Bogestra AG

What Bogestra AG does

Bochum-Gelsenkirchener Straßenbahnen Aktiengesellschaft (BOGESTRA) is a municipal public transport operator (ÖPNV) founded in 1896 and wholly owned by the cities of Bochum and Gelsenkirchen. The company operates a multi-modal network combining trams (lines 302, 305, 306, 310, 316), the U35 Stadtbahn, more than 80 bus routes, the AnrufSammelTaxi (AST) demand-responsive taxi service, and MobilStationen intermodal hubs across Bochum, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, and the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, serving approximately one million residents with a workforce of roughly 2,400 employees. Its product portfolio centers on subscription fare products — the nationwide DeutschlandTicket (€63/month), the subsidized DeutschlandTicket Schule (€43/month for students), the DeutschlandTicket Job (capped at €44.10/month for employees with employer subsidy), and the usage-based eezy.nrw check-in/check-out fare system with a €63 monthly cap. Distribution runs through four KundenCenters, an authorized Vertriebspartner network, the Abo-Portal, an Online-Ticketshop, and the Mutti-App that consolidates real-time Fahrplanauskunft, ticketing, and route planning. B2B sales motion targets employers for DeutschlandTicket Job distribution with dedicated account managers (Thomas Hentschel, Frank Guttke), supported by partnership marketing via IHK Mittleres Ruhrgebiet. Ancillary revenue streams include vehicle advertising (Fahrzeugwerbung), event ticketing via Reservix partnership, and cultural sponsorship programs such as Kulturlinie.Ruhr.

Name

Bogestra AG

Legal name

Bochum-Gelsenkirchener Straßenbahnen Aktiengesellschaft

Website

https://bogestra.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Bogestra AG is a municipal public transport operator wholly owned by the cities of Bochum and Gelsenkirchen, providing bus, tram, and Stadtbahn services to approximately one million residents across the middle Ruhr region with a workforce of about 2,400 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transportation (Urban Mobility)

NAICS

Urban Transit Systems (4851), Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

Demand-Managed Urban Bus Services (Headway/Route Optimization within Fixed-Route Networks) (THAIAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Mobility & Ground Transport Management (THALANAI), Ground Transportation & Transfers Coordination (HSACAKAD)

Keywords

• Public transport services
• Bus and tram operations
• Urban mobility services
• Transit ticketing solutions
• Commuter transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bochum

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual tickets, day tickets, and subscription products including DeutschlandTicket, eezy.nrw, and various regional tickets sold through physical and digital channels
2. DeutschlandTicket Job: Corporate employer tickets with minimum 25% employer subsidy and 5% transit company discount, generating recurring revenue from employer bulk purchases
3. DeutschlandTicket Schule: Student tickets at €43/month for school transportation, distributed through school administrator partnerships
4. Vehicle Advertising: Revenue from advertising on buses and trams, including full vehicle wraps and partial advertising solutions for business partners
5. Abo-Portal Services: Subscription management platform for various ticket products including digital and chipcard versions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bogestra AG operates municipal public transport (bus, tram, and U-Bahn) across the middle Ruhr region including Bochum, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, and the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, serving approximately one million residents with more than 100 lines. The company sells individual tickets, monthly subscriptions (DeutschlandTicket, DeutschlandTicket Schule, DeutschlandTicket Job), distance-based eezy.nrw fares, and complementary services such as vehicle advertising, AnrufSammelTaxi demand-responsive transit, and digital tools (Mutti-App, Abo-Portal, Online-Ticketshop, AI chatbot Mira).

Product overview

Bogestra AG is a public transport operator (ÖPNV) providing bus and tram services across Bochum, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, and parts of the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis. Its digital product portfolio centres on the Mutti-App as the primary customer-facing mobile interface, which integrates real-time schedule information (Fahrplanauskunft), the eezy.nrw check-in/check-out fare system, and direct ticket purchasing. Complementary digital channels include the Online-Ticketshop for web-based ticket sales, the Abo-Portal for managing subscription products, and the AI-powered chatbot Mira for customer service. The subscription product range includes the DeutschlandTicket (core national monthly ticket), the DeutschlandTicket Schule (subsidised student variant at EUR 43/month), and the DeutschlandTicket Job (employer-subsidised variant capped at EUR 44.10/month for employees). Additional services encompass vehicle advertising, the AnrufSammelTaxi (demand-responsive shared taxi), and MobilStationen intermodal hubs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mutti-App: Mobile application for route planning, tickets, eezy.nrw tariff and more
• DeutschlandTicket
• DeutschlandTicket Schule
• DeutschlandTicket Job
• eezy.nrw
• BOGESTRA-Mobil
• BLOGESTRA

Products and services

• Mutti-App Mobile application providing real-time schedule information, eezy.nrw check-in/check-out ticketing, online ticket purchasing, and access to the full BOGESTRA service range including route planning for passengers of public transport in the middle Ruhr region.
• Fahrplanauskunft (EFA) Real-time public transport schedule and route planning system providing departure times, connections, and travel routes across bus, tram, and train services in the BOGESTRA operating area.
• Online-Ticketshop Web-based platform for purchasing tickets, subscriptions, and digital tickets, accessible at ticketservice.bogestra.de.
• Abo-Portal Online subscription management portal enabling customers to manage their DeutschlandTicket, DeutschlandTicket Job, DeutschlandTicket Schule, and other recurring ticket products.
• eezy.nrw Check-in/check-out fare system for occasional travellers in NRW. Users pay the straight-line distance between boarding and alighting stops, with a monthly cap of €63, managed exclusively via the Mutti-App.
• DeutschlandTicket Nationwide monthly travel ticket for regular public transport users, covering all buses, trams, and regional trains in 2nd class across Germany at €63/month, available as chipcard or digital ticket.
• DeutschlandTicket Schule Subsidised monthly ticket for school students aged 6-27 (or older with valid school enrollment) at €43.00, valid nationwide for bus and rail travel in 2nd class, available as a smart card or digital ticket via the Abo-Portal.
• DeutschlandTicket Job Employer-subsidised monthly travel ticket with a maximum employee price of €44.10 per month, including a minimum 5% transit company discount and a mandatory 25% employer contribution that is tax and social security free.
• Fahrzeugwerbung (Vehicle Advertising) Advertising placement on BOGESTRA buses and trams, including full vehicle wraps, rear panels, and interior advertising, reaching passengers and other road users for business partners.
• AnrufSammelTaxi (AST) Demand-responsive shared taxi service operating on a fixed schedule but only when ride requests are registered by phone, available in Gelsenkirchen (Tel. 0209 88888) and Bochum (Tel. 0234 33300333) areas.
• MobilStationen Intermodal mobility stations combining various transport options including bike sharing and connections to other public transport services at key hubs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Coverage of ~1 million residents in operating area
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• WDR Aktionstag 'Türen auf mit der Maus'minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2026Annual WDR children's program where BOGESTRA opens tram depot for family tours under theme 'Kleine Wunder'. Thousands of companies participate annually.
• Verkehrshistorische Arbeitsgemeinschaft BOGESTRA e.V. (VhAG)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2026Historical working group operating heritage tram rides, including Triebwagen 96 from 1948. Organizes special tours and historical excursions.
• Kulturlinie.RuhrcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural initiative running events along tram lines 308/318. Project funded by Stadt Bochum, LWL Kulturstiftung, Kemnader Kreis, and BOGESTRA. Integrates cultural experiences into daily transit for surprise artistic encounters.
• Stadt BochumcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal government employer partner offering DeutschlandTicket Job to city employees as part of sustainable mobility initiatives.
• Stadt GelsenkirchencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal government employer partner offering DeutschlandTicket Job to city employees.
• GLS BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking partner offering DeutschlandTicket Job as employee benefit. Listed as job ticket partner on BOGESTRA website.
• Evangelische Kirche in BochumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReligious institution employer partner offering DeutschlandTicket Job to church employees.
• IHK Mittleres RuhrgebietminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChamber of commerce promoting DeutschlandTicket Job program to member businesses in the middle Ruhr region.
• Theater ex librisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMünster-based live audio play ensemble presenting 'Theater in Fahrt' performances on BOGESTRA vehicles for the 130th anniversary celebration.
• ReservixminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicketing partner for BOGESTRA event tickets including 'Theater in Fahrt' performances. Online booking available at bogestra.reservix.de.
• Varieté et ceteraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEntertainment venue offering BOGESTRA subscribers €10 discount per ticket. Part of subscriber benefit program.
• Rotary Club Bochum-RenaissanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganizer of Bochum Young Artists competition. BOGESTRA provides special prize with bus advertising for winning artwork.
• Kooperation Metropole RuhrcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional alliance for metropolitan cooperation in the Ruhr area, part of BOGESTRA's 20+ year strong regional and local partnerships.
• spurwerk.nrwminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional initiative for rail infrastructure development and cooperation in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Rheinbahn AG: Public transit operator for Düsseldorf and surrounding region with Stadtbahn, trams, and buses. Comparable in operating scale, German municipal transit context, and subscription product offerings.
• ÜSTRA Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe AG: Public transit operator for Hanover operating Stadtbahn, buses, and ferries. Comparable municipal-owned multi-modal transit operator with similar DeutschlandTicket distribution and employer partnerships.
• Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG (KVB): Large urban transit operator for Cologne with Stadtbahn, tram, and bus networks. Broader incumbent with larger scale but comparable product offerings including DeutschlandTicket variants and corporate mobility programs.
• Hamburger Hochbahn AG: Major transit operator in Hamburg running U-Bahn, buses, and ferries. Significantly larger scale but operates under similar German municipal public transit framework with comparable product portfolio.

Direct peers

• Ruhrbahn GmbH: Public transit operator for Essen and Mülheim an der Ruhr. Directly comparable multi-modal tram/bus operator in the same Ruhr metropolitan region with similar municipal ownership structure and DeutschlandTicket integration.
• moBiel GmbH: Public transit operator for Bielefeld. Operates Stadtbahn lines and bus services under municipal ownership. Comparable in operating multi-modal urban transit with subscription products and employer ticket programs.
• DSW21 (Dortmunder Stadtwerke AG): Transit operator for Dortmund and surrounding area. Operates Stadtbahn, buses, and is owned by the city of Dortmund. Closely comparable in operating model, scale, and product offerings including the DeutschlandTicket variants.
• Vestische Straßenbahnen GmbH: Regional bus and tram operator serving the Recklinghausen district in the northern Ruhr area. Direct peer in bus services, DeutschlandTicket distribution, and B2B employer programs for the Ruhr region.

Others

• Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR): Regional transit authority coordinating public transport across the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region including BOGESTRA's operating area. Acts as the umbrella tariff and integration authority under which BOGESTRA operates.

Regional players

• Verkehrsgesellschaft der Stadt Witten mbH (VER): Small public transit operator serving Witten, which is also part of BOGESTRA's operating area. Regional peer with overlapping service territory and similar municipal ownership structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzJ5hG2E5XQK8d镇江
• Facebookfacebook.com/bogestra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bogestra AG