Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg

What Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg does

Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg GmbH (RVF) is a regional public transport coordination body headquartered in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. It administers a unified tariff and ticketing system across approximately 75 cities and municipalities in the districts of Emmendingen and Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald plus the city of Freiburg, coordinating 15 operating transport companies (VAG Freiburger Verkehrs AG, Deutsche Bahn, SWEG, SBG SüdbadenBus, and regional bus operators). The tariff structure comprises three internal zones plus four transition areas connecting to neighboring associations (TGO, RVL, WTV, Move), and RVF participates in the fanta5 cross-association alliance and cross-border integration with SNCF (Mulhouse, France) and SBB (Basel, Switzerland). Revenues are derived from coordinating ticket sales across the network rather than directly operating transport services.

The product portfolio centers on subscription tickets (Deutschland-Ticket at €63/month, Regiokarte at €70.90–€85.10/month, D-Ticket JugendBW at €45/month for under-27s, Semesterticket at €98/semester for students), one-time tickets (single, day, group, Punktekarte value card, 2x4-Fahrtenkarte multi-ride), tourist products (Welcomekarte, KONUS guest card, Dual cross-border), and employer Jobticket programs. Technology components include the RVF mobil app, the FAIRTIQ-powered GPS check-in/check-out ticket available throughout Baden-Württemberg, the VAG AboOnline subscription portal with wallet integration, LogPay payment processing, and the Mobilitätsgarantie refund system (up to €50 for delays exceeding 30 minutes).

Go-to-market is multi-channel: self-serve via website, mobile apps, and ticket machines; direct via VAG/SBG/DB customer centers; and channel-partner via over 100 retail sales points (kiosks, bus drivers). The customer base is predominantly B2C, anchored by commuters, university students at six Freiburg higher education institutions, school children, families, tourists, and a growing pool of regional employers for Jobticket contracts. Leadership comprises Managing Directors Simone Stahl and Timm Anders, with Mayor Martin W. W. Horn as Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

Name

Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg

Legal name

Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg GmbH (RVF)

Website

https://rvf.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Public Transport Coordination

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485), Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (485210)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Regional/County Public Bus Operators (THAIAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional Intercity Bus Operators (Scheduled) (THAIADAB), Employer/Corporate Demand-Responsive Shuttles (THAIAHAG), Intercity Bus Franchises/Concessionaires (Public Service Contracts) (THAIADAG)

Keywords

• Public transport ticketing
• Regional transit coordination
• Fare subscription services
• Mobility tariff management
• Transport association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Freiburg Im Breisgau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Monthly/Annual Subscriptions: Recurring subscription revenue from Deutschland-Ticket (63 EUR/month), Regiokarte Abo (70.90 EUR/month), Regiokarte Übertragbar (85.10 EUR/month), D-Ticket JugendBW (45 EUR/month), and Semesterticket (98 EUR per 6 months). Subscriptions are administered through VAG AboOnline and auto-renew monthly.
2. Single Trip and Day Tickets: One-time ticket sales for individual journeys, day tickets (Tageskarten), and group tickets. Prices vary by tariff zones (1-3) and passenger categories (adult/child). Also includes 2x4-Fahrtenkarte multi-ride cards and Punktekarte value cards.
3. Job Ticket Programs: Employer-subsidized employee transportation benefits with framework contracts between RVF/VAG and companies, offering 5% discount on D-Ticket plus minimum 25% employer contribution.
4. Tourist Products: Welcomekarte (27 EUR for 3-day ticket including museum entry and Schauinslandbahn), KONUS guest card (free for guests at participating municipalities), and Dual tickets for cross-border travel to Mulhouse, France.
5. Cross-Border and Regional Tickets: Dual-Tageskarte (14.80-35.10 EUR) and Dual-Monatskarte (115-182.50 EUR) for travel to Mulhouse, France. Baden-Württemberg-Ticket (27 EUR + 9 EUR per additional person) for statewide travel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg (RVF) coordinates regional public transport fares, tickets, schedules, and integrated mobility services across 75 municipalities in the Freiburg metropolitan region. It functions as the official tariff and service coordination body for 15 member transport companies operating buses, trams, S-Bahn, and regional rail under a unified 3-zone tariff structure, while distributing subscriptions (Deutschland-Ticket, Regiokarte), single and day tickets, tourist products (Welcomekarte, KONUS), and cross-border tickets (Dual) to Mulhouse and Basel through its own apps and partner channels.

Product overview

Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg (RVF) operates as a regional public transport association serving Freiburg and surrounding areas through a network of 15 transport companies. The product portfolio centers on ticketing solutions including the Deutschland-Ticket (63.00 EUR/month nationwide subscription) and Regiokarte regional cards (70.90-85.10 EUR/month), complemented by specialized offerings like the Semesterticket (98.00 EUR/semester for students) and Welcomekarte (27.00 EUR for 3-day visitor packages including museum access). Key digital features include the Check-in-Ticket via FAIRTIQ for automatic best-price GPS-based fares, the RVF mobil app for mobile ticketing with 10% digital discounts, and the Mobilitätsgarantie refund program for missed connections. The ecosystem extends to Frelo bike-sharing, Park+Ride facilities, and cross-border tickets to Mulhouse (Dual cards). Integration with VAG AboOnline, DB Navigator, and LogPay enables subscription management and payment processing across the network of 75 municipalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Frelo: Bicycle rental system in Freiburg and the region
• RVF mobil

Products and services

• Deutschland-Ticket Nationwide public transport subscription valid in 2nd class on all regional trains, S-Bahn, trams, and buses across Germany, priced at 63.00 EUR/month with monthly cancellation and a mobility guarantee refunding taxi/carsharing costs up to 35 EUR. Targeted at adult commuters and travellers seeking Germany-wide coverage.
• Deutschland-Ticket JugendBW Discounted Deutschland-Ticket for students, apprentices, and trainees under 27 years at 45.00 EUR/month, requiring proof of educational status with a minimum 12-month term then monthly cancellation. Targeted at young riders in education in Baden-Württemberg.
• Regiokarte Regional monthly travel card for regular commuters within the RVF network, available in transferable (85.10 EUR/month), subscription Abo (70.90 EUR/month), annual transferable (884.40 EUR/year), Schüler (58.50 EUR/month), Kind (29.30 EUR/month), and Basis non-transferable mobile-only (78.10 EUR/month) variants. Includes Mitnahmeregelung benefits and mobility guarantee up to 50 EUR. Targeted at adults, families, school children and regular riders in the Freiburg region.
• Semesterticket Student semester ticket valid for 6 months at 98.00 EUR (approximately 16 EUR/month) covering all buses and trains in the RVF network for students at 6 Freiburg universities (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Pädagogische Hochschule, Hochschule für Musik, Katholische Hochschule, Evangelische Hochschule, ISBA). Free travel from 19:00 on weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays with a student ID.
• Welcomekarte 3-day combination ticket for visitors to Freiburg and the region at 27.00 EUR for adults and 16.00 EUR for children, including RVF network travel, a Schauinslandbahn cable car ride, free museum entry, and a 2 EUR discount on city tours. Targeted at tourists and short-stay visitors.
• Single Trip and Day Tickets One-time ticket products for individual journeys including Einzelfahrschein single tickets, Tageskarten day passes, 2x4-Fahrtenkarte 8-ride cards (22.50-50.50 EUR depending on zone, up to 10% saving vs single tickets), and Punktekarte value cards (19.70 EUR for 20 points). Prices vary by tariff zones (1-3) and passenger categories (adult/child). Targeted at occasional riders, families and visitors.
• Dual Cross-Border Tickets Cross-border ticketing products for travel between the RVF region and Mulhouse, France, including Dual 1 day ticket (14.80 EUR single, 28.10 EUR for 2 adults + up to 2 children) and Dual-Monatskarte monthly variants from 115.00 EUR (mini border area) to 182.50 EUR (full RVF plus Mulhouse city transport). Valid on the Neuenburg-Mulhouse SNCF route.
• badisch24 Day ticket for occasional travel across five southern Baden transit associations (TGO, RVF, Move, RVL, WTV) plus Basel SBB, priced at 14.00 EUR per person. Requires a valid Regiokarte or Semesterticket. Valid for 24 hours from validation. Targeted at subscribers needing occasional cross-association trips.
• Ergänzungskarte Extension subscription add-on to the Regiokarte enabling travel into transition areas of neighbouring transit associations (TGO, RVL, WTV, Move) at 23.50 EUR per month. Targeted at RVF subscribers needing occasional cross-association access.
• Baden-Württemberg-Ticket Day ticket for statewide travel across all of Baden-Württemberg at 27.00 EUR for the first person plus 9.00 EUR per additional person up to 5 travellers. 2nd class. Valid all day until 3:00 the next morning. Children up to 5 travel free, up to 3 children aged 6-14 also free. Targeted at groups and families taking day trips within the state.
• Deutschland-Ticket Job (Jobticket) Employer-subsidized Jobticket variant of the Deutschland-Ticket under framework contracts between RVF/VAG and companies, offering a 5% RVF discount (59.85 EUR/month) and a minimum 25% employer contribution (maximum employee cost 40.60 EUR/month). Targeted at companies seeking tax-advantaged employee commuting benefits.
• Frelo Fahrradvermietsystem (bike rental) Bicycle rental system in Freiburg and the region operated via the nextbike app, offering RVF subscribers (Deutschland-Ticket, Regiokarte) a 1 EUR discount per rental that makes the first 30 minutes free on standard bikes. Targeted at RVF subscribers seeking first/last-mile mobility.

Quantifiable outcome

• Germany-wide public transport coverage for 63 EUR/month with Deutschland-Ticket
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VAG Freiburger Verkehrs AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary distribution partner for RVF subscriptions (Deutschland-Ticket, Regiokarten) through VAG AboOnline portal and VAG OnlineShop. Operates VAG-Kundenzentrum and VAG AboCenter for in-person and online subscription management. Administers RVF mobile apps and digital ticket services.
• Deutsche Bahn (DB Regio)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor rail transport provider in RVF network operating regional trains and S-Bahn services. DB Reisezentren serve as sales points for RVF tickets. DB Navigator app offers mobile ticketing for RVF products.
• SWEG Südwestdeutsche Landesverkehrs-GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional railway operator for Breisgau-S-Bahn services (Freiburg-Breisach, Freiburg-Elzach lines) and various bus routes. Headquarters in Lahr provides support and operates customer-facing service points.
• SBG SüdbadenBus GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional bus operator providing services throughout southern Baden. Operates SBG KundenCenter in Freiburg and various bus routes. Also operates night buses and special services.
• FAIRTIQcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing check-in/check-out ticketing solution (Check-in-Ticket). App calculates best price based on GPS tracking and distance. Available throughout Baden-Württemberg (CiCoBW).
• Frelo (Fahrrad-Vermietsystem)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBicycle rental system in Freiburg and region. RVF subscribers (Deutschland-Ticket, Regiokarte) receive 1 EUR discount per rental, making first 30 minutes free with standard Frelo bikes.
• Grüne FlotteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCarsharing provider. RVF subscribers receive 25 free kilometers per month. Partnership extends mobility options beyond public transport.
• naturenergie sharingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCarsharing service (formerly Stadtmobil Südbaden/my-e-car). RVF subscribers receive 25 EUR driving credit for new customers plus chance to win additional credit.
• bwegtPlusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBaden-Württemberg state mobility bonus program. RVF Deutschland-Ticket holders receive discounts and benefits from partner businesses throughout the state.
• Schwarzwald Tourismus GmbH (KONUS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint promotion of KONUS guest card covering free public transport in the Black Forest across 9 transport associations. RVF municipalities participate to promote tourism.
• FWTM Freiburg (Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism organization selling Welcomekarte and offering city tours, city maps, and visitor information at Tourist Information office on Rathausplatz.
• VAG SchauinslandbahnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCable car to Schauinsland mountain. Welcomekarte includes free ride; Regiokarte and Semesterticket holders receive discount on Berg & Talfahrt.
• fanta5 (5 southern Baden transport associations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination of 5 regional transport associations (TGO, RVF, Move, RVL, WTV) for seamless cross-network travel. badisch24 enables travel across all 5 networks. fanta5 network extends to Basel SBB.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund (KVV): Regional Verkehrsverbund covering the Karlsruhe region in Baden-Württemberg, coordinating tariffs and ticketing across multiple operators in a similar mid-sized German metropolitan area. Closest comparable peer to RVF by state, structure and scale.
• Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart (VVS): Stuttgart-region Verkehrsverbund coordinating bus, rail and S-Bahn tariffs across VRS/VVS operators. Same-state (Baden-Württemberg) coordination model with comparable 3-zone-adjacent tariff architecture to RVF.
• Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar (VRN): Cross-state Verkehrsverbund coordinating public transport across the Mannheim/Heidelberg/Rhine-Neckar metropolitan area. Comparable in coordinating bus and rail operators across multiple districts with intermodal ticketing similar to RVF's model.
• Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS): Verkehrsverbund coordinating public transport around Cologne/Bonn in North Rhine-Westphalia. Highly comparable to RVF in operating model: multi-operator tariff coordination, Deutschland-Ticket distribution, and Abo subscription management.
• Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV): Hamburg metropolitan Verkehrsverbund coordinating bus, rail and ferry across the HVV region. Direct comparable in operating a zoned tariff system and integrated ticketing across multiple transport operators, though at significantly larger scale than RVF.
• Münchner Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund (MVV): Munich-region Verkehrsverbund integrating U-Bahn, S-Bahn, bus and tram under a unified tariff. Comparable in being a customer-facing tariff authority that does not directly operate vehicles, similar to RVF's coordination role.
• Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB): Berlin-Brandenburg Verkehrsverbund coordinating regional rail and bus across a multi-state region. Comparable in administering Deutschland-Ticket subscriptions and providing a Tarifrechner-style journey/tariff planning function.
• Nahverkehrsverbund Niedersachsen / NVV: Lower Saxony Verkehrsverbund coordinating regional bus and rail across a largely rural state. Comparable in operating a unified tariff across many smaller operators and integrating with national subscription products.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Bahn (DB Vertrieb GmbH): Largest German rail operator and channel partner for RVF (sales at DB Reisezentren, tickets in DB Navigator). Comparable as a broad incumbent that both operates transport and provides distribution infrastructure for Verkehrsverbund tickets like RVF's.

Emerging players

• FAIRTIQ: Swiss-based check-in/check-out mobile ticketing provider integrated with RVF via the Check-in-Ticket feature across Baden-Württemberg (CiCoBW). Comparable as an emerging MaaS technology layer that could increasingly mediate retail customer relationships with Verkehrsverbünde.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/rvf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxj9y5cq
• Instagraminstagram.com/rvf_verkehrsverbund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/regio-verkehrsverbund-freiburg-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg