The success story of the Karlsruhe Model began with the development of the Karlsruhe-Bretten rail line. Drawings of this line and also of the Karlsruhe-Wörth line demonstrate the dual-mode concept.
Karlsruhe - Bretten
Karlsruhe - Bretten before 1992
Before 1992, riders from Karlsruhe's center to Bretten station had to transfer from tram to regional rail at Karlsruhe Durlach station. In Bretten, a further transfer from commuter rail to bus was required. This awkward and time-consuming trip deterred many potential transit users.
Karlsruhe - Bretten since 1992
After 1992, riders could travel from Bretton to
Karlsruhe city center without having to transfer. The travel time
was reduced by 15 minutes. In Bretten, new schools and businesses
opened in the vicinity new rail stops. These new stops were not a
detriment to travel time, as the new vehicles were capable of higher
speeds between the stops. Thus, the development along the line
increased dramatically. After a 1992 transit user census, the
Karlsruhe-Bretten line experienced a 400% increase in ridership.
Currently, the number of transit patrons is six times the amount as
when riders were forced to transfer to travel between the two cities.
Karlsruhe - Wörth
Karlsruhe - Wörth after 1997
Riders were faced with a similar situation on the line linking Karlsruhe with Wörth in Rhineland-Palatinian. Passengers from Wörth transferred at the Karlsruhe main trainstation to a tram to continue to Karlsruhe's city center. Heading into Wörth, riders had to also transfer to a bus, or walk long distances. With the creation of the tramtrain between Karlsruhe and Wörth, not only was a transfer-free trip created, but the line was also extended all the way into the Wörth city center. With travel time dramatically decreased and transfers made a thing of the past, public transit became an attractive alternative to private transportation.
