A project commissioned by:
Wanted: A mobility concept that fits!
Traveling by bus and train should become more attractive for people throughout Thuringia and a genuine alternative to driving. What needs to change in the Free State to achieve this? How can existing transport services be effectively integrated, and how must the overall network be expanded so that people in Thuringia can travel from A to B with comparable quality and speed? The Thuringian state government has set itself the goal of developing clear answers to these questions in the coming years and, above all, strengthening services in rural areas of Thuringia.
Integrated timetable – the basis for a high-performance public transport system in Thuringia
In a high-performance, dense public transport network for all of Thuringia, an integrated timetable for bus services is of central importance. It reflects the density of the network routes and the frequency and connection options available. Commissioned by the Thuringian Ministry for Digital Affairs and Infrastructure Urban and regional development experts from LEG Thüringen are developing a viable concept for an integrated, regular-interval timetable. They are working closely with experts from the timetable planning company B&B and the planning office MOBILE ZEITEN. A public dialogue will also incorporate the ideas of all those who wish to contribute to improving mobility, especially public transport, in the Free State of Thuringia.
Project phases 3 stages to the goal / Overview of the overall project
Phase 1 - 2022
Concept: Framework plan and model project
Development of a comprehensive network-node framework plan (integrated timetable) for the entire state of Thuringia. A particular focus of the draft is overcoming district and state borders, which have previously hampered the use of public transport.
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Model project Saale-Orla district/Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district
Development of a comprehensive transport concept and timetable for scheduled services and feeder routes. Furthermore: Planning and integration of school transport into the transport concept of both districts.
Further information
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Conference | Discussion | Participation
At a public forum on December 12, the Thuringian state government and LEG Thüringen presented the framework plan for optimized local public transport to the public for the first time. The event provided information on the project's progress, offered opportunities for future participation, and provided a platform for exchange among all interested stakeholders. Aimed at everyone who wants to contribute to improving mobility, especially public transport, in Thuringia, the first expert forum on the ITF roadmap met with a very positive response.
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Hearing and assessment 2023
The design of the Network node framework plan The plan for future state-wide bus routes in Thuringia and the hub for intra- and intermodal integration of transport services was reviewed by the responsible authorities and transport companies during a hearing. The numerous, predominantly positive responses will help to finalize the ITF framework network plan as a basis for concept planning in the districts.
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Revision of the 2025 framework plan
The network and node framework plan for Thuringia, encompassing future state-wide bus routes and the hub for intra- and intermodal integration of transport services, has been updated based on findings from the ITF concept planning in the districts already addressed. It has also been supplemented with a proposal for the frequency of regional bus routes in the target network for 2030 (two-hourly or hourly service). This draft will be further coordinated and, if necessary, adjusted during the ongoing ITF concept planning process in the districts. Furthermore, a consultation process with public transport authorities on this matter began at the end of March 2025 with a two-day mobility conference.
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Model project Saale-Orla district/Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district
Phase 2 - from 2023
Concept planning in the districts and model regions
In the second phase, concrete planning takes place in the individual districts or for several adjacent districts. The resulting concept timetable depicts all lines that are suitable for an integrated, regular-interval service.
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Focus region Schmalkalden-Meiningen/Hildburghausen/Suhl
Development of a comprehensive transport concept and timetable for scheduled services and feeder services. Furthermore: planning and integration of school transport.
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ITF FORUM 2023
On December 18, 2023, the Thuringian state government and LEG Thüringen once again informed all interested parties about the ITF Thuringia 2030 project at a public forum. The event showcased the project's progress, particularly in the model and focus regions, and again provided a platform for exchange among all interested stakeholders. Approximately 130 participants from Thuringia and several neighboring states accepted the invitation and enriched the event ITF Forum.
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Focus region Erfurt/Weimar/Jena/Sömmerda/Weimarer Land/Saale-Holzland-Kreis
Development of a comprehensive transport concept and timetable for scheduled services and feeder services in 2025/2026. Furthermore: planning and integration of school transport.
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1st Thuringian Mobility Conference 2025
On the second day of the conference (March 28, 2025), the focus was on the current status of the ITF Thuringia 2030 project in the model region and both focus regions. Approximately 160 participants again took advantage of the opportunity for exchange and networking. The conference was accompanied by an in-house trade fair on mobility.
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Focus region Schmalkalden-Meiningen/Hildburghausen/Suhl
Phase 3 - from 2024
Implementation of the created integrated timetable
In this phase, complete timetables for the entire public transport network are created. This is based on the concept planning. In addition, the planning and documentation of school transport and the determination of service volumes are carried out.
The ITF framework plan for Thuringia
In order to obtain a suitable basis for discussion and a correspondingly sound foundation for the creation of an efficient public transport network in Thuringia, the urban and regional developers of LEG Thüringen have created an ITF framework plan of a somewhat different kind: It comprehensively depicts the desired state of the main public transport network in Thuringia.
A revised and expanded version is now available: The framework network plan has been supplemented with proposals for structuring the service frequency on the main lines (two-hourly service, hourly service). This framework network plan was presented at the two-day mobility conference at the end of March 2025 and is now the subject of the ongoing consultation with public transport authorities.
You can download the current version of the framework network plan, dated March 28, 2025, here.
Do you have questions, suggestions, or would you like to work on a solution for your region/municipality?
To what extent the considerations for the integrated timetable in Thuringia are actually feasible in practice will be demonstrated by a pilot project in the Saale-Orla district and the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district. An integrated timetable is already being developed here based on the ITF framework plan. Furthermore, important transport policy decisions have been made to ensure compliance with the established public transport targets. These include:
The stated goal of the pilot project is to make public transport in the Saale-Orla district and the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district more user-friendly and attractive. If everything continues according to plan, public transport will commence in the summer of 2027 based on the developed Integrated Transport Framework (ITF). The insights and experience gained from the pilot region will then be used to implement further regional ITF projects ("focus regions") based on the ITF framework plan.
News Latest news on the topic
Downloads
The ITF framework plan for Thuringia
(Document is not accessible)
The ITF framework plan for Thuringia
Scheduled public transport in the Free State of Thuringia (as of October 1, 2023)
Local public transport plan for rail passenger transport in Thuringia 2023–2027
Mobility analysis Saale-Orla district 2023
Expert report on the financing of public mobility service costs
Mobility in Germany – MiD – Short Report
Thuringia 2030 – Well connected on the go. Impulses for a Thuringian mobility strategy.
Expert report - The German offer in Thuringia in 2040
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And: What do you think? - Your opinion counts!
The path to a public transport network that offers added value and a genuine alternative to private motorized transport for as many Thuringians as possible can only be achieved together. Therefore, we welcome your comments, experiences, and suggestions for developing a viable concept.
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Project partners
On behalf of the Thuringian Ministry for Infrastructure and Agriculture, the Thuringian State Development Corporation (LEG Thüringen) is developing the concept for an integrated, regular-interval timetable as an expert consultant. For this project, we are working closely with the timetable planning company B&B mbH and with MOBILE ZEITEN transport planning and consulting.
