DK'BUS

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.

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

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

• Public bus transit
• Urban bus network
• Free public transport
• On-demand mobility
• Electric bus service

Headquarters

HQ city

Dunkerque

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Communauté urbaine de DunkerquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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 DunkerqueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership 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

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DKBUS

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 DK'BUS