Reorganization process in the Businessfeld Mobilität successfully completed
26.06.2025 – Stadtwerke Offenbach has successfully completed the reorganization process in the Geschäftsfeld Mobilität business area. The financial targets defined in the so-called "cap decision" were met and even exceeded for the years 2022 to 2024 - primarily through a reduction in bus services, the discontinuation of additional services and additional income from special services. From the timetable change in December 2024, the bus service could be expanded again without incurring additional costs for the city.
With the "cap resolution" passed by the city council on June 10, 2021, expenditure for public transport was limited to 14 million euros for 2022 and 13 million euros for the following years. This was to be achieved through savings in bus services and operating processes as well as other services in the Geschäftsfeld Mobilität business area. Savings in bus services were already implemented in July 2022, while savings in operations and other services followed successively as part of a reorganization process. The reorganization process was supported by the consulting firm kcw.
Success despite difficult conditions
Three years ago, the public transport service in Offenbach was reduced. "We worked hard together to ensure that the service could be expanded again - without additional costs for the city. This was made possible because the employees, the works council and the management of Stadtwerke's Geschäftsfeld Mobilität pulled together with the city council and not only took up the ideas of the consulting firm kcw, but also contributed and implemented many of their own ideas. I would also like to thank the city councillors who, by resolution of 25.04.2024, established the current offer as the new minimum offer and thus secured it for the citizens of Offenbach in the long term," explains Mayor and Head of Mobility Sabine Groß.
In the course of the reorganization process, the transport service initially had to be reduced by 550,000 timetable kilometers in July 2022. Thanks to savings and additional revenue, the service was then expanded again by 160,000 kilometers for the 2024 timetable change. The route network was adjusted on the basis of passenger numbers and flows in such a way that not only the majority of passengers benefit, but operational optimization has also taken place: e-buses can now be used more efficiently. The frequency has been improved during off-peak times and early on Sunday mornings. The service has been stabilized and made more attractive through measures to maintain the balance: For example, buses now have priority thanks to optimized traffic light control, which has improved their punctuality.
Mayor Sabine GroßIn 2023, 12.4 million passengers used the city bus service - by 2024, this figure had risen to 14.6 million. This shows that the public transport service is accepted and needed
All costs, tasks and structures in the company traced
Not only the timetable, but also internal processes have changed in the Stadtwerke's Geschäftsfeld Mobilität. "Over the last three years, we have put all costs, tasks and structures in operations to the test and have succeeded in improving the use of resources and generating additional income through special services," says Anja Georgi, Managing Director of Stadtwerke's Geschäftsfeld Mobilität. "The employees have driven the process forward with a great deal of commitment and creativity and developed good ideas to optimize processes and generate revenue. We were able to benefit from the expertise and experience of our external consultants and transfer them to public transport here in Offenbach and our processes."
By adjusting the timetable and reorganizing operations, around 3.9 million euros less could be spent between 2022 and 2024 than stipulated by the cap decision - despite higher energy prices and wages as well as high inflation.
Necessary investments are pending
"Despite unfavorable conditions such as high energy costs, high inflation and rising wages, it was possible to fall short of the cap decision. I would like to thank everyone involved for this," says City Treasurer Martin Wilhelm. "The potential for efficiency improvements, additional income and greater savings has now been largely exhausted. Nevertheless, continuous improvement processes will be continued in order to further optimize structures and processes."
"Over the next few years, we will be making necessary investments in our bus fleet, as old vehicles need to be replaced on a regular basis," says Michael Malkmus, Managing Director of the Stadtwerke's Geschäftsfeld Mobilität division. "The costs for public transport will rise due to these investments on the one hand and in line with inflation on the other. Maintaining the profitability of Stadtwerke's Geschäftsfeld Mobilität remains an ongoing task."
