Essener Verkehrs-AG

Essener Verkehrs-AG (EVAG) was the municipal public transport company of the city of Essen in Germany's Ruhr region. It operated tram, Stadtbahn (light rail), and bus services under the umbrella of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) fare network. The company traced its origins to the late 19th-century steam and electric tramways of Essen, and its legal predecessor was the Süddeutsche Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft (SEG), founded in 1895. In 1954 the EVAG emerged as the legal successor of the SEG's Essen operations. At its peak the EVAG employed around 1,900 people (2011 figure, including 69 apprentices) and ran an extensive network of urban rail and bus lines. From 1 July 2010, major parts of its operating business were transferred to a subsidiary, Via Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH, as a cost-saving measure. The EVAG also participated in the spurwerk.nrw cooperation, a unique German alliance of nine light-rail operators aimed at joint procurement and infrastructure savings. On 1 September 2017, the EVAG merged with Mülheimer VerkehrsGesellschaft (MVG) to form Ruhrbahn GmbH, which now provides public transport in Essen and Mülheim an der Ruhr. The EVAG brand is therefore historical; its successor Ruhrbahn continues to operate the network, including the U-Bahn lines U11, U17 and U18, trams such as 101, 103, 106 and 109, and numerous bus routes. The company's legacy includes the modernisation of Essen's tram and Stadtbahn infrastructure, and its role in the VRR tariff community.

The history of public transport in Essen began in 1847 with the construction of the Cologne-Minden Railway Company's main line through Altenessen. In the following decades, horse-drawn omnibuses operated by the entrepreneur van Eupen served the growing towns. On 4 and 30 September 1889, a consortium of the Bank für Handel und Industrie and Herrmann Bachstein received the concession to build and operate a steam tramway from Essen to Altenessen, Borbeck and Rüttenscheid. The first routes opened on 23 August 1893, from the main station to Altenessen and via Altendorf to Borbeck. In 1895 the Süddeutsche Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft AG (SEG) was founded, into which Herrmann Bachstein brought the Essen tramway. The SEG expanded the network, and by the end of 1907 it operated 10 lines. After Bachstein's death in 1908, Hugo Stinnes took over the SEG, aiming to control electric tramways and power supply in the Ruhr through RWE. In 1909 the Rheinisch-Westfälische Bahn-GmbH (RWB) was founded as a holding company, with the city of Essen holding 48%, the district of Essen 27%, and RWE 25%. The RWB acquired the majority of SEG shares. In 1925 the SEG introduced the first bus lines in Essen, starting on 11 July between the main station and Heisingen. By the early 1930s the SEG operated 18 lines in and around Essen. In 1938, 20 tram lines and 14 bus lines carried 83.5 million passengers. During World War II, the SEG lost 92% of its vehicles, 90% of overhead lines, 81% of track facilities, and 45% of operating buildings. After the war, the British occupation authorities appointed Gustav Heinemann as mayor of Essen, who served as chairman of the supervisory board from 1945 to 1949. In 1954, the EVAG was founded as the legal successor of the SEG. The EVAG continued to operate the Essen network, and in 2011 it employed around 1,900 people. From 1 July 2010, major parts of its business were transferred to Via Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH. The EVAG also co-founded the spurwerk.nrw cooperation. On 1 September 2017, the EVAG merged with Mülheimer VerkehrsGesellschaft (MVG) to form Ruhrbahn GmbH, which continues to operate public transport in Essen and Mülheim an der Ruhr.

• 2017

  EVAG merges with Mülheimer VerkehrsGesellschaft (MVG) to form Ruhrbahn GmbH on 1 September.

• 2011

  EVAG employs around 1,900 people, including 69 apprentices.

• 2010

  Major parts of business transferred to Via Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH on 1 July.

• 1954

  Essener Verkehrs-AG (EVAG) founded as legal successor of SEG.

• 1938

  20 tram lines and 14 bus lines carry 83.5 million passengers.

• 1925

  First bus lines introduced in Essen, starting 11 July between Hauptbahnhof and Heisingen.

• 1909

  Rheinisch-Westfälische Bahn-GmbH (RWB) founded as holding company; city of Essen holds 48%.

• 1907

  SEG operates 10 lines in Essen.

• 1895

  Süddeutsche Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft AG (SEG) founded, incorporating the Essen tramway.

• 1893

  First tram routes open from Essen Hauptbahnhof to Altenessen and via Altendorf to Borbeck.

• 1889

  Consortium of Bank für Handel und Industrie and Herrmann Bachstein receives concession for a steam tramway in Essen.

• 1847

  Construction of the Cologne-Minden Railway main line through Altenessen marks the beginning of public transport in Essen.

Municipal public transport provider for Essen, integrated into the VRR fare network.

• Stadtbahn lines U11, U17, U18

• Tram lines 101, 103, 106, 109

• Bus lines 142, 146, 153, 161, 169, 170, 173, 177, 180, 186, 194

• NightExpress lines NE3, NE4, NE5, NE12, NE14, NE15, NE16

1. 1Ruhrbahn GmbH - Essenruhrbahn.de
2. 2Corporate Governance, Compliance & Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetzruhrbahn.de
3. 3U-Bf. Bamlerstraße: Brandschutztechnische Sanierungruhrbahn.de
4. 4Essener Verkehrs-AGwikidata.org
5. 5Essener Verkehrs-AGde.wikipedia.org