LahnStar: By On-Demand Shuttle to the ICE

Passengers in the Rhein-Main area now have the option to conveniently, flexibly, and cost-effectively use the on-demand shuttle LahnStar to transfer to the ICE train at Limburg-Süd. This service is a collaboration between the Limburg city line, DB Fernverkehr AG, RMV (Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund), and ioki GmbH. The process operates through the RMV OnDeMo app, developed and provided by DB's software subsidiary ioki. Customers select the "long-distance ticket" slider and choose Limburg-Süd station as the start or destination point. The switch is supported by DB Fernverkehr AG, which subsidizes the LahnStar trip by up to 2.60 Euros. Consequently, transferring passengers pay only 1.10 Euros, and if they already have a public transport ticket, the LahnStar ride is even free, according to the provider.

“There is a clear incentive to forgo using one's car in the LahnStar's service area when traveling to or from the ICE train,” explains Michael Stanke, Limburg's first city councilor in his role as the head of the city line.

He sees the primary target group for this new service as passengers who find limited or no benefit in existing bus lines due to the significant increase in travel time caused by multiple transfers.

“On-demand services like LahnStar are the ideal supplement to bus and train, especially where direct public transport connections are lacking. As a feeder to the ICE station, LahnStar showcases all the strengths of an on-demand service: It takes passengers directly to the station without additional transfers, precisely matching the schedules of long-distance trains. That's a compelling reason to leave the car at home,” says RMV Managing Director Knut Ringat.

Cost-effective and comfortable

Stefanie Berk, Marketing Board Member at DB Fernverkehr, promotes on-demand services as seamless and comfortable ways to travel to and from the train. She expressed excitement about expanding the test area for closer integration of ICE and on-demand services to the Limburg location. Michael Barillère-Scholz, Managing Director of ioki, DB's technology partner providing the innovative technology for the on-demand service, is convinced:

"By linking LahnStar and long-distance services, public transport becomes more attractive, particularly for those who currently use their car to reach the ICE station. The ride with LahnStar is cost-effective and comfortable. This way, we combine climate-friendly mobility on the road with the railway."

First and last mile to the ICE: Limburg and Darmstadt as pioneers
The long-distance station at Limburg-Süd is the second German long-distance station, after Darmstadt, where long-distance trains are connected to public transport via on-demand service. The project partners aim for a long-term shift from motorized individual transport to public transport and rail. Since May 2022, this has already been successfully tested with the Heinerliner of HEAG mobilo in Darmstadt: Travelers there can provide their long-distance ticket and even large pieces of luggage in the app. Thanks to the dense network of virtual and physical stops, the flexible shuttle service is the ideal complement for the first and last mile. LahnStar and Heinerliner belong to the largest on-demand network in Germany under the RMV umbrella. Nine cities and counties are on board, all relying on ioki's on-demand technology.