Preliminary announcement to secure award option – decision on financing still pending
The city of Darmstadt, a center of science, wants to keep open the possibility of continuing the HeinerLiner bus service beyond 2028.The city council is preparing a preliminary announcement required under procurement law. This does not yet constitute a decision regarding the actual continuation of operations or its financing.
The option is to award the on-demand transport service to HEAG mobilo GmbH beyond January 1, 2028, as part of a public service contract. However, the final decision rests with the relevant political bodies.
HeinerLiner could replace some bus journeys
The city also envisions further developing local public transport in connection with the long-term continuation of the service. For example, the HeinerLiner could replace bus routes or individual journeys during off-peak hours, depending on actual demand.
The planned preliminary announcement is initially necessary to keep this option open under procurement law. According to the city, it does not yet obligate it to actually continue the service from 2028 onwards.
Financing will be decided during budget negotiations
According to the city, the publication of the preliminary notice will not incur any immediate costs. Financial implications will only arise once a public service contract is concluded and operations actually resume.
Whether this will happen will also depend on the upcoming budget negotiations. Darmstadt's head of mobility, Paul Georg Wandrey, points to the tight budget situation.
“The preliminary announcement is an important step to secure the option for a modern and flexible public transport system in Darmstadt in the long term,” says Wandrey. At the same time, it allows the city to remain capable of taking action before a decision is made on future financing.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
