Verkehr und Wasser GmbH

Verkehr und Wasser GmbH (VWG) is a municipal company based in Oldenburg (Oldb), Germany, whose business purpose combines public bus transport in the city of Oldenburg and adjacent areas with the drinking water supply for the city. The company is owned 74% by the City of Oldenburg and 26% by EWE VERTRIEB GmbH. It is a transport provider within the Verkehrsverbund Bremen/Niedersachsen (VBN) and operates the Oldenburg bus network under a public service contract awarded in 2017, covering the concession period from June 2018 to June 2028. The drinking water concession was granted by the City of Oldenburg for the period 2018 to 2047. VWG's bus network uses three-digit line numbers beginning with 3, corresponding to the VBN fare zone. The company operates a fleet that has transitioned from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and, more recently, to hydrogen fuel-cell buses. It runs night bus lines and has introduced digital services such as the "VWG – Abos im VBN" app for managing subscriptions. In 2025 it launched the SEB pilot project ("Samstags einfach Bus fahren"), offering free public transport on Saturdays within fare zone I (Oldenburg). The company is headquartered at Felix-Wankel-Straße 9 in Oldenburg and is registered at the Amtsgericht Oldenburg under HRB 18 43. Its managing directors are Torsten Reh and Jacqueline Zytur. VWG's history dates back to 1985, when the company was formed; it celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2010. It has continuously modernized its fleet, introducing barrier-free low-floor buses in 1994, air-conditioned buses in the early 2000s, and a night bus network in 2004. Since 2005, new buses have been exclusively air-conditioned natural gas vehicles. The last diesel bus was retired in 2016. In 2018, 26 new natural gas buses entered service, expanding the fleet from 97 to 103 vehicles; further additions brought the fleet to 111 vehicles by 2020. In early 2023, four hydrogen fuel-cell buses were put into operation. The company aims to increase annual passenger numbers from over 20 million in 2018 to 30 million within ten years. VWG is a member of the Verkehrsverbund Bremen/Niedersachsen (VBN) and provides transport services on behalf of the Zweckverband Verkehrsverbund Bremen/Niedersachsen (ZVBN). It offers various ticket products, including the VBN ticket, MIA subscription, BOB account ticket, TIM youth subscription, and the Jugendfreizeitticket. The company also operates the SEB free Saturday transport pilot and manages bus lines serving the Oldenburger Kramermarkt and other events.

The history of public transport in Oldenburg before the founding of VWG was shaped by the Oldenburger Vorortbahnen Pekol GmbH, which operated the city transport from 1933 to 1985 and ran several trolleybus lines between 1936 and 1957. Verkehr und Wasser GmbH was established in 1985, taking over the city bus operations. In the 1980s and early 1990s, the fleet was characterized by grass-green VÖV standard line buses of the first generation, such as the MAN SL 200 and Mercedes-Benz O 305. In 1987, the first VÖV-II standard buses, ten Mercedes-Benz O 405, entered service, followed by MAN SL 202 buses. In 1989, Mercedes-Benz buses with lifts were introduced to improve accessibility for passengers with limited mobility. Barrier-free bus travel became possible in 1994 with the acquisition of eight Mercedes-Benz O 405 N low-floor buses. In 1999, the first Mercedes-Benz Citaro appeared in Oldenburg. After the establishment of the Verkehrsverbund Bremen/Niedersachsen (VBN) in 1996, VWG introduced three-digit line numbers beginning with 3. After the turn of the millennium, Michael Emschermann became managing director in 2001, serving until 2025. He initiated a restructuring of the Oldenburg bus network implemented in 2002. In 2001, the fleet comprised 90 buses. Emschermann oversaw the procurement of MAN NL 263 comfort buses with air conditioning, followed by numerous air-conditioned Citaro buses in 2003. A night bus network was introduced in 2004. Since 2005, VWG has purchased exclusively air-conditioned natural gas buses. In 2007, controlled front boarding with visual ticket inspection began, and the conversion of over 600 stops to low-floor accessibility was completed. In October 2009, natural gas articulated buses from Nordbus GmbH (fleet numbers 090–095) were the first to be equipped with interior cameras and TFT monitors showing the next five stops and line number. In 2010, VWG celebrated its 25th anniversary. In an interview, Emschermann indicated that further natural gas buses would be acquired until 2016, with a long-term vision of all-electric buses. The last diesel bus was retired in 2016. In autumn 2018, 26 new natural gas buses entered service, expanding the fleet from 97 to 103 vehicles. In 2019–2020, 25 more new vehicles were added, bringing the fleet to 111. The company set a goal to increase annual passenger numbers from over 20 million in 2018 to 30 million within ten years, focusing on hydrogen as an energy carrier rather than battery-electric buses. Following a city council decision in 2020, four hydrogen fuel-cell buses were put into operation in early 2023. A new workshop for non-natural-gas buses was completed at the end of 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic caused passenger numbers to drop by over 30% in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019. Revenue losses for 2020, 2021, and 2022 were compensated through the Lower Saxony public transport rescue package with federal participation; the loss for 2020 amounted to 3.3 million euros. The state funded additional trips during peak times. In 2020, one new bus was added, and in 2021, five more. In 2024, VWG announced the SEB pilot project for free Saturday bus travel in fare zone I, starting 4 January 2025. The company continues to operate under a public service contract awarded in 2017 for the period June 2018 to June 2028, and holds the drinking water concession from 2018 to 2047.

• 2025

  SEB pilot project for free Saturday bus travel in fare zone I starts on 4 January.

• 2023

  Four hydrogen fuel-cell buses put into operation; new workshop for non-natural-gas buses completed.

• 2020

  City council decision to pursue hydrogen fuel-cell buses.

• 2019

  Further fleet expansion begins, adding 25 new vehicles by 2020, bringing total to 111.

• 2018

  26 new natural gas buses enter service; fleet expands from 97 to 103 vehicles; annual passengers exceed 20 million for the first time.

• 2016

  Last diesel bus retired from service.

• 2010

  VWG celebrates 25th anniversary.

• 2009

  First natural gas articulated buses with interior cameras and TFT monitors enter service.

• 2007

  Controlled front boarding with visual ticket inspection begins; conversion of over 600 stops to low-floor accessibility completed.

• 2005

  VWG begins purchasing exclusively air-conditioned natural gas buses.

• 2004

  Night bus network introduced in Oldenburg.

• 2003

  Numerous air-conditioned Citaro buses acquired.

• 2002

  Restructuring of the Oldenburg bus network implemented.

• 2001

  Michael Emschermann becomes managing director; fleet comprises 90 buses.

• 1999

  First Mercedes-Benz Citaro appears in Oldenburg.

• 1996

  Verkehrsverbund Bremen/Niedersachsen (VBN) established; VWG introduces three-digit line numbers starting with 3.

• 1994

  Barrier-free bus travel becomes possible with eight Mercedes-Benz O 405 N low-floor buses.

• 1989

  First buses with lifts for passengers with limited mobility introduced.

• 1987

  First VÖV-II standard buses (Mercedes-Benz O 405) enter service.

• 1985

  Verkehr und Wasser GmbH founded, taking over Oldenburg city bus operations.

Municipal public transport and water utility focused on sustainable mobility, digital ticketing, and conversion to alternative drive technologies.

• VBN integrated ticket

  One ticket, one tariff across the Verkehrsverbund Bremen/Niedersachsen.

• MIA subscription

  Subscription ticket for regular commuters.

• BOB account ticket

  Account-based ticket product.

• TIM youth subscription

  Subscription ticket for young people.

• Jugendfreizeitticket

  Leisure ticket for youth.

• SEB – Samstags einfach Bus fahren

  Free bus travel on Saturdays within fare zone I (Oldenburg) starting 2025.

• VWG – Abos im VBN app

  Digital app for managing subscriptions.

1. 1VWG - Ihr Busunternehmen für Oldenburgvwg.de
2. 2Über uns / Presse - Verkehr und Wasser GmbH (VWG)vwg.de
3. 3Über uns / Aktuelles - Verkehr und Wasser GmbH (VWG)vwg.de
4. 4Über uns / Impressum - Verkehr und Wasser GmbH (VWG)vwg.de
5. 5Verkehr und Wasser - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Verkehr und Wasser - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org