History of PostBus

Together with partners of the Mobility Lab, PostBus tested the electronic ticket system CIBO in Sion. The passengers use their smartphone and always receive the lowest price for the route they travelled.

On 23 June the test operations of the SmartShuttles was launched in Sion, the first self-driving vehicles in Switzerland to transport passengers in the public sphere. These are trailblazing tests worldwide.

Beginning in September the mobility app NordwestMobil was tested in the Basel region. The app allows customers to combine private and public means of transport – an absolute first. NordwestMobil makes the option to use various means of transport much easier and clearer.

In early December 2016 PostBus launched the first two electric shuttle buses for skiers. The buses are completely battery-operated and free to use for the guests in Saas-Fee. These were the first electric buses in Switzerland that PostBus put into operation.

In the process of the city of Zurich’s plans to establish the largest bike-sharing network in Switzerland featuring over 100 stations the PostBus subsidiary PubliBike won the call for tender ahead of five other competitors.

Together, the five postbuses with fuel cells in the Brugg region passed the mark of one million kilometres on 31 July 2015, providing proof that as a drive technology, hydrogen is unquestionably suitable for public transport.

PostBus launched PubliRide, a product for communities and companies to encourage the establishment of car pools. With the Internet platform, it is easy and convenient to organise a car pool. While the goal of PubliRide is to decongest traffic in the cities, this is intended to enhance the existing public transport services in rural areas.

The first PostBus stops were equipped with DynPaper. These new timetables are no longer printed on paper. Instead, departure times are indicated on a flexible, electronic display. The 13 stops with DynPaper were part of a pilot project until the spring of 2015.

PostBus and the Swiss Parks Network launched the partner campaign “With PostBus to the Swiss Parks”. The kick-off of the partnership was celebrated with a public event at Bern’s Federal Plaza. In addition, a postbus in Swiss Parks design went on a tour of Switzerland. The purpose was to encourage people to choose public transport to travel to 20 park regions.

In the Grisons, PostBus tested the new “bike porter” bicycle trailer, a ground-breaking project in Switzerland.

In the summer of 2015 the public transport industry introduced the SwissPass. The PostBus drivers were provided with robust smartphones for this. PostBus also offers these tools, the inspection software for the SwissPass as well as the operation of the inspection system to other transport companies.

For the first time in a quarter century PostBus put an extra-large postbus (bus with trailer) into service on the Laupen–Düdingen route.

PostBus gained initial experience with a battery-operated bus. For two weeks a battery-operated electric vehicle was in operation for test purposes in Yverdon.

After a rigorous test phase PostBus introduced real time information in the area covered by the Nordwestschweiz fare association: travellers can now obtain actually expected departure and arrival times from the display boards provided at the stops.

PostBus acquires velopass GmbH and becomes Switzerland’s largest bike rental self-service company.

PostBus begins to equip its fleet with free WiFi. The roll-out is completed in April 2013.

Switzerland’s first hydrogen filling station for buses opens in Brugg. It supplies vehicles which have been used to test fuel cell technology in public transport since December 2011.

The free PostBus App is launched. It is available in German, French, Italian and English.

The MyPlus loyalty programme is launched. Customers benefit from exclusive special offers, great discounts, reduced fares as well as prize draws and competitions.

Switzerland’s first three PostBus vehicles using the lower-emission Euro 6 drive system are put into operation in the conurbation of Berne.

As first public transport company in Switzerland, PostBus moves ahead with the operation of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles.

PostBus, SBB and Rent a Bike inaugurate the first PubliBike stations in four Swiss towns. PubliBike offers bicycles and E-Bikes for personal use in the form of rentals - thus completing the final mile in the service transport chain.

PostBus receives a new brand image.

PostBus wins public tender to provide bus services in Liechtenstein for a ten-year term starting in 2011.

The first hybrid postbus went into operation in the Bern region. It saves 20 to 30 per cent of fuel compared to a pure diesel bus.

PostBus has launched its first bike-sharing service in the city of Sion with 50 bicycles at six rental stations.

With LeisureClick, PostBus is the first public transportation company to launch an augmented reality application for leisure activities.