südbadenbus

What südbadenbus does

SBG SüdbadenBus Gesellschaft mbH (trading as südbadenbus) is a regional bus operator registered in Freiburg with its managing office in Karlsruhe, Germany. The company operates as one of five bus subsidiaries under DB Regio Bus Baden-Württemberg, itself part of Deutsche Bahn AG. Its service area centers on the Südschwarzwald (Southern Black Forest) region of Baden-Württemberg, with route extensions into the Lake Constance area and Odenwald. The company maintains four KundenCenter locations (Freiburg, Waldshut, St. Blasien, Bad Säckingen) and runs a thematic leisure bus portfolio: Europa-Park & Rulantica shuttle from Ringsheim/Herbolzheim stations, Feldbergbus, Wanderbus Wutachschlucht and Schluchtensteig, Radbus Notschrei cycling shuttle, Albsteig hiking shuttle, Sportbus to SC Freiburg and SV Sandhausen stadiums, Airport-Sprinter Tübingen-Stuttgart, and the new NeO-BUS in the Odenwald. Alongside leisure routes, it participates in the regional public transit tariff through the Deutschland-Ticket (63 EUR/month), D-Ticket JugendBW, and the new Baden-Württemberg-Ticket (27 EUR/day, effective April 2026).

The company monetizes primarily through passenger fares collected on-board, at customer centers, via automated ticket machines, and through the Wohin-Du-Willst mobile app, which provides journey planning, real-time traffic data, digital ticketing, and on-demand bus booking in select districts. Ticketing is also distributed through DB Navigator and bahn.de (Deutsche Bahn's national platforms), regional transport associations (VPE, VRN, RVF, MOVE, bodo, naldo), and tourism partner networks including Hochschwarzwald Tourismus and Schwarzwald Tourismus. Cashless payment acceptance is being rolled out across the fleet (cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay). The BlaBlaCar integration in the Wohin-Du-Willst app extends the offering into private carpooling where public transit options are thin.

Südbadenbus maintains strategic co-development partnerships with county governments (Bodenseekreis, Landkreis Waldshut, Landkreis Ravensburg) and municipalities (Stadt Löffingen) that co-fund leisure services and align with regional tourism and mobility policy. It also holds commercial partnerships with anchor customers Europa-Park, SC Freiburg, and SV Sandhausen for dedicated shuttle services. The company is currently expanding its route surface (Line 7394 to Spieleland, Line 900 to St. Elisabethen-Klinikum) and rolling out cashless payment and unified ticketing in 2026. Governance rests with four Geschäftsführer: Andreas Pfingst, Nils Stegemann, Celina Licht, and Markus Jehle.

Name

südbadenbus

Legal name

SBG SüdbadenBus Gesellschaft mbH

Website

https://suedbadenbus.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SBG SüdbadenBus Gesellschaft mbH (südbadenbus) is a regional bus operator in the Southern Black Forest of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, running leisure, event, and public transit services as one of five subsidiaries under Deutsche Bahn's DB Regio Bus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Bus Transportation

NAICS

Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (485210), Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Regional/County Public Bus Operators (THAIAEAB)

Keywords

• Regional bus services
• Public transportation
• Leisure shuttle buses
• Hiking bus services
• Digital ticketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 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. Passenger Fare Revenue: Ticket sales from single rides, day tickets, subscriptions (Deutschland-Ticket, VPE/VRN subscriptions), and special event transportation (Europa-Park shuttle, sports buses). Revenue collected via on-board purchases, customer centers, automated ticket machines, and digital channels.
2. Digital Services: Revenue from digital ticketing platform, app-based ticket sales, and integration with third-party mobility services including BlaBlaCar carpooling
3. Group and Charter Services: Specialized transportation services for schools, sports clubs, and organized groups with advance registration requirements

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

südbadenbus operates scheduled regional bus transportation services across the Südschwarzwald (South Black Forest) region of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The offering combines standard public transit routes with specialized leisure-oriented bus services including shuttles to Europa-Park theme park, SC Freiburg stadium match-day transportation, hiking and cycling buses to Black Forest trails (Feldberg, Wutachschlucht, Schluchtensteig), and the Airport-Sprinter to Stuttgart.

Product overview

südbadenbus operates as the SüdbadenBus regional brand within DB Regio Bus Baden-Württemberg, offering a portfolio of leisure-oriented bus services across Southern Black Forest and surrounding regions. The portfolio combines digital platforms (Wohin·Du·Willst journey planning app) with physical transport services including dedicated leisure buses (Europa-Park & Rulantica, Feldbergbus, Wanderbus for gorges and long-distance trails, Radbus for cycling, Albsteig hiking shuttle, Sportbus to SC Freiburg stadium), airport shuttle, and regional public transport tickets (Deutschland-Ticket, D-Ticket JugendBW, Baden-Württemberg-Ticket). The offering integrates mobile ticketing via the Wohin·Du·Willst app with cashless payment acceptance on buses, providing both scheduled and seasonal leisure transportation services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wohin·Du·Willst App Mobile journey planner application providing all regional mobility options with real-time data, route planning, and digital ticketing capabilities for users across the Südbaden region. Available for iOS, Android, and Huawei devices.
• Europa-Park & Rulantica Bus Year-round shuttle bus service connecting Ringsheim and Herbolzheim railway stations to Europa-Park, Rulantica water park, and Europa-Park hotels in Rust, Germany. Single ride from 3.20 EUR adults; group rates for 6+ persons.
• Feldbergbus (Lines 7300 and 342) Year-round hourly service (Line 7300) between Titisee and Todtnau via Feldberg with rail connections to Höllentalbahn, plus seasonal service (Line 342) connecting Falkau, Altglashütten, Neuglashütten, and Bärental to Feldberg ski area.
• Wanderbus Wutachschlucht & Gauchachschlucht Weekend hiking shuttle connecting Löffingen and Döggingen railway stations to the Wutach and Gauchach gorges in the Southern Black Forest. Operates April to October. KONUS-Gästekarte, Deutschland-Ticket, and Baden-Württemberg-Ticket accepted.
• Wanderbus Schluchtensteig Summer hiking shuttle supporting the 119-kilometer Schluchtensteig long-distance trail from Stühlingen to Wehr through the Southern Black Forest Nature Park, connecting trail sections for day hikes.
• Radbus Notschrei (Line 140) Cycling shuttle connecting lowlands to Black Forest heights around Schauinsland, Notschrei, and Feldberg. Operates May to October on weekends and holidays with bicycle carrier.
• Albsteig Schwarzwald Wanderbus Hiking shuttle accompanying the 83.3-kilometer Albsteig trail from Albbruck in the Rhine valley to Feldberg, traversing gorges and scenic heights in Waldshut district.
• Sportbus SC Freiburg Shuttle service from surrounding municipalities (Staufen, Bleibach, Ehrenkirchen, Elzach, Heitersheim, Müllheim, Herbolzheim, St. Märgen) to Europa-Park Stadion for SC Freiburg home games including Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Europa League matches. Adults: 9 EUR round trip.
• Airport-Sprinter Stuttgart Airport shuttle bus service connecting Tübingen area to Stuttgart Airport and Messe via Lines 828 and X82, providing a car alternative with included luggage transport. Tübingen fare: 11.60 EUR (VVS + Naldo combined).
• Deutschland-Ticket Monthly subscription ticket valid nationwide in all public local transport including buses, trams, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and regional trains. Priced at 63 EUR monthly, available as mobile ticket or chip card with monthly cancellation flexibility.
• Baden-Württemberg-Ticket Single day ticket valid for unlimited trips across all regional and local transport throughout Baden-Württemberg. Price: 27 EUR for up to 5 persons. Valid from 0:00 to 3:00 next day without time restrictions, effective from April 2026.
• D-Ticket JugendBW Discounted Deutschland-Ticket variant for youth in Baden-Württemberg. Available to residents under 21, students and trainees under 27, and volunteer service participants under 27. Also available as Handyticket (mobile ticket).

Quantifiable outcome

• Baden-Württemberg-Ticket costs 27 EUR/day, 1 EUR less than previous combined regional tickets it replaces (effective April 2026)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Landkreis WaldshutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partnership for Wanderbus Wutachschlucht service connecting Löffingen and Döggingen train stations with Wutachschlucht nature reserve. County co-funds service enabling car-free hiking access to the protected area.
• Stadt LöffingencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership for Wanderbus Wutachschlucht service, part of the cooperation project between Landkreis Waldshut, Stadt Löffingen, and Südbadenbus for sustainable tourism access.
• Verkehrsverbund Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg (move)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional transport association covering Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg area. Handles tariff coordination, ticketing integration, and service planning for regional bus routes including Wanderbus services.
• Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg (RVF)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional transport association for Freiburg area. Coordinates tariffs and ticketing for südbadenbus routes within the association's zone, including Wutachschlucht and Schluchtensteig bus services.
• Waldshuter Tarifverbund (WTV)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional tariff association for Waldshut county. Handles fare coordination and ticketing for routes in the southern Black Forest area served by südbadenbus.
• Europa-ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheme park partnership providing year-round shuttle bus service from Ringsheim and Herbolzheim train stations to Europa-Park and Rulantica water park. Combined train-bus-theme park tickets available.
• SC FreiburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial club partner providing Sportbus service to Europa-Park Stadion from surrounding municipalities. Service operates for all home games including DFB-Pokal and Europa League matches.
• SV SandhausencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial club partner providing stadium shuttle service to Hardtwaldstadion. Includes shuttle from St. Ilgen/Sandhausen Bahnhof and local Sandhausen bus routes for match days.
• Verkehrsverbund Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg (MOVE)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransport association coordination for Wanderbus Schluchtensteig and related hiking bus services in the southern Black Forest region.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RVS Regionalbusverkehr Südwest GmbH: Sibling bus operator under DB Regio Bus Baden-Württemberg serving southwestern Baden-Württemberg with the same parent structure, DB integration, and regional public bus + leisure service mix.
• SWEG Südwestdeutsche Landesverkehrs-GmbH: State-owned regional bus and rail operator across Baden-Württemberg. Comparable as another large regional bus operator with leisure/excursion services and integrated ticketing, though structurally independent of Deutsche Bahn.
• Regionalverkehr Köln GmbH (RVK): Regional bus operator in the Cologne metropolitan region. Comparable as a regional bus company with public-sector ownership, integrated tariff association participation, and mixed urban/regional route portfolio.
• HLB Hessische Landesbahn GmbH: Regional rail and bus operator in Hesse and neighboring states. Comparable as a state-affiliated regional public transport operator with mixed regional bus, leisure service, and tariff association integration.
• Regional Bus Stuttgart GmbH (RBS): Sibling bus operator under DB Regio Bus Baden-Württemberg covering the Stuttgart metropolitan region. Same parent, identical fare structure (VPE tariffs), and parallel leisure bus offerings.
• BRN Busverkehr Rhein-Neckar GmbH: Sibling bus operator under DB Regio Bus Baden-Württemberg covering the Rhein-Neckar metropolitan region. Operates identical business model, fare structure, and digital platform (Wohin-Du-Willst), making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Friedrich Müller Omnibusunternehmen GmbH: Sibling bus operator under DB Regio Bus Baden-Württemberg serving the Schwäbisch-Fränkischer Wald region. Directly comparable in scale and parent structure, with similar leisure bus services such as Berg- und Talbus.

Broad incumbents

• DB Regio AG: Direct parent organization and broader regional passenger transport operator across Germany. Overlaps with südbadenbus through rail-replacement bus services, complementary regional rail offerings, and integrated ticketing.
• FlixBus: Germany's dominant long-distance bus operator (FlixMobility). Competes indirectly for intercity leisure travelers, though focused on long-distance rather than regional/leisure routes.

Others

• Nahverkehrsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg (NVBW): State-owned coordinator of public transport in Baden-Württemberg. Not a competitor but a key ecosystem participant that funds and designs regional bus services including those operated by südbadenbus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/s%C3%BCdbadenbus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 südbadenbus