Valley bus (Tälerbus)

Best Practice

Topics

• Mobility

Short description

The project Tälerbus was realised in the Lungau, a sensible, rural touristic region. This region should be disburdened from private cars. Tourists should be able to be mobile without a car in their holidays. They should be able to use the public transport system in the hiking region of Lungau, Murau, Nockberge, Schladming und Sölk. The Tälerbus (Valley-bus) is run in the valleys and connects different existing busses and also cablecars in the region. Several environmental awards were given to the project.

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Project executive

Arbeitskreis öffentlicher Verkehr, public transport authorities of Styria and Salzburg

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Participants

several mayors in the region, State of Salzburg, management of national natural parks, public transport companies (public transport authorities) of Styria and Salzburg, transport association, tourism offices, EU-regional management

Objectives

The main objective is to connect several transport systems to reduce the growing car-traffic in the rural and sensible mountain region. Tourists should be able to use public transport in the region during their holidays.

Activities

The project started in 1989 on four buslines in Weißpriach, Göriach, Lessach and Prebersee. Since 1990 the system is area-wide. The busses are fully run in summer, from Mai until July. From Oktober the buses are only run on demand. Closed buslines were renewed and basic interval timetables were set up in the beginning of the 1990ies. A basic interval timetable for railway traffic was established in 1991, a basic interval timetable in Lungau ("Lungautakt") was set up in 1997, then Murau followed.

Process

Several bus services were to be stopped. The region started negotiations and was able to start the Tälerbus-Project by setting up four buslines runned by small vans. Later, closed buslines were renewed and all timetables were adapted. All important destinations could now be reached by inhabitants and tourists. Later Zero-Emission-buses were used. The project started in Salzburg and was also launched in Styria. Railway timetables were also optimised.

Results

Some valleys could be closed for car-traffic (Riedingtal, Weißpriachtal, Lantschfeldtal, Lignitztal). New alpine bus lines were set up. A higher accessability for tourists is the result. Zero-emission-buses reduce emissions in the valleys, new regional interval timetables (Lungau and Murau timetable) connect busses and railway. The tourist's modal split in all valleys was improved.

Evaluation

No

Difficulties

It was difficult to implement and perpetuate the basic interval timetables in rural and mountain areas. The co-ordination of bus companies and railway companies, the ongoing closure of regional railways, the small number of passengers during some times and on certain buslines as well as the investment for new busses were difficult. Because of the lack of passengers some buslines had to be taken over by the public transport authority of Salzburg. The implementation of a all-season synchronised timetable is difficult for the whole region.

Budget

300.000. Eur per year (1990-1997) (Euro)

Financial backer

1989: 35.000 Euro, 1990-1997 300.000 Euro per year State of Salzburg, State of Styria, EU-Regional-Management Lungau, Obersteiermark-West

Source of information

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://www.taelerbus.at/

Publication

FGM Amor: Abgasfrei Mobil. Wissenschaftliche Begleitforschung zum Tälerbusprojekt, 2003

Project executive as above

Contact person as above

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

The region Lungau-Murau-Nickgebiet is charcterized by a consistent topography and by a long distance to the city of Salzburg, Graz and Klagenfurt. By implementing the Tälerbus the ecological image of the region was consolidated for guests and in public. The traffic could be calmed in the mountain regions and valleys.

Economic value added

Professional project management, maintenance of financing, improvement of public transport supply by co-operation and innovation, maintenance of public transport infrastructure and basic interval timetables

Socio-cultural value added

The Project was presented in the Programme of Dorferneuerung, where residents hat the possibility of participation.

Innovative content

New was the synchronised tinme tables with the principle of traffic junctions, the usage of flexible means of transport (like small busses), the combination of "timetable traffic" and demand traffic, the integration of cable cars in public transport systems, the application of zero-emission-busses and the installation of car-free reservation areas.

Good governance

private initiative of an association but co-operation with transport authorities was necessary

PR impact

Internet, regional and national newspapers, folders, marketing, own timetables

Multiplier effect / networking

The project is a cross-border project (Federal States of Salzburg and Styria). The basis of the negotiation's was a co-operation of mayors, the Federal State of Salzburg and Styria, the Administration of National Parks, Tourism offices and the EU-Regional Management.

Transferability

The project could be transferred to other communities considering the following issues: private initiative, financing. Difficulties are the ongoing closing of buslines and railway lines and financing.