- Alternative traffic on the track
Replacement traffic on the closed Riedbahn is running smoothly, according to Deutsche Bahn. The service is well-received, with up to 16,000 people using the pink buses daily, the company reported. Initial issues with some digital displays in the buses showing incorrect information have been resolved.
"We're very satisfied with the first days and weeks," a spokesperson said. The Frankfurt-Mannheim railway line is closed for five months for a general overhaul.
Work on the construction site is proceeding as planned, the spokesperson said. During the five-month construction period until December 2024, regional trains and S-Bahns will be replaced by bus services. Long-distance and freight trains will continue on detour routes.
Over 1,000 daily trips
The buses run on 12 regional lines every 5 to 15 minutes, totaling over 1,000 trips per day. The frequent service aims to prevent many people from switching to cars. The Bahn is promoting this as the largest replacement traffic operation to date, and it serves as a blueprint for future general overhauls across Germany.
The passenger association Pro Bahn praised the frequent service. No major issues have been reported so far, said Thomas Mroczek of the Hessian state association. After the summer holidays, the concept will need to prove its effectiveness under full load, with students and workers also using the service.
German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) is utilizing buses as a replacement for the closed Frankfurt-Mannheim railway line, which is undergoing a five-month overhaul. These buses are operating on over 12 regional lines, making over 1,000 daily trips, provided by German Railways' replacement traffic operation, the largest to date.
