Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) has announced that bus services in Berlin will be reduced starting December 10. The city is currently grappling with a shortage of drivers.
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Changes in the schedule, expected to result in a 6% reduction in the number of regular buses in Berlin, will come into effect on December 10. According to Rolf Erfurt, the Chief Operating Officer of BVG, it has not yet been decided which bus lines will be reduced.
Bus services in Berlin will be altered starting from December 10.
Currently, there is a commitment that the reductions will be spread evenly across the city. Changes will primarily affect services provided outside of peak hours. Major schools and hospitals are expected to get a good level of transport service.
Erfurt stated that the most noticeable change will be a slight adjustment to the schedule. Therefore, although some routes may have less frequent services, larger vehicles may be used to compensate for the deficit.
"This is not a very good situation for us and passengers," Erfurt said to the Berliner Morgenpost. "It's not the quality commitment we stand for".
He also noted that this change was particularly unfortunate, as the number of passengers has now returned to pre-pandemic levels.
He also mentioned that the reduction was inevitable, given the tense labor market situation felt across the entire transport industry.
BVG's current goal is to fill 630 job positions by the end of the year.
Currently, 500 drivers have already been hired, but even if this goal is achieved, there will still be 350 fewer drivers than needed to maintain the regular schedule. This is precisely why the company has to make such drastic changes.
All passengers should stay updated on the news to avoid missing the new schedule. This will help prevent inconvenience when commuting to work or handling other important matters in the future.
Related topics:
Due to the ongoing driver shortage, BVG is encouraging lateral entrants to join the transport industry to help alleviate the issue. The public transportation system in Berlin will undergo significant changes starting December 10, affecting services outside of peak hours.
Given the labor market situation, BVG aims to fill 630 job positions by the end of the year, but even with 500 drivers already hired, there will still be a 350-driver deficit, leading to reduced bus services.
