FAQs

The cities of Cologne, Bonn, Leverkusen and Monheim as well as the districts of Rhein-Erft-Kreis, Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, Oberbergischer Kreis and Kreis Euskirchen have merged to form the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS) transport network and act as the umbrella association for the transport companies in the VRS area.

VRS GmbH's remit is, among other things, to adjust and further develop the fares to provide standardised tickets and prices as well as coordinated timetables for passengers. Joint information and services as well as campaigns are other fields of activity.

You can find more information here : VRS Organisation

The VRS tariff area is divided into individual fare zones. A fare zone corresponds to one city or municipality. For journeys within a city or municipality, you need a ticket at price category 1a (or price level 1b for Cologne or Bonn). The more cities and towns you cross on your journey, the higher the price category required.

In addition to the municipality-based fare categories, there is a short hop fare for short trips. This allows you to travel up to four stops (RE, RB, S-Bahn and express buses may not be used with the short hop fare!).

You can find out which price category applies for the trip you want

• either through the VRS timetable information system:
  simply enter your start and destination in the online timetable information and view possible timetable connections. In addition to the various travel options, you will also receive information on the ticket price category with which you can reach your destination.
• Or you can use the VRS ticket assistant to display the cheapest ticket offers for the start and finish connection you want.

With the exception of 4erTickets, all tickets from the VRS ticket vending machines have already been validated and are intended for immediate use. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the transport companies' sales outlets that have not been validated.

However, you can always tell by the imprint on the tickets whether they have already been validated and can be used for immediate departure. Or whether you may have to validate the tickets at the validating machines at bus stops or in the vehicle itself.

EinzelTickets and 4erTickets can only be used for a limited time after validation. The validity period depends on the price category.

• Short hop EinzelTickets and 4erTickets are valid for: 20 minutes
• EinzelTickets and 4erTickets in price category 1a/1b are valid for: 90 minutes
• EinzelTickets and 4erTickets in price category 2a/2b are valid for: 120 minutes
• EinzelTickets and 4erTickets in price category 3 and are valid for: 180 minutes
• EinzelTickets and 4erTickets in price category 5 are valid for: 360 minutes

During this time the journey can be interrupted and the means of transport can be changed, if necessary. Detours, round trips or return trips are not allowed though.

EinzelTickets, 4erTickets, 24StundenTickets and AnschlussTickets purchased in advance are always only valid until the next price adjustment for the corresponding ticket. If the ticket price changes, old tickets lose their validity after a transitional period. During this transitional period you can of course still use your old tickets.

EinzelTickets, 4erTickets, 24StundenTickets and AnschlussTickets from the previous year can be used until 31 March of the current year. If you have not used your tickets by then, you can exchange them at your transport company for another three years until 31.12. (tickets from 2019 can therefore still be exchanged until 31.12.2022!). Only the respective difference has to be paid then.

The contact addresses for the transport companies can be found here: Transport companies in the VRS network

In addition to the statutory public holidays applicable in NRW, Shrove Monday, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are treated as statutory public holidays in terms of fares. This means that all extension and transportation regulations for VRS subscription tickets will also apply on these days.

The special extension and transportation regulations for VRS subscriptions can be found here: Ticket range

The entire range of VRS tickets is available from the transport companies in the VRS network area.

They are sold through stationary or mobile ticket vending machines at bus stops or on the vehicles as well as from many local advance booking offices. In addition to the transport companies' customer centres, many private sales outlets (e.g. kiosks, lottery ticket offices, etc.) also sell VRS tickets. Private sales outlets that sell VRS tickets generally have a VRS logo or the local transport company's logo applied visibly at the entrance.

The contact addresses for the transport companies can be found here: Transport companies in the VRS network

You can either purchase a VRS ticket as a subscription in person at one of the transport companies' customer centres in the VRS network or order it in writing from one of the transport companies.

The VRS subscriptions are issued as electronic tickets (eTickets). You should submit your application by the 10th of the previous month to receive it in time for the 1st of the start month. The eTicket will then be sent to you by post.

Subscription order forms and amendment/cancellation forms can be downloaded here: Subscription order forms

The contact addresses for the transport companies can be found here: Transport companies in the VRS network

Your subscription contractual partner is always the transport company with which you have taken out your subscription. You can see which company this is on your ticket. The respective contractual transport company's logo is affixed there (e.g. KVB, DB, RSVG, etc.).

Although the VRS logo is also depicted on the ticket, the VRS does not generally issue any tickets as the umbrella organisation. In the event that your contractual transport company's logo is missing from your ticket, you can also check your account statements. The subscription amount will be collected monthly from your account by your contractual transport company.

By the way, the VRS has no way of establishing which transport company you have taken out your subscription with. Because the transport companies' customer data are subject to data protection. As an umbrella organisation, the VRS has no access to this personal customer data.

Ticket subscriptions can be taken out with the transport companies using the following forms: Subscriptions

The SchülerTicket is not available for public sale. The SchülerTicket is only available for pupils at schools where the public authority has decided to introduce the SchülerTicket. The ordering of SchülerTickets is coordinated centrally by the school for all students.

Please contact the school's administration office directly, they will be happy to assist you.

You can find more information about the SchülerTicket here: SchülerTicket

The JobTicket is not available for public sale and can only be obtained from the company if the employer has a job ticket contract. Your employer (personnel department) is also your direct contact for any questions regarding amending and cancelling the JobTicket.

You can find more information about the JobTicket here: JobTicket

If you have lost your eTicket, please contact the transport company from whom you purchased your subscription directly.

You can see which company this is on your ticket. The respective contractual transport company's logo is affixed there (e.g. KVB, DB, RSVG, etc.). Although the VRS logo is also depicted on the ticket, the VRS does not generally issue any tickets as the umbrella organisation.

In the event that your contractual transport company's logo is missing from your ticket, you can also check your account statements. The subscription amount will be collected monthly from your account by your contractual transport company.

By the way, the VRS has no way of establishing which transport company you have taken out your subscription with. Because the transport companies' customer data are subject to data protection. As an umbrella organisation, the VRS has no access to this personal customer data.

The contact addresses for the transport companies can be found here : Transport companies in the VRS network

You can buy TagesTickets, WochenTickets, Formel9 and MonatsTickets in all price categories online in the VRS Ticketshop. You will receive your personal ticket as a download when you complete your online order and also by email at the same time. Depending on which email account you use, you should be able to retrieve your ticket by email within 5 minutes at the latest.

Please note that online tickets are non-transferable and are only valid in conjunction with a valid ID document (e.g. identity card, passport, etc.).

You can find more information here: VRS-Ticketshop

The VRS Ticketshop is operated by Rhein-Sieg Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH (RSVG) on behalf of all transport companies in the VRS network. If you have any problems with the purchase or delivery of online tickets, please contact RSVG directly.

You can reach RSVG by email at: post(at)rsvg.de or by phone on: +49 2241 4990

You can find more information here: VRS-Ticketshop

EinzelTickets, TagesTickets, WochenTickets, MonatsTickets and Formel9Tickets as well as supplements to use the use of the 1st class carriage, express buses and to transport bikes and the flat fare VRS AnschlussTicket can be purchased cashless on your mobile phone to start your journey immediately.

The HandyTickets are discounted by at least 5% compared to the normal paper tickets in the VRS ticket range. EinzelTicket are even 10% cheaper, please see : HandyTicket price list

In addition, seasonal ticket offers, such as the AbsolventenTicket, KarnevalsTicket and the CSD-Ticket can also be purchased as a HandyTicket.

Before you buy your first HandyTicket, you must register as a HandyTicket customer once in the Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG HandyTicket portal and download the HandyTicket app to your mobile phone.

You can find more information about this under: HandyTickets in the VRS network

If you would like to use the SWB ("easy.GO") system, please contact the Stadtwerke Bonn by phone: +49 228 7111

If you have any questions about "HandyTicket", please contact Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG (KVB) directly by email: handyticket(at)kvb-koeln.de

For questions about the Stadtwerke Bonn EasyGo app, please contact them by phone: +49 228 7111

You can find timetable information for the connection you want on our website under the "Timetable information" menu item: online timetable

Mobile timetable information is available through the VRS app, which is available for iPhone and Android. You can find more information about this under: VRS-Apps

Timetable information is available by phone nationwide by calling: +49 1806 50 40 30 (landline 20 ct/call, mobile max. 60 ct/call). Alternatively, you can also use the free "speaking timetable" by phone on +49 800 350 40 30.

The transport companies make every effort to ensure that buses and trains depart on time and take you safely to your destination. However, if your desired means of transport departs more than 20 minutes late and there is no alternative by bus or train, you can make use of the NRW-wide "Mobility Guarantee".

As part of the mobility guarantee, you can use a taxi or an additional long-distance train subject to supplements as an alternative. The costs incurred will be reimbursed up to a certain amount by the transport company responsible for the cancellation or delay. All you need to do is fill out a reimbursement form and submit it together with the relevant receipts for your cost expenditure to the responsible transport company. As a rule, your expenses will be refunded to your account within approx. 2 - 3 weeks.

However, you cannot use the mobility guarantee in cases of strikes, storms, natural forces or bomb threats.

You can find more information and the reimbursement application forms here: Mobility guarantee

You can use all regional means of local transport that operate in the VRS network with VRS tickets. These include the S-Bahn, underground, trams, buses and local trains (RegionalExpress trains and regional trains).

You can also recognise local transport vehicles by the VRS logo on the vehicle.

A separate FahrradTicket must be purchased in addition to your own ticket in the VRS network to take bikes with you. You need a EinzelTicket in price category 1b or 2a per trip (regardless of the distance travelled). These are identified by a bike symbol on the ticket vending machines.

Please note that the following rules apply to bike transportation: Bikes are always transported in the VRS network if there are suitable facilities on the vehicle or if the space permits:

a) Bikes may only be parked on the bus in the designated place for prams.
b) On trains and trams, bikes will only be transported in the stowage spaces marked with a bike symbol and in the boarding area.
If the designated bike spaces on a vehicle are occupied, no more passengers with bikes can board the vehicle.

Passengers with prams and wheelchairs always have priority over bikes.

Depending on the region, there may be restrictions on the times of use; passengers can find the exact times in the information or notice boards provided by the local transport companies.

You can find more information about bike transportation under: Bike transportation in the VRS network

Children up to and including the age of 5 travel free of charge in the VRS network. Children from 6 up to and including 14 years of age travel at the favourable children's rate (EinzelTickets and 4erTickets for children).

Dogs can be taken along free of charge in the VRS network.

However, the following should be observed when taking dogs with you: The safety and smooth running of the operation must not be put at risk and other passengers must not be inconvenienced. Dogs must be kept on a short lead and may not occupy any seats.

However, dogs may not be take along in on-demand means of transport (e.g. AST - on-call shared taxi), since taxis are generally used for these services and it is not possible to transport dogs for reasons of space and consideration for other passengers. One exception is guide dogs for the blind accompanying a blind person; these are always permitted for transportation due to the necessity.