On the 15. November Eurobus adjusts the operation of its three long-distance bus routes within Switzerland. This is the largest private bus companies of Switzerland announced on Wednesday. This is not terribly surprising. The buses were virtually empty through the country. Also, since low prices of the last 5 Swiss francs per trip were not able to help.

Now, the Austrian competitor, Dr. Richard wants to jump into the breach. The Sunday paper the detailed plans are available. The largest private bus company in Austria is limited to four lines, the deemed lucrative: Seven times a day in each direction it wants to drive on the route Zurich-airport–Zurich–Bern clock schedule, each four times daily per the direction of the clock schedule, the lines of Bern–Basel–Zurich and Bern–Lucerne–Zurich, twice a day in each direction on the route Zurich–Sargans–Landquart–Chur–Domat-Ems.

Additional routes or stops are currently “no issue,” says Patrick Angehrn, head of bus transport in the case of Dr. Richard. Even on the busy route Geneva–Lausanne he dare not. “We currently do not have the courage to go in the West of Switzerland. We are a German speaking company .”

The half-fare travelcard is also valid in the long-distance bus

For the journey from Zurich to Bern will require Angehrn 22.80 francs, for those of Zürich and Basel, 12 francs. Basel–Bern costs 18.60 Swiss francs, Zurich–Lucerne, 11.20 Swiss francs and Luzern–Bern, 21 francs. Owners of half-fare travelcards to as in the case of Eurobus for half the price. This is a specification of the Federal office for transport. Angehrn accepted this, because Dr. Richard understand themselves as part of the public transport of Switzerland.

Eurobus, which does not have its own booking system, used the platform of the German market leader Flixbus. Who traveled, for example, from Munich via Zurich, to Geneva, was able to book all the Tickets through the Smartphone App from Flixbus. Such cooperation Angehrn holds also conceivable. Dr. Richard has been working now with Flixbus. In Austria, all national long-distance bus lines to the Flixbus are integrated booking system. In addition, Dr. Richard travels on behalf of Flixbus several routes, including Zurich–Munich.

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What Dr. Richard to Start in Switzerland, still missing, is a concession. The request for this submitted by the Austrian, already a year ago. However, the Federal office of transport hesitated to grant it. Because, in his eyes, Dr. Richard would have the operation of the Eurobus as the first concessionaire at risk and that is not allowed according to the law. In August, the office asked a question of Dr. Richard, the timetable has to be adapted so that in the case of the departure times, a time spacing of at least one hour to those of Eurobus arise. This claim, Dr. Richard came to the end of September.

But with the by Eurobus, the hours rule is null and void. Angehrn wants to sit “in the next few days with the Federal office for transport, the optimal roadmap to develop”. His goal is to be able to the timetable change in December will start. Maybe the office need more time. Realistically, a Start-up in the spring so more.

change So that people need an “additional benefit”

During the interview with the Federal office will be taking out Angehrn, a new study of the competence centre mobility of the University of Lucerne. She comes to the conclusion, there is a demand for coaches exists in Switzerland, and it could successfully be operated, if a good offer was. The Eurobus was, however, not relative to the network, clock and operating hours “need to meet”. Important target groups such as students or visitors be learning about, not in the sense come to take the Bus instead of the train. As Dr. Richard advanced in comparison to Eurobus, the network and gaps in the roadmap to wealth, would create the Austrians “for passengers, an add-on”, according to the study.

This Text is from the current issue. Now all of the articles in the E-Paper of the Sunday newspaper, read: App for iOS App for Android – Web-App

Created: 02.11.2019, 19:34 PM