170 new, economical buses and an extension of the timetable. With these plans, bus transport operator Arriva can work in the east and center of the province for the next 12.5 years. There is also a fast bus connection to the Efteling. That was announced on Tuesday.
Together with the province of Noord-Brabant, the transport company will invest heavily in public transport in Brabant in the coming years. For example, 170 new zero-emission buses will be driving in the area, the timetables will be expanded and cities will become more accessible.
Deputy Stijn Smeulders speaks of ‘a large qualitative plus’ for public transport in the middle and northeast of Brabant.
The area where Arriva will drive around in the coming years is the largest so -called ‘concession area’ in Brabant and consists of nineteen municipalities: Van Hilvarenbeek and Waalwijk to Oss and Boxmeer.
Remain easily accessible
To keep cities such as Tilburg, Den Bosch and Oss easily accessible in the future, the province invests an additional 3.5 million euros in bus transport annually. “After a difficult period around Corona, our public transport is really growing again,” explains Stijn Smeulders.
In addition, from January 2026 the province will introduce the Hub and Haltetaxi in East Brabant as a supplement to public transport. Efteling visitors will soon be able to use the ‘fastest bus connection’ between Kaatsheuvel/Efteling to Tilburg and Den Bosch.
EBS does not receive the tender
Both Arriva and carrier EBS had released a ‘bid’ to take care of bus transport in Oost-Brabant. Several parties in the Provincial States were not happy with the registration of transport company EBS and the Commission called on the tender not to grant the company.
This is because the parent company of bus operator EBS, the Israeli Egged, is active in illegally occupied territories on the West Bank. In addition, the parent company is on a ‘blacklist’ of the United Nations, because it has bus lines in and to illegal settlements and thus benefits from colonization.
Deputy Stijn Smeulders already made it clear to the parties of the Provincial States that EBS could not be excluded for this reason, because it was not one of the conditions in the tender.
Arriva’s proposal was ultimately assessed by the province. The new Agreement will take effect on December 13, 2026. The transport company, which is already active in East Brabant, will therefore remain responsible for bus transport in this region at least until 2038.