Around 1,500 passengers travel on bus routes 360/261 between Mauthausen and Linz on weekdays. And the number is increasing every year: in 2023, demand rose by around 20 percent. “This makes this line one of the most successful in the state. Recently, however, we have already reached the capacity limit here during peak hours,” says Gerold Markgraf, who is responsible for route planning in the Mühlviertel at the OÖ Verkehrsverbund.
This increase is the reason why the new regional bus concept “Donauraum Perg” was expanded, particularly along federal highway 3: In the morning and evening, buses will run between Mauthausen and Linz every 15 minutes. They will not only stop at the chemical park and the main train station, but also at Linz harbor with a new line. Another main route on which more buses than before will be running from August is the route from Linz to Pregarten (line 345).
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In addition, a direct connection between Perg and Hagenberg with stops in the software park and the agricultural education center will be introduced for the first time. The timetable will also be condensed between the Grein and Amstetten train stations to improve the connection between the eastern district of Perg and the Westbahn. “There is increasing demand for public transport in Upper Austria. That is why we are continuously investing in an even better timetable,” says mobility minister Günther Steinkellner (FP)
Three years of planning work went into the regional bus concept presented on Wednesday. For the first time since 2014, all routes were subject to a Europe-wide tender. This resulted in some changes to the bus companies that will be operating for the OÖVV in the coming decade. As before, most of the routes will be run by Wilhelm Welser from Traun and Baumgartner from Königswiesen. The new provider is the company “sabtours”. It is mainly taking over the previous Postbus routes. The companies Baumfried and Naderer as well as ÖBB-Postbus AG are working as subcontractors.
With the launch of the new regional bus concept, the bus fleet will also be completely renewed. Modern, air-conditioned low-floor buses with free WiFi, USB charging stations directly at the seats and automatic stop information will operate on almost all routes. Tickets can be paid for cashlessly with a debit or credit card.
Author
Bernhard Leitner
Local editor Mühlviertel
Bernhard Leitner
