Fast again: Erfurt transport company return to the 10-minute cycle!

Fast again: Erfurt transport company return to the 10-minute cycle!

Erfurt, Deutschland - in Erfurt has been a chaos in local public transport in recent months. Long waiting times at the stops for buses and trams have become a daily reality. The good news: From August 11, 2025, Erfurt Verkehrsbetriebe AG (EVAG) will return to the usual 10-minute cycle. This happens to the new school year, which sounds promising for many. The return to the regular timetable became necessary after a reduced timetable, which had been introduced since November 2024, was introduced on the basis of a lack of personnel, which was conditional, among other things, due to illness and shortage of skilled workers. On certain routes, passengers had to wait for hours and trains for hours, since they only took a closer look every 20 to 30 minutes, while a few lines on Saturdays, reports Thueringen24.de .

A look at the background shows that EVAG has already taken concrete measures to improve the precarious conditions. Not only 57 new drivers have been hired, but other training and career changer programs that serve to keep the staffing stock are also running. Overall, new training rounds for bus drivers are planned in the coming months, and the popular tourist city tours are gradually returning what the tourism industry breathes a sigh of relief.

Lack of personnel as a central topic

Why do such bottlenecks occur in public transport? A significant reason is the high level of sick leave and long training times, which are now 12 percent. In addition, 197 tram drivers are currently in use in Erfurt, while many companies are fighting with similar difficulties in the entire industry. The shortage of skilled workers is an alarming topic in local public transport. By 2030, around 80,000 employees, especially baby boomers, will retire. In order to advance the mobility turn, a total of 110,000 new employees have to be hired, the website of the VDV .

In addition, a survey shows that many companies are planning to hire new employees, with 74 percent of the companies surveyed in public transport. In the coming years, a continued pressure on the labor market could therefore lead to the problems in the field of public transport not only increase in Erfurt, but throughout Germany.

future developments in public transport

But Evag seems to have a good hand to get the situation under control. As reported, several initiatives are currently running to win career changers. If you are interested in a job in public transport, you must be at least 21 years old to have completed vocational training and class B driving license in order to be able to work in shift services. The "Applicant Railway", a platform for information about professions in public transport, is intended to ensure that interest is increased.

The mobility industry is growing, and public transport is considered more than ever as a central for climate protection measures. Despite the current challenges, it remains to be seen whether EVAG's measures will contribute to stabilizing the operation. For passengers in Erfurt, who rely on reliable traffic care, the return to the usual timetable is a welcome message.