The liberalization of the long-distance bus transport in Germany: from competitive market to monopoly

Abstract

The Federal Republic of Germany is one of the last member states of the European Union that have liberalized the market of the longdistance buses (interurban buses). Since 1935 until the end of 2012 the access to the market was strictly regulated. Bus companies were allowed only when the bus transport does not threaten the position of railways, and it was only a supplement. The beginning of 2013 lifted most of the restrictions. It has started a dynamic growth of the market. The long-distance buses have changed significantly the urban transport policy as well as have boosted the intermodal competition in the segment of long-distance transport. In the German cities have appeared significant traffic generators, and space of bus terminals turned to be insufficient. Coaches, despite legal restrictions, have become part of the regional transport systems. The unaccustomed to competition national railway carrier – Deutsche Bahn – was forced to find a new position in the market. The answer was to increase the number of promotional tickets. At the same time at the bus market has begun the processes of concentration. The dominant company acquired more than 90 percent of the market. The rapid development of the long-distance buses caused the questions about the extension of a present of motorways toll for lorries also for buses. From the perspective of six years, the liberalization of the bus market to be considered, however, as having a positive impact on transport policy. Most of the passengers using interurban buses used to use private cars, not the railways, as originally feared.