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Oldenburg celebrates 40 years of VWG: public transport future marked by bio-natural gas!
VWG Oldenburg is celebrating 40 years of success with CO2-reducing buses and free public transport on Saturdays from 2025.
Oldenburg celebrates 40 years of VWG: public transport future marked by bio-natural gas!
There is reason to celebrate in Oldenburg! Verkehrs und Wasser GmbH (VWG) recently celebrated its 40th birthday. Since its founding in 1985, after the takeover of the Pekol company, a lot has happened in the city's public transport system. The city of Oldenburg, which holds 74% of the shares in VWG, looks back on the development with pride. EWE Aktiengesellschaft owns the remaining 26% of the shares. In recent years, the VWG has impressively shown what modern mobility can look like, especially with the switch to a biogas drive.
A highlight of the anniversary celebration was the bus pulling event, in which teams pulled a bus over 30 meters - a real crowd puller! Framed by a varied program with live stages, food trucks and activities for children, the 40th birthday was a celebration for the whole family.
Sustainability in focus
The VWG has not only drawn attention to itself in the past, but is also setting standards for a sustainable future today. By converting their fleet to biogas, they have managed to reduce CO2 emissions by around 9,500 tonnes annually. This not only means a benefit for the environment, but also a noticeable improvement in air quality in Oldenburg.
How important environmental protection is for VWG is also reflected in the introduction of new bus models. 15 MAN Lion’s City 12 G EfficientHybrid buses have recently been used. These modern vehicles are equipped with an innovative crankshaft starter generator that recovers energy when braking, thereby significantly reducing fuel consumption. They operate almost silently at stops and traffic lights, thanks to the standard start-stop function. This rapid technological development demonstrates a real sense of environmentally conscious mobility.
Growth and innovation
The numbers speak for themselves: from 12.9 million passengers in 2001, the number rose to an impressive 20.8 million in 2024, representing growth of 61.2%. The route network was also continuously expanded, so that the timetable kilometers increased from 5.3 million to 8.8 million. The fleet grew from 90 to 120 buses, and the number of employees increased from 211 to 360. VWG's commitment is not least a response to the shortage of personnel in the sector, with the establishment of its own driving school to actively address the challenges of the industry.
The future of public transport in Oldenburg will also be reflected in the introduction of free journeys on Saturdays from 2025. This is another step towards more user-friendly mobility, encouraging people to switch to buses and trains.
In conclusion, it can be said that VWG has an impressive balance sheet with its managing director Michael Emschermann, who is retiring at the end of June 2025. The developments of the last few years make it clear that Oldenburg is on the right track - both in terms of innovative mobility and in terms of the multitude of initiatives that are making the city the “city after tomorrow”.