knowledge Overview
The Munich city bus network comprises around 80 lines on approx. 546 kilometres of route network with 1,083 bus stops (as of 2024); in 2022, around 185 million bus passengers were carried. The division of the network into line classes goes back to the transport research project "Top Bus" and came into force on 12 December 2004. At night, 15 night lines (night bus) take over the service.
Operator
The operator is Munich Transport Company (MVG), a subsidiary of the Stadtwerke München; it operates U-Bahn, tram and bus in Munich. Private partners provide part of the vehicles and drivers.
History
Forerunners of today's bus service were horse-drawn omnibuses deployed in Munich from 1861. In 1898, the Motorwagen-Gesellschaft München AG, a forerunner of today's Autobus Oberbayern, put the first motor omnibus lines into service; from 1906, a regular scheduled service with motor buses ran for the first time. Since the founding of the Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG) in 2001, it has operated the city bus network as a subsidiary of the Stadtwerke München, and the conversion to emission-free drives is being continuously advanced.
Line classes
- MetroBus (lines 50–63 and 68): around 13–14 main lines, at least every 10 minutes during the day, connecting the most important interchange points
- StadtBus (lines 100–199): more than 50 district feeder lines, including the museum line 100 (Hauptbahnhof – Ostbahnhof via Museumsinsel and Pinakotheken); compared with the MetroBuses, reduced service in the evenings and at weekends
- ExpressBus (lines with "X" prefix, e.g. X30, X35, X36, X80): fast cross-connections between major interchange nodes with few intermediate stops
- Night bus (e.g. N40–N45, N71–N81): night route network with star-shaped services
- MVV regional buses (lines 200–999): connections into the districts of the surrounding area
Major hubs
- Hauptbahnhof
- Karlsplatz (Stachus)
- Ostbahnhof
- Münchner Freiheit and Arabellapark
- Fürstenried West and Westfriedhof (MetroBus hubs)
Further information
network_lines: 80 bus lines (as of 2024): MetroBus 50–63/68, StadtBus 100–199, ExpressBus X, NachtBus N; network_area: Munich (MVV inner area); network_status: In operation