For many entertainment enthusiasts from surrounding villages it is a solution: the night bus from Meppel. Nevertheless, the timetable due to safety incidents is under pressure. “We have to do a bit normal with each other,” says spokesperson Jorne Bonte of the OV agency Groningen Drenthe.
Since September 2023, the public transport agency provides for night transport. Once a night, buses depart from Meppel to Dwingeloo, Hoogeveen and Ruinen. The last line was added in April 2024 ago after a successful signature campaign.
“When we added that bus, good use was made of it immediately,” says Bonte. He says that nocturnal transport will be received with enthusiasm anyway. “We get a lot of positive reactions. Not only from travelers, but also from parents. They are very happy that their youth will come home safely in this way and not needs the car or bicycle.”
Yet the journeys have not always been going well in recent months. Since the beginning of this year, several incidents have occurred, sometimes in which the police had to be called in and eventually decided to travel.
“Since those incidents have been going on every ride security care. First we only carried out surprise controls, but now that has become permanent. That should not be necessary and we would like to go back to how it was, so occasionally.”
Due to the incidents, there are also drivers who would rather not drive anymore at night. OV agency Groningen Drenthe therefore feels forced to make a call to all users of the night buses.
“This really has to stop. We really want to provide transport and we think it is very important that people come home in a safe way. It should only be possible for the drivers, they have to be happy to drive the night bus and bring the buses back.”
That is why the transport agency rings the bell. “Do you behave in the night bus. We really want to ride, but we have to do a bit normal with each other.”