Free Line 299 (City Line)

Since December 10, 2023, seven new midi electric buses operated by Erlanger Stadtwerke (Photo: Erlanger Stadtwerke) have been running on Route 299 through the city center. They stop at one of the twelve bus stops every seven to eight minutes. They operate in opposite directions—either heading one way or the other.

The buses run:

• Monday through Friday from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Sundays and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where are the stops?

The buses in the electric fleet, which run on 100 percent green electricity (Photo: Erlanger Stadtwerke), make their rounds between

• the large parking lot
• Old Town
• Hospitals
• Zollhaus
• Hugenottenplatz
• Arcades (Photo: rh Press Office)

What is the goal of the CityLine?

The buses contribute to climate protection. They are also intended to help relieve the city of some of its motorized traffic. City Line 299 thus connects attractive and important locations in the city center while also linking to regional transit to the west and east.

Why is the ride free?

Rides on the 299 are free because the CityLine operates entirely within the free downtown zone. Information about the schedule and departure times is available on the Erlanger Stadtwerke website.

What kind of buses are in service?

The electric buses are nine meters long. They can accommodate about 50 passengers. There are also 24 seats, as well as space for wheelchair users and passengers with strollers. To ensure accessibility, the buses feature:

• a low-floor design
• tactile handrails near the doors
• stop request buttons with visual and audible signals, and in some cases, vibrations.

The bus motors have a peak output of 220 kW. This is designed to enable a range of up to 170 kilometers. They are powered by high-energy batteries with particularly high capacity. The batteries are primarily charged at night using a plug. The purchase cost of the seven midi electric buses (Photo: Erlanger Stadtwerke) amounts to just over 3 million euros.

There are seven charging points at the bus depot and two fast-charging points in the large parking lot serving as “charging stations.” These are available exclusively to CityLinie electric buses. An additional 725,000 euros—excluding civil engineering work—had to be budgeted for the two 150-kW charging stations in the large parking lot and the seven 60-kW charging points on Frauenauracher Straße. Additional costs were incurred for

• employee training
• the procurement of tools
• marketing measures
• integration into the current operating system.

More information about the technology behind the e-buses is available on the Erlanger Stadtwerke website.

Why was the CityLinie created?

In early 2019, the City of Erlangen commissioned Erlanger Stadtwerke and its public transit division to plan and operate a CityLinie served by electric vehicles. This downtown line is part of the transportation plan aimed at reducing through traffic in the city center. It is intended to

• help reduce motorized traffic
• help improve the climate
• enhance the attractiveness of the city center.

During a transitional phase leading up to the launch of the CityLine, the so-called KlinikLinie was introduced starting with the 2020/2021 schedule change, using conventional minibuses.

What federal funding is available?

The purchase of the seven electric buses, including the charging infrastructure, is being subsidized by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action with just under 1.8 million euros. This was based on a resolution passed by the German Bundestag.