New line WE3 and improved service frequencies start on December 13th
The bus network in Darmstadt will be reorganized with the timetable change on December 13, 2026. Plans include a new line WE3, additional direct connections, more frequent service, and improved access to the Lichtwiese campus. The city council approved the changes on August 19.
One focus is on Wixhausen. The new WE3 bus line will connect the district with Arheilgen, Gräfenhausen, Schneppenhausen, and Weiterstadt. In addition, the Aumühle mill and the cemetery in Wixhausen will be directly connected to the bus network for the first time.
According to the city, the changes will be implemented largely at no additional cost. Only the new WE3 line is expected to incur additional costs of around €5,000 per year.
New line WE3 connects Wixhausen with Weiterstadt
The WE3 line is planned to run hourly between Arheilgen, Wixhausen, Gräfenhausen, Schneppenhausen and Weiterstadt. This will create, among other things, a direct connection from Wixhausen to Weiterstadt and Gräfenhausen.
At the same time, the route changes: After the "Windmühle" stop, the WE3 will no longer travel towards the main train station, but will continue via Luisenplatz to TU-Lichtwiese/Campus.
The new line will also serve the Aumühle and Friedhof stops in Wixhausen directly for the first time.
Closer rhythms between Arheilgen and Wixhausen
There are also changes to lines G and WX. The combination of both lines will create a 10/20-minute service.
In the opposite direction, buses are scheduled to depart from Wixhausen train station every 15 minutes towards Arheilgen Dreieichweg.
F and FM travel via the Riedbahn railway to Weiterstadt
Lines F and FM will be extended to Sudetenstraße in Weiterstadt and through the Riedbahn residential area. This will create a direct bus connection to Darmstadt city center for residents of Riedbahn.
for line H to ensure more reliable service. Line K will run every 30 minutes between Kleyerstraße and Heimstättensiedlung.
WE lines run to the Lichtwiese campus
Lines WE1, WE2, and WE3 will in future be extended to the TU-Lichtwiese/Campus stop. This will create a 15-minute service frequency .
The service is also changing in the Woogsviertel district. Line L will now run every 15 minutes throughout the day between the castle and Pankratiusstraße. During peak hours, it will be extended to the Botanical Garden. According to the city, this will result in a 7.5-minute frequency in the Woogsviertel district .
Mobility officer Paul Georg Wandrey sees the reorganization as an opportunity to expand services in a targeted manner despite the tight budget. "With intelligent timetable adjustments, we can noticeably improve public transport in Darmstadt without unnecessarily burdening the budget," said Wandrey.
Overview of the changes effective from December 13th
| line | the change |
|---|---|
| WE3 | New hourly service Arheilgen – Wixhausen – Gräfenhausen – Schneppenhausen – Weiterstadt |
| WE3 | Aumühle and Wixhausen Cemetery will be connected |
| G / WX | A more intimate rhythm between Arheilgen and Wixhausen |
| F / FM | Extension via Riedbahn to Weiterstadt Sudetenstraße |
| H | Timetable adjustments for stabilization |
| K | 30-minute intervals Kleyerstraße – Heimstättensiedlung |
| WE1 / WE2 / WE3 | Extension to TU-Lichtwiese/Campus |
| L | All day, every 15 minutes between the castle and Pankratiusstraße; during peak hours, service extends to the Botanical Garden |
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
