The Amper Valley doesn’t have a rail connection – but it does have a motorway: the A9. And this has given the municipalities of Allershausen and Kranzberg a novel idea: how about building an express bus stop, complete with parking, car sharing and a cycle expressway? What is just a motorway exit today could become a gateway to the entire region tomorrow
A bus stop like no other in Germany
The express bus stop is to be built directly on the A9 at the Allershausen exit. Or rather, a multimodal transport hub. It will feature a park-and-ride car park, sharing and on-demand services, as well as a network of cycle paths. Digital information services will make it easier to combine different modes of transport by providing details such as available parking spaces and onward connections.
And where will the new stop provide connections to? The X109 express bus currently runs from Ingolstadt along the A9 to Munich Airport and could start using the new stop straight away. In future, the X610 is also set to be added, running from Mainburg via Allershausen to Garching-Hochbrück. From there, passengers will be able to take the U6 directly into central Munich without any further changes. Long-distance coaches could also stop at the A9 bus stop – providing connections from Allershausen to destinations far and wide.
Opening up new ways for people to get around
The main beneficiaries of the new stop will be local people in the rural Amper Valley. They will have better connections to Munich, Ingolstadt and the airport – particularly valuable for trainees and employees who don’t have their own cars or have limited mobility. Businesses in the region also benefit, as good public transport connections help them remain attractive to skilled workers. Commuters who switch from their cars to the express bus will be able to sit back and relax. And society at large will also enjoy environmental benefits such as a reduction in congestion, noise and air pollution.
New ways, new rules
The A9 express bus stop won’t just be another stop: it will be the first of its kind in Germany. Up to now, the operation of bus stops directly on motorways has not been part of the the federal Autobahn GmbH’s remit. With some changes to the legal framework, this could become a possibility. And this project is gathering the political support needed to make that happen.
The next steps include an assessment of mobility needs, the establishment of the necessary legal provisions, and the development of a concept for the mobility hub. Within just a few years, the A9 express bus stop could become a reality – and pave the way for other motorway bus stops in the region.
