Operating public transportation on holidays: An explanation of holiday schedules for buses and trains
In the festive season, the Bremen Streetcar AG (BSAG) will be operating on special timetables for both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Here's what you need to know.
On Christmas Eve (24th December), buses and trams will run according to the Saturday schedule until 2 PM in Bremen and 3 PM in Bremen-Nord. From 2 PM or 3 PM onwards, a reduced or special timetable will be in effect, with fewer trips or less frequent service compared to a regular weekday or weekend schedule. Some lines may stop running earlier in the evening on Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Day (25th and 26th December), the schedules for Sundays and holidays will apply. The connecting night lines N6 and N94 will run accordingly. Night lines will run as they do on weekdays from 23rd to 24th December and from 24th to 25th December.
On New Year's Eve (31st December), regular schedules will be in effect until around 2:15 PM in Bremen and 3 PM in Bremen-Nord, with exceptions. From 4:30 AM onwards on New Year's Day, night lines will run every 20 minutes from the main station, with additional departures at 5 AM, 5:30 AM, and 6:30 AM. Night lines will run as they do on Sunday mornings from midnight until 4:30 AM on New Year's Day.
Special schedules will be in effect for lines 5, 20, 29, 38, 39, 42, and 63, with varying frequencies. Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 24, 25, 26, 51, and 53 have a frequency of 20 minutes, while lines 27 and 37 have a frequency of 30 minutes, lines 21, 22, 31, 33, 34, 40, 41, and 58 have a frequency of 40 minutes, and lines 28 and 55 have an hourly frequency, lines 65 and 66 have a frequency of every two hours.
For exact details and differences from the regular schedule, BSAG typically publishes a special holiday timetable on their official website or posts updates at stops closer to these dates. If you need precise times and differences, it is recommended to check BSAG's official site or contact their customer service directly before these holidays for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
The VBN's free FahrPlaner app, website, and 24/7 service hotline are available for further information. It's also worth noting that from 1st January 2020 at 00:00, the night line surcharge will no longer apply in Bremen.
Passengers with a 7-day ticket, monthly ticket, MIAplus ticket, job ticket, or adult city ticket can take along one additional adult and up to four children under 15 years old all day on Christmas Eve. MIAplus tickets and job tickets for adults are valid throughout the Bremen region, regardless of the fare zone, on Christmas Eve.
In the regional bus area, different rules may apply for New Year's Eve. Passengers are advised to refer to the respective schedules for traffic restrictions.
The special Christmas Eve schedules may affect the industry and finance of businesses located along Bremen's Bremen-Nord area, as buses and trams will operate according to a reduced or special timetable after 2 PM. On New Year's Eve, the finance sector and transportation businesses might experience increased activity during the early hours of New Year's Day with the operation of night lines from the main station.
