At the same time as some changes in rail traffic, all timetables for the over 500 bus routes operated by Niederösterreichische Verkehrsorganizations Ges.mbH (NÖVOG) will be changed to the new timetable year on December 15th. NÖVOG is consistently focusing on even greater proximity to customers and greater quality in public transport.
“The total of 321 improvements in the timetable structure of the NÖVOG buses provide passengers with better connections, more punctuality, more reliability and, ultimately, many additional connections in Lower Austria’s public transport. For our commuters and students, this means greater planning security because they have to get to work or school on time,” informs Lower Austrian Transport Regional Councilor LH Deputy Udo Landbauer. “In total, the Lower Austrian regional buses travel around 64 million km per year, which corresponds to around 1,600 trips around the world,” continued Landbauer.
There are over 500 bus lines and an increasing number of demand-driven services (collective taxis, AST) in Lower Austria to transport passengers from A to B quickly, comfortably and reliably. With its around 30 timetable experts, NÖVOG ensures that the individual offers mesh together in the best possible way – for example through connections between buses and trains, but also between individual bus routes. Of the 321 changes, 32 have a high network impact, i.e. completely new bus connections, and 146 have a medium network impact – these include new transfer connections or better adjustments to school times. 133 changes have a low network impact. The experts at NÖVOG understand this to mean, for example, interventions in the timetable in order to make transfers safer or more convenient or to lead to more punctuality. Even smaller measures like this can have a big impact on passengers.
“In some cases, it only takes a few minutes to shift the schedule, which ensures that the timetable not only looks good on paper, but can also be put on the road reliably and safely. Our timetable experts have therefore implemented hundreds of improvements through intensive detailed work and improved a very wide range of public transport, especially in terms of quality,” add NÖVOG managing directors Wolfgang Schroll and Michael Hasenöhrl. All new connections are entered into the VAO (Traffic Information Austria) database and can already be accessed using modern route planners such as AnachB.vor.at or via Scotty.
In the Waldviertel, where regional buses drive over 7.7 million kilometers per year and have around 1,300 stops, bus line 701 (Krems – Weinzierl am Walde – Albrechtsberg – Kottes), for example, will in future have a two-hour service between Krems and Kottes with a connection to the Franz-Josefs-Bahn in Krems as well as additional connections after classes end at 12:00 p.m. and 4:22 p.m. from Els Middle School to Krems train station or to Kottes Marktplatz.
In the Weinviertel, the regional buses commissioned by NÖVOG run over 13 million kilometers annually and have around 1,400 stops. Here, course 119 – line 812 (Hollabrunn – Wullersdorf – Mailberg – Großharras) – will also run across the school campus from mid-December after the learning hour in the VS Hollabrunn has ended at 3:05 p.m.
In the Mostviertel, regional buses travel over 6.2 million kilometers every year and make around 1,300 stops. There will be changes here in the future, for example on line 630 (Pichl – Weyer – Gaflenz – Waidhofen/Ybbs): In the future, route 103 will start from Pichlhöhe and from there connect to the regional train towards Amstetten.
In the industrial district, the regional buses commissioned by NÖVOG travel over 17.7 million kilometers annually, stopping at around 2,100 stops. Changes here affect lines 352 (Neunkirchen – Unterhöflein – Grünbach/Schneeberg) and 355 (Neunkirchen – Wartmannstetten – Schönstadl): There are now additional trips here to establish the connection from the NMS Neunkirchen to Mollram or Schönstadl.
In the Lower Austrian central area, where regional buses run over 14.7 kilometers and have around 1,900 stops, the timetable for line 140 (Stockerau Bahnhof – Tulln – Tullnerfeld Bahnhof) will be adapted from December 15th: postponement of all trips on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays by +2 minutes to ensure transfers from the train in Tullnerfeld Bhf and Tulln Bhf towards Stockerau.
Further information from Georg Huemer, press spokesman for NÖVOG, email: georg.huemer@noevog.at, www.noevog.at