The Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV) (English: "Hamburg Transport Association") is a transport association coordinating public transport in and around Hamburg, Germany. Its main objectives are to provide a unified fare system, requiring only a single ticket for journeys with transfers between different operating companies, and to facilitate and speed up travel by harmonising the individual companies' schedules. At its inception in 1965, the HVV was the first organisation of its kind worldwide.
Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (85.5%) State of Schleswig-Holstein (3%) State of Lower Saxony (2%) Districts Herzogtum Lauenburg, Pinneberg, Segeberg, Stormarn, Harburg, Lüneburg and Stade (9.5%)
As of 2010, the HVV provides rail, bus and ferry transportation for an area of 8,616 square kilometres with approximately 3.6 million inhabitants in the states of Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. The HVV has approximately 1.95million customers on an average working day.[2]
The HVV acts as the overall coordinating body for transport in the conurbation, with representation by the Hamburger Hochbahn (Hamburg elevated railway); Deutsche Bahn (DB, German Federal Railways); AKN railway company (Altona-Kaltenkirchen-Neumünster Railway); HADAG Seetouristik und Fährdienst AG (HADAG sea-tourism and ferry service plc); VHH (Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein / Hamburg Holstein Transport Ltd), and KVG Stade (Kraftverkehrgesellschaft Stade, GmbH / Motor Traffic Company, LLC).
With an average of 50,000 commuters per day the Metrobus 5 bus line is the busiest in Europe. In the city centre, stops are served without a specific schedule every two or three minutes and since December 2005, extra long double-articulated buses have been used.
History
The HVV was founded on 29 November 1965,[3] with the four initial partners, Hamburger Hochbahn AG (HHA), Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB), HADAG Seetouristik und Fährdienst AG and Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (VHH). The first results that the new organisation delivered came on 1 January 1967 with a unified fare structure, pooling of receipts and coordinated systemwide timetables across all modes of transport.[3]
Stadtwerke Norderstedt, operating one night bus line and coordinating public transport in Norderstedt
Verkehrsgesellschaft Norderstedt mbH (VGN), owing the Norderstedt part of the underground line U1 and a railway line operated by Hamburger Hochbahn AG respective AKN
Fares
The unified fare system includes cash ticket sales (16%), season tickets (for week, month, or year) (72%) and disabled passengers, combined tickets, fare evaders, etc. (12%). In 2011, ticket revenue was €652.2million. Cash tickets for one ride or the day can be bought at all railway stations, ferry slots or in all buses. There are also "family tickets" (for 2adults and 3children) or group tickets for up to 5adults. The HVV offers travel passes ('ProfiCard'), and semester tickets for the students of all major universities, both heavily discounted. The HVV also offers tickets over mobile phones.[4]
Most tickets are not transferable to other persons.
Special programs
The HVV offers a variety of types of weekly or monthly special fares.[5]
School pupils, students, trainees and apprentices
For all public school pupils, tickets can be bought at the company service centers. Other schools need to be registered by the HVV. The semester tuition for most universities include the ticket pass. Trainees and apprentices need be registered by the chamber of commerce to get a season ticket.
Children
All children to the age of six are free of charge. For older children, seasonal tickets can be chosen.
Senior citizens
Weekly or monthly tickets for anybody 63 or older are sold at service centers.
HVV Figures 2006, pdf (Retrieved on May 18, 2008 from the HVV website) "zahlenspiegel.pdf"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2007-10-15. Retrieved 2009-03-26.