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100 million passengers: a look at the Macron cars of breakdowns!
"Celle sheds light on developments in long-distance bus transport: 100 million passengers since 2015, but challenges remain."
100 million passengers: a look at the Macron cars of breakdowns!
Long-distance buses in Europe are celebrating a remarkable anniversary: over 100 million passengers have used this form of transport since the introduction of “cars Macron” in 2015. This impressive number not only represents the success of the concept, but also shows how people's travel behavior has changed. The French company, which benefited from the liberalization of the market in 2015, has gained importance mainly through providers such as FlixBus and BlaBlaCar. According to BFMTV In 2022 alone, 11.1 million passengers used these buses, which corresponds to an annual increase of 14%.
But what happens when service quality falls short of expectations? Although the backbone of this company is strong, it is also evident that the poor conditions at many bus stations such as Paris-Bercy and Lille Europe could affect the attractiveness of long-distance buses. Travelers complain about a lack of dining options and Wi-Fi, making staying at these stations an uninviting experience. A report warns that without improvements to station infrastructure planned by 2024, interest in long-distance bus travel could decline.
Market overview and challenges
Transport connections in Europe are characterized by a growing network of long-distance bus connections. Over 1,500 routes make up the entire transport network, and the average price for a trip is just 6 euros per 100 kilometers. That's a real bargain and it's not surprising that 17% of long-distance bus tickets made travel possible for buyers who might otherwise have to use other means of transport.
However, when you look at punctuality, a different picture emerges. The situation has worsened since 2021. Almost a quarter of bus journeys are delayed by more than 15 minutes, which is increasingly frustrating passengers. What's particularly alarming is that 57% of delays are between 15 and 30 minutes. Traffic conditions were further affected by weather phenomena and social movements in 2024, which did not make the situation any easier. Even compared to other means of transport such as TGV trains, the punctuality figures for “cars Macron” are significantly worse.
Outlook for the future
However, the future looks promising. The market for city and long-distance buses, which has grown significantly in recent years, is expected to comprise 83.92 thousand vehicles by 2025 (Statista). The trend shows that less polluting means of transport are preferred and these developments could give the industry a further boost. Bus companies are increasingly using digital solutions to simplify the booking process, which could further increase the attractiveness of this form of transport.
The combination of cost-effective prices, a growing network and technological progress shows that long-distance bus travel will continue to be popular in Europe in the future. In this context, FlixBus and BlaBlaCar have dominated the field of long-distance bus connections and could become even more important through sustainable innovations.
The coming years will show whether concerns about the quality of service at stops are taken seriously and whether the necessary investments in infrastructure are made to fully exploit the potential of long-distance buses.