own travel agency.

• Bicycle bus

  Buses with a bicycle trailer for up to 20 bicycles on HNV line 635 (2012).

1. 1Zügel Reisen official websitezuegel-reisen.de
2. 2Services/Kataloge | Zügel Reisenzuegel-reisen.de
3. 3Über uns | Zügel Reisenzuegel-reisen.de
4. 4Firmengeschichte | Zügel Reisenzuegel-reisen.de
5. 5Omnibusverkehr Zügel – Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Omnibusverkehr Zügel – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org