25 years of Lohrliner: An anniversary full of mobility and challenges!

25 years of Lohrliner: An anniversary full of mobility and challenges!

The Lohrliner celebrates an impressive anniversary: 25 years of public transport in Lohr, over 3.7 million passengers! Since its introduction in October 1999, the city bus has not only driven the streets, but also enriched the life of countless citizens. Imagine: The loose passengers could fill the Lohr town hall more than 5,000 times! But there are also critical voices that ask: "Can the city still afford this luxury?"

The history of the Lohrliner began in 1998 when the city council made the decisive decision. "An important hour for Lohr," emphasized Mayor Siegfried Selinger at the time - and that was actually. Since then, the city bus has proven to be indispensable, even if the excitement for the bus was not without challenges. In the year of the start, the passenger number was estimated at 63,000, in 2000 it was almost 100,000 passengers. Nevertheless, the bus flourished in the first year, the deficits remained in an acceptable framework.

variety and change

The Lohrliner made it through thick and thin, despite short bus trips with little passengers. The upward trend was evident in the first few years before the crisis came in 2009. With a brave step, the clock was reduced from 40 to 30 minutes to win more passengers. The municipal utilities selected the new central bus station to the hub for the Lohr network. Innovative solutions such as an electric bus and integration into the honeycomb tariff system are in the pipeline!

But the financial dangers are tangible. A report from an auditor even advises to stop the Lohrliner, since the city has to cope with a deficit of almost 500,000 euros annually. However, municipal utility chief Johannes Goßmann and traffic manager Michael Lutz emphasize the social aspect: Around 30 percent of users are severely disabled, and the Lohrliner plays an essential role in their mobility.

The topic remains hot: How does it go after the current contracts run until 2029? The future of the Lohrliner could soon become the focus of political discussions, while the city has to meet its financial responsibility. The next step? Perhaps creative ideas for increasing the number of passengers and a look at the affordability. The Lohrliner, even if it causes irony and skepticism, remains a life -affirming symbol of public transport!