Oldenburg celebrates 40 years VwG: Publicity future in the sign of organic earth gas!

Oldenburg celebrates 40 years VwG: Publicity future in the sign of organic earth gas!

There is reason to celebrate in Oldenburg! Verkehr und Wasser GmbH (VwG) recently celebrated its 40th birthday. Since its foundation in 1985, after the takeover of the Pekol company, a lot has happened in the city's public transport. The city of Oldenburg, which holds 74 % of the shares in the VwG, is proudly looking back on the development. The EWE share company has the remaining 26 % of the shares. In recent years, the VWG has impressively shown how modern mobility can look, especially with the switch to a biogas drive.

A highlight of the anniversary festival was the bus powder event, in which teams pulled a regular bus over 30 meters-a true crowd puller! Framed by a varied program with live stages, food trucks and activities for children, the 40th birthday became a festival for the whole family.

sustainability in focus

The VwG not only drawn attention to itself in the past, but also sets standards for a sustainable future today. By switching your fleet to biogas, it has been possible to reduce CO2 emissions annually by around 9,500 tons. This means not only a profit for the environment, but also a noticeable improvement in air quality in Oldenburg.

How important environmental protection is for the VwG is also evident in the introduction of new bus models. 15 Man's City 12 g Efficienthybrid buses have recently been used. These modern vehicles are equipped with an innovative crankshaft start-up generator, which backs up energy when braking and thus significantly reduces fuel consumption. They act almost silently at stops and traffic lights thanks to the standard start-stop function. This rapid technologization testifies to a real sense of environmentally conscious mobility.

growth and innovation

The numbers speak for themselves: Out of 12.9 million passengers in 2001, the number rose to impressive 20.8 million in 2024, which corresponds to growth of 61.2 %. The line network was also continuously expanded, so that the timetable kilometers were able to record 5.3 million to 8.8 million increase. The fleet grew from 90 to 120 buses, and the number of employees rose from 211 to 360. The commitment of the VwG is also an answer to the lack of personnel in the sector with the foundation of its own driving school to actively address the challenges of the industry.

The future of local public transport in Oldenburg will also be shown by the introduction of free trips on Saturdays. This is another step towards a more user -friendly mobility that encourages people to switch to bus and train.

Finally, it can be said that the VWG with its managing director Michael Emschermann, who will retire at the end of June 2025, has an impressive balance. The developments in recent years make it clear that Oldenburg is on the right track - both in terms of innovative mobility and with regard to the large number of initiatives that make the city a "updated city".