Verkehrsgesellschaft Bad Kreuznach

Verkehrsgesellschaft Bad Kreuznach (VGK) was the municipal public transport operator for the town of Bad Kreuznach in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Its origins lie in the Städtische Betriebs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft Bad Kreuznach GmbH (StBVG), founded in 1926, which took over the town's tramways and later introduced buses. The company ran trams until 1953 and thereafter operated an urban and regional bus network. In 1994 it was restructured and renamed Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH Bad Kreuznach (VGK). On 1 January 2000 the town sold the company to the French state-owned group Cariane and the firm Martin Becker of Altenkirchen for a symbolic price of one Deutsche Mark. In 2002 Rhenus Keolis acquired all shares; following the split of Rhenus Keolis, Rhenus Veniro (later Transdev Verkehr GmbH) became sole shareholder on 1 December 2007. In 2014 Stadtbus Bad Kreuznach GmbH (SBK) was founded, and from 1 January 2016 until the end of 2022 it provided the VGK's public transport services in and around Bad Kreuznach. In 2022 operation of the bus network and the former ORN regional bus lines was taken over by KRN Kommunalverkehr Rhein-Nahe GmbH, and SBK ended its cooperation with Transdev Verkehr GmbH on 16 October 2022. The brand is therefore now defunct as an operating transport undertaking, its services having passed to KRN.

The history of public transport in Bad Kreuznach begins with the Kreuznacher Straßen- und Vorortbahnen, which operated trams between 1906 and 1953. On 24 January 1924 the tramway passed to Rhein-Nahe Kraftversorgungs-AG, and two years later, on 11 March 1926, it was transferred to the newly founded Städtische Betriebs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft Bad Kreuznach GmbH (StBVG), where it remained until tram operations ceased in 1953. In 1928 the StBVG first deployed omnibuses, serving Winzenheim, Volxheim, Neu-Bamberg, Mandel, Argenschwang and Sommerloch. From 1952 buses were also used on tram lines and completely took over traffic on them after the trams stopped. Further lines into the surrounding area followed to Stromberg (1950) and Gaugrehweiler (1954). The line to Stromberg was handed to Deutsche Bundesbahn in 1958, which served it with its Bahnbus; in compensation the StBVG received the lines from Bad Kreuznach to Rüdesheim and Roxheim and to Bretzenheim. Conductor operations were abolished in 1966. In 1969 the central bus station was moved from the Kornmarkt to the station forecourt, and in the same year the first StBVG buses ran to the newly incorporated villages of Ippesheim and Planig, while Bosenheim and Winzenheim were also incorporated into Bad Kreuznach. The route to Bretzenheim was handed to Deutsche Bundesbahn in 1974. The former tram depot was demolished in 1977, and on that site a new washing and care hall for the StBVG vehicles was built. In 1981 the new depot was completed, and in the same year the first articulated buses entered service. In 1990 low-floor buses with ramps were procured for the first time, offering better comfort for the mobility-impaired, wheelchair users and passengers with prams. Since 1997 bus stops have also been adapted to the new standard, enabling almost step-free boarding. The livery of the buses changed in 1990 from the previous beige to the Kreuznach town colours of blue and white. In 2006 the colour concept of Rhenus Keolis was adopted, with white as the base colour and melon yellow and traffic blue as trim. In the 1994/95 timetable year a city bus line circled the inner town, but due to the short distances passenger numbers were too low and the line was discontinued after only one year. Also in 1994 a park-and-ride service was introduced, with buses running from the Pfingstwiese car park to the station; however, from 1995 a fare had to be charged because the town, in a strained financial situation, no longer paid subsidies. As a result passenger numbers fell drastically and the shuttle service was abandoned in 1997. Connections to Gaugrehweiler, Rüdesheim, Hargesheim, Roxheim, Wöllstein, Siefersheim and Stein-Bockenheim were taken over between 1994 and 1997 by Omnibusverkehr Rhein-Nahe (formerly Bahnbus) and the firm Sticht. Since 1996 Bad Kreuznach has had an Anruf-Sammel-Taxi (AST); bus lines run only until 8 p.m., after which passengers can get home comfortably by AST. The Rhein-Nahe-Nahverkehrsverbund started in 1999, and the VGK was a member from the beginning. Following privatisation in 2000, the private firm Sticht was acquired in July 2000, so the VGK again served Wöllstein and, because of a new regional school, also introduced lines to Neu-Bamberg, Fürfeld and Frei-Laubersheim; later the Bad Münster – Hochstätten line was added. Under the new operators the network was restructured in December 2002 and, as far as possible, an attractive and fast 15-minute interval was introduced. In 2016 and 2017 the network was replanned again: line 204 now runs from Winzenheim via the former General Rose conversion area to the Hohe Bell, line 205 was connected to the Justiz and Markus centres, and line 206 additionally serves the Am Grenzgraben/Seeberflur commercial area. Further changes are pending due to the new residential areas 'An den Weingärten' and 'Hospital/Rheingrafenblick'. Stadtbus Bad Kreuznach GmbH ended its cooperation with Transdev Verkehr GmbH on 16 October 2022, as a new operator for the network was found and the long era was handed over. KRN Kommunalverkehr Rhein-Nahe GmbH has acted as successor since October 2022.

• 2016

  From 1 January SBK provides VGK's public transport services.

• 2014

  Stadtbus Bad Kreuznach GmbH (SBK) founded.

• 2007

  On 1 December Rhenus Veniro becomes sole shareholder after split of Rhenus Keolis.

• 2006

  Rhenus Keolis colour concept adopted (white with melon yellow and traffic blue).

• 2002

  Rhenus Keolis takes over all shares; network restructured in December with 15-minute interval.

• 2000

  On 1 January the town sells VGK to Cariane and Martin Becker for one Deutsche Mark; in July the private firm Sticht is acquired.

• 1999

  Rhein-Nahe-Nahverkehrsverbund starts; VGK is a founding member.

• 1997

  Park-and-ride shuttle abandoned; bus stops begin adaptation for step-free access.

• 1996

  Anruf-Sammel-Taxi (AST) introduced.

• 1994

  StBVG restructured and renamed Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH Bad Kreuznach (VGK); city bus line and park-and-ride introduced.

• 1990

  First low-floor buses with ramps procured; livery changes from beige to blue and white.

• 1981

  New depot completed; first articulated buses enter service.

• 1977

  Former tram depot demolished; new washing and care hall built on site.

• 1974

  Route to Bretzenheim handed to Deutsche Bundesbahn.

• 1969

  Central bus station moved from Kornmarkt to station forecourt; first buses to Ippesheim and Planig.

• 1966

  Conductor operations abolished.

• 1958

  Line to Stromberg handed to Deutsche Bundesbahn; StBVG receives lines to Rüdesheim, Roxheim and Bretzenheim.

• 1954

  Bus line to Gaugrehweiler opened.

• 1953

  Tram operations cease; buses take over completely.

• 1950

  Bus line to Stromberg opened.

• 1928

  First omnibuses deployed by StBVG.

• 1926

  Städtische Betriebs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft Bad Kreuznach GmbH (StBVG) founded on 11 March.

• 1924

  Tramway passes to Rhein-Nahe Kraftversorgungs-AG on 24 January.

• 1906

  Trams of the Kreuznacher Straßen- und Vorortbahnen begin operating in Bad Kreuznach.

Municipal public transport operator serving Bad Kreuznach and its surrounding region, later a subsidiary within the Transdev group.

• City bus network (Stadtverkehr)

  Urban bus lines serving Bad Kreuznach, including lines 201, 202, 203 and others.

• Regional bus lines

  Regional bus services to surrounding towns and villages, including former ORN lines.

• Anruf-Sammel-Taxi (AST)

  On-demand shared taxi service operating after bus hours since 1996.

• Park-and-ride service

  Shuttle service from Pfingstwiese car park to the station, operated 1994–1997.

1. 1Verkehrsgesellschaft Bad Kreuznach - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Verkehrsgesellschaft Bad Kreuznach - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org