Mobility in Mönchengladbach: Line Analysis, Passenger Demand, and the Future of Local Transport Planning in April 2026

Mobility in Mönchengladbach: Line Analysis, Passenger Demand, and the Future of Local Transport Planning in April 2026

In April 2026, the city of Mönchengladbach continued its work on updating the Local Transport Plan (NVP). The current NVP, adopted in 2017 and finalized in 2019, is now in the revision phase to meet the changing mobility needs of the population. A key focus was on analyzing passenger demand, line occupancy, and evaluating delays.

Local Transport Planning and Occupancy Analysis

The city has launched a preliminary study to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the existing local transport network. The goal is to optimize occupancy and increase the efficiency of public transport. NEW mobil & aktiv GmbH provided detailed data on planned and actual travel times, offering a clear overview of the delay situation.

The evaluation shows that the average daily passenger count in the city bus service is around 3,100 on weekdays, 2,100 on Saturdays, and about 1,000 on Sundays and public holidays. These figures provide a first impression of demand development throughout the day. Particularly high values were observed on Line 004 between Hamburgring and Marienplatz as well as Marienplatz and Schelsen. In contrast, sections such as Genhülsen show practically no passengers at all.

Delay Analysis and Disruptive Factors

Another focus was the delay analysis. Line 008 proved to be particularly prone to disruptions. It runs through 30 km/h zones, narrow streets, and turning lanes, causing significant delays. Between Annakirchstr. and Nordpark, more than every second trip is delayed, and in the Breiter Graben – Nordpark section, delays of over five minutes are frequent. These route segments are therefore urgently in need of optimization.

Line Optimization and Frequencies

The bus lines in Mönchengladbach are divided into several categories: radial lines, tangential lines, express bus lines, night bus lines, and half-radius lines. Frequencies vary depending on the day of the week. Line 001, which serves both city centers (Mönchengladbach and Rheydt), operates with a 20-minute frequency on weekdays, alternating between 20 and 30 minutes on Saturdays, and between 30 and 60 minutes on Sundays and public holidays.

Within the preliminary study, action recommendations were also formulated. For Line 008, it is proposed to optimize the late trips between Europaplatz and Nordpark bus station. Line 007 could be relieved by shortening it to Lockhütte, and Line 009 offers potential savings for the last trips after midnight.

Traffic Flows and Infrastructure

The city uses an automated counting system that records boarding and alighting passengers as well as bus occupancy. These data are used to create "load maps," which represent traffic flows by time slots and timetable periods. This allows bottlenecks and route segments with high demand to be identified specifically.

An example is Line 015, where high delays occur between Kaiser-Friedrich-Halle and Waldhausener Höhe. In contrast, Line 016 is strongly affected by the railway crossing in Wickrath and the Orffstraße, leading to an accumulation of delays.

Future of Mobility in Mönchengladbach

The city is actively working on the future of mobility. In addition to optimizing the local transport plan, the creation of 30 km/h zones, the promotion of cycling, and the barrier-free design of public transport are also in focus. In 2027 and 2028, 23 new 30 km/h zones are planned to enhance the protection of pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, infrastructure measures such as station upgrades and traffic calming are being evaluated.

In the area of cycling, the completion of the cycle infrastructure along the Blumenberger Straße is another central project. In addition, a cycle-friendly connection between Rheydt city center and Schloss Rheydt is being examined.

Conclusion

The mobility situation in Mönchengladbach is in an intensive transformation process. By updating the local transport plan and optimizing the line structure, the city is pursuing an efficient, sustainable, and user-friendly public transport offer. Data-based planning and the inclusion of public opinion are decisive factors for the success of these measures. In the coming years, it will be interesting to observe how mobility in the city continues to develop.