Two years after the introduction of the new regional bus transport concept "Gmunden Nord - Vöcklabruck", the Upper Austrian Transport Association is extremely positive: passenger numbers have increased by around 20 per cent since the launch of the new service to a total of 2,867,225 passengers in 2025. This confirms that the extensive investments in the expansion of regional bus services in close coordination with the regional railways are meeting the mobility needs of the region in the long term.
With the timetable change in December 2023, the regional bus services in the Gmunden North/Vöcklabruck area were fundamentally restructured and the timetable was expanded by more than 1.1 million timetable kilometres per year. The total timetable offer in the region is thus approx. 4.17 million timetable kilometres per year. At the heart of the concept were 85 new, low-emission and barrier-free regional buses, which have since been equipped with modern comforts such as free Wi-Fi, USB ports on the seats and predominantly cashless payment options. These quality improvements in combination with the expansion of the timetable have been very well received by passengers.
"The figures show very clearly that we have taken the right path with the new transport concept in Gmunden North - Vöcklabruck. A 20 per cent increase in passengers is a strong signal that a good service is also being accepted. Investments in public transport are investments in quality of life, climate protection and regional development," says Provincial Councillor for Mobility and Infrastructure Günther Steinkellner.
Demand-responsive service shows effect
A key objective of the new transport concept was to create an attractive and reliable service for schoolchildren, commuters and leisure travellers. The planning was based on extensive analyses of existing capacity utilisation as well as feedback from municipalities, regional stakeholders and passengers. The passenger figures now available clearly show that this needs-based approach was successful.
On the main axes with high demand - such as routes 520, 531, 560 and 595 - increased frequency, extended operating times and optimised routes have led to noticeable improvements. These routes connect important residential areas as well as central commercial and industrial locations and are now among the strongest axes in regional bus transport in the region.
This route structure was comprehensively redesigned with the timetable change in December 2023. A direct, line-by-line comparison between 2023 and 2025 is therefore only meaningful to a limited extent. However, just how well the new transport concept has been received can be seen both in the overall increase in passengers over the past two years and in the growth of individual routes in a year-on-year comparison between 2024 and 2025. For example, route 560 Schwanenstadt-Attnang-Puchheim-Vöcklabruck-Timelkam increased by around 9 per cent to 327,518 passengers in 2025 alone. Line 531 Vöcklabruck-Regau-Pinsdorf-Gmunden also recorded an increase of around 7 per cent to 238,947 passengers in this time frame.
Line 595 Mondsee - Zell am Moos - Oberhofen am Irrsee - Straßwalchen - Neumarkt am Wallersee also recorded impressive growth: with the connection to the Neumarkt am Wallersee railway junction, the reintroduction of connections at weekends and individual additional services to schools in Neumarkt am Wallersee and Mondsee, 175,564 passengers now use this line. (+9 per cent from 2024 to 2025).
"We have consistently aligned the service with the actual needs of the people in the region. The fact that the heavily frequented main lines in particular are increasing significantly confirms our planning principles and the intensive dialogue with municipalities, businesses and passengers," says Klaus Wimmer, Managing Director of OÖ Verkehrsverbund Gesellschaft.
Strong links between bus and rail as a success factor
The consistent coordination of regional bus transport with rail transport is proving to be a key success factor. Reliable connections to central railway hubs have made public transport significantly more attractive overall. The regional bus is thus increasingly being used as a genuine alternative to the car - both as a feeder service to railway lines and for direct journeys within the region. A good example of this is the 562 Kammer-Schörfling - Weyregg am Attersee - Steinbach am Attersee - Unterach am Attersee line. Thanks to the improved connection to the railway and the additional option of taking a line around Lake Attersee at weekends in summer, passenger numbers rose by 15 per cent in the previous year.
Passenger growth of 22 per cent for the Vöcklabruck - Kammer-Schörfling regional line
The successful close coordination of the regional bus timetables with the regional railways is also clearly demonstrated by the example of the Vöcklabruck - Kammer-Schörfling regional railway: the 172 railway line covers a route with a length of 10 km and 5 stops. At the same time, bus route 561 Regau - Vöcklabruck - Timelkam - Lenzing - Schörfling/Attersee was extended as part of the new regional bus transport concept. Both means of public transport have benefited from this: the increase in passengers on rail line 172 is 22 per cent compared to 2023.
"The holistic view and close integration of bus and rail is a key success factor. Anyone who can reliably change trains today and has access to a good public transport service is much more likely to opt for public transport and leave their car at home more often," says Klaus Wimmer .
Positive outlook
The results after two years clearly show that the new regional bus transport concept "Gmunden Nord - Vöcklabruck" is a successful model. The significant passenger increase of 20 per cent confirms that the expansion of services, modern vehicles and good coordination with the railway are decisive levers for sustainable mobility. "We believe we are on the right track to further strengthen public transport in the region and make it fit for the future," concluded Provincial Councillor Günther Steinkellner.