DK'BUS
DK'BUS is the free public bus network of the Communauté urbaine de Dunkerque in northern France, operating 17 lines and on-demand services under a public service delegation as a subsidiary of Transdev, serving 24.4 million annual trips.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersDunkerque, France
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What DK'BUS does
DK'BUS is the public bus transit network of the Communauté urbaine de Dunkerque in northern France, operating under a délégation de service public as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Transdev group. The network comprises 17 bus lines — six high-frequency Chrono lines (C1–C6 at 10–15 minute intervals), six direct lines, and five connection lines — supplemented by two Noctibus night services (N1, N2) and an electric city-center Ligne 16 serviced by three electric buses. In 2024 the network carried 24.4 million trips with 75,317 average daily riders on school weekdays, supported by 450 staff including 7 tele-advisors operating Monday to Saturday 7h–21h.
The technological backbone consists of real-time GPS fleet tracking exposed through the dkbus.com website and the DK'BUS Mobile app (iOS/Android), which provides nearby-stop detection, live departure times, and journey planning. DK'BUS publishes a standardized GTFS schedule feed on the French national open-data portal transport.data.gouv.fr, enabling integration with third-party multimodal applications. On-demand transport services (Handibus for reduced-mobility passengers, Etoile radial service, and Taxi Bus de Nuit) extend the fixed-route network. The entity is GDPR-compliant, holds an Index Égalité Femmes-Hommes score of 84/100, and operates from a customer-facing Espace DK'BUS at 5 place de la Gare, Dunkerque.
Commercially, DK'BUS charges no fares — the entire service is 100% free to passengers. Revenue is derived exclusively from public subsidies flowing through the délégating authority (Communauté urbaine de Dunkerque), making DK'BUS a publicly-funded managed-services operation rather than a fare-driven transit business. The GTM motion is public-service delivery under a single concession contract, with marketing conducted via the official website, mobile app, and Facebook/Instagram channels targeting local residents, students, tourists, and accessibility-needs users within the territory.
DK'BUS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DK'BUS
- Legal name
- DK'BUS
- Website
- https://dkbus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- DK'BUS is the free public bus network of the Communauté urbaine de Dunkerque in northern France, operating 17 lines and on-demand services under a public service delegation as a subsidiary of Transdev, serving 24.4 million annual trips.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DK'BUS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Bus Transportation
- NAICS
- Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fixed-Route Urban Bus Operators (Municipal/Regional) (TLAFAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Demand-Managed Urban Bus Services (Headway/Route Optimization within Fixed-Route Networks) (THAIAEAJ), Electric Bus Network Operators (THAIAEAE)
Keywords
Where DK'BUS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dunkerque
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
DK'BUS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Public transit service (free to passengers): DK'BUS operates as a free public bus network funded through public service delegation from the Communauté urbaine de Dunkerque. Revenue is derived from public subsidies and governmental transport funding rather than passenger fares. The service is 100% free for users.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Others | Free transit service |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
DK'BUS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DK'BUS operates a 100% fare-free public bus transit network serving the Dunkerque urban community, comprising 17 lines including high-frequency chrono lines, direct lines, connection lines, school services, and night services. The operator complements fixed-route service with on-demand transport options (Handibus, Etoile, Taxi Bus de Nuit), the electric Ligne 16 city-center service, and rider tools including real-time tracking, a journey planner, and a mobile application.
Product overview
DK'BUS is a free public transportation network operated by Transdev on behalf of the Communauté urbaine de Dunkerque. The network consists of 17 bus lines—comprising 6 high-frequency Chrono lines (C1-C6), 6 direct lines, and 5 connection lines plus 2 Noctibus night lines—serving the Dunkerque metropolitan area with approximately 24.4 million annual trips. The core offering is supplemented by the DK'BUS Mobile app for real-time tracking and journey planning, on-demand transport services (Handibus, Etoile, Taxi Bus de Nuit), and the Ligne 16 electric city center service. The network features 3 exchange poles to facilitate transfers and employs 450 staff across various roles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DK'BUS Public Transport Network The main fare-free bus network operating across the Dunkerque urban community with 17 lines (chrono, direct, connection, school, and night) recording 24.4 million trips in 2024 and approximately 75,317 daily passengers.
- DK'BUS Mobile App Mobile application available on iOS and Android that lets riders view line maps, real-time bus arrival information, and journey planning tools for the DK'BUS network.
- DK'BUS à la Demande - On-Demand Transport Reservation-based on-demand transport services for the Dunkerque urban community, including Handibus (accessible transport for people with reduced mobility), Etoile (peri-urban service for areas outside the main network), and Taxi Bus de Nuit (on-demand night transport).
- Noctibus Night Service Two dedicated night bus routes (N1 and N2) operating late evening and overnight hours to provide fixed-route transit for the Dunkerque urban community outside regular operating windows.
- Ligne 16 Centre-Ville Électrique Electric bus line operating in the Dunkerque city center with zero-tailpipe-emission vehicles, providing environmentally focused urban transit.
- Chrono Lines (C1-C6) Six high-frequency chrono bus lines (C1-C4 at 10-minute intervals, C5-C6 at 15-minute intervals) operating from 07h to 19h to provide high-frequency service on key corridors.
Quantifiable outcome
- 75,317 average daily passengers
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use DK'BUS
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
DK'BUS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
DK'BUS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Communauté urbaine de DunkerquecoreThe Dunkerque Urban Community is the public authority that has delegated public service to DK'BUS. They are the contracting authority that funds and oversees the transit network operations.
- Entreprendre Ensemble DunkerqueminorPartnership for job listings and employment opportunities. DK'BUS hosts job listings from Entreprendre Ensemble and its partners (DKLIC POUR L'EMPLOI) on their website's employment section.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DK'BUS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DK'BUS social profiles
Digital presenceDK'BUS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
DK'BUS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DK'BUS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
DK'BUS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DK'BUS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DK'BUS
What does DK'BUS do?
DK'BUS operates a 100% fare-free public bus transit network serving the Dunkerque urban community, comprising 17 lines including high-frequency chrono lines, direct lines, connection lines, school services, and night services. The operator complements fixed-route service with on-demand transport options (Handibus, Etoile, Taxi Bus de Nuit), the electric Ligne 16 city-center service, and rider tools including real-time tracking, a journey planner, and a mobile application.
Is DK'BUS a public or private company?
DK'BUS is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DK'BUS founded?
DK'BUS was founded in 2020. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is DK'BUS based?
DK'BUS is headquartered in Dunkerque, France, in the Europe region.
How does DK'BUS make money?
One revenue line is on record: public transit service (free to passengers).
Does DK'BUS have an API?
No public API is recorded for DK'BUS.
What industry is DK'BUS in?
DK'BUS's product category is Public Bus Transportation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFAGAA, Fixed-Route Urban Bus Operators (Municipal/Regional), with a secondary code of THAIAEAJ, Demand-Managed Urban Bus Services (Headway/Route Optimization within Fixed-Route Networks). Its NAICS code is 485113 and its SIC code is 4100.