Auerbach (dpa/sn) – The bus traffic in the Vogtland, which is endangered due to rising energy costs and high sickness rates, should still continue to roll. The ultimatum of the two private bus companies to stop traffic from October 8th is off the table, District Administrator Thomas Hennig (CDU) informed on Wednesday in Auerbach. “The transport must be maintained. Anything else would be untenable for citizens and especially for schoolchildren,” added Hennig, who is also the chairman of the Vogtland regional passenger transport association (ZVV).
The bidding consortium bus, consisting of the Plauener Omnibusbetrieb GmbH and the Verkehrsgesellschaft Vogtland mbH, had informed a few days ago about the impending cessation of bus services – and called for a contract change with the Zweckverband. The sick leave rate is currently 25 percent, said Managing Director Thomas Schwui. Between March and August alone, the high fuel prices led to additional costs of around 625,000 euros. The aim would be to avert bankruptcy from the 220 employees with their 155 vehicles.
During the corona pandemic, the employees had done an enormous job to maintain bus traffic in the Vogtland, says Schwui: “In the meantime, sick leave is constantly increasing, which shows that many are at the end of their strength.” However, the managing director no longer wanted to stick to the ultimatum.
There could now be short-term cuts in scheduled services in order to fully guarantee school transport, added ZVV Managing Director Michael Barth. More than 10,000 children are transported on the buses every day. According to Hennig, a concept that is sustainable in the long term must be developed. “Remunicipalisation is also under discussion and I don’t want to rule it out.”
