From October 19, carrier Hermes will run more and more buses in and around Eindhoven. The fast-growing region will receive a new express bus between Best and the ASML site in Veldhoven. This line responds to the growing demand from employees and visitors to the high-tech campus, according to Hermes regional director Martijn Mentink.
Mentink sees it as an investment “in the quality of life and the economic strength of the region”. Deputy Stijn Smeulders is happy with it. “That is exactly what we need to keep Southeast Brabant accessible in the future. It means that even more people are offered a good and fast bus connection at even more times.”
The deputy calls the Eindhoven region with its high-tech companies “one of the economic engines of the Netherlands”. The provincial government is already thinking about what Smeulders calls “a complicated puzzle” to ensure that bus transport grows over the next fifteen years with the growth of thousands of workers and homes.
Underground bus station
There are many high-tech companies in Eindhoven and the surrounding area, such as chip machine manufacturer ASML. Thousands of jobs and homes will be added until 2040, which means that more and better bus transport is desperately needed, according to the deputy. A new underground bus station has also been planned under the Eindhoven train station, about which the province hopes to make a decision soon. “The new station will be the beating heart of bus transport in this region,” says Smeulders.
The foundation for what he calls “the great leap forward” is being laid in the new concession for bus transport in this part of the province. This will start in 2029. “We really think: where do we want to have an impact? Good commuting transport is needed in the city, but they should also benefit from it in the rural areas. There is not always a station there and a good bus connection is really necessary.”
Adjusted timetable
In the adjusted timetable, buses from Uden and Gemert to Eindhoven, for example, run more often during rush hour. There will also be more buses on busy lines in and near Eindhoven, Helmond and Veldhoven, while the fast connection via a separate bus lane to and from Eindhoven Airport will also be put into use. This makes it easier for travelers to get to work or educational institutions.