Why are only certain shuttle times offered?

Since 1 December 2025, the shuttle has been operated by a driver hired specifically for this purpose. Typical rush hours, traffic conditions and available personnel resources were taken into account during planning in order to serve as many users as possible during central lecture and working hours. 

Have the times been finalised?

The shuttle is currently in a pilot phase. We are monitoring usage very closely and continuously evaluating at which times there is particularly high or low demand for journeys. If it turns out that certain time slots are used more or less than expected, the journey times will be adjusted as far as possible.

Can shuttle services be cancelled?

Yes, in individual cases, services may be cancelled at short notice or for several days – for example, if the driver is unable to work due to illness.

If no replacement is available and the journey cannot be compensated for, the affected bookings will be cancelled. In this case, you will receive an automatic notification informing you of the cancellation.

Why is there only one stop per campus?

In order to keep travel times as short and attractive as possible, it was decided to set up one central stop per campus. By bundling the stops, travel times can be stabilised and shuttle connections can be offered more reliably overall. The selected stops are located on the campus grounds in Essen and Duisburg, respectively, so that they are easily accessible. Additional stops would extend travel times and thus limit the frequency of service.

When will the app be available?

The app will be launched shortly. As soon as it is available, we will provide detailed information here about all its functions, possible uses and the exact steps for booking.

What will happen to the bookings made during the test phase?

During the test phase, the app was used exclusively for technical testing purposes. This was clearly indicated in the app by the note "Read me: Test operation". It stated: "This application is in test operation. The journeys displayed are fictitious and are for test purposes only. Reservations will be confirmed, but the confirmations are invalid. All data will be deleted during the next update."

All timetables displayed and reservations made during this test phase have now been completely deleted. Bookings made during the test phase are therefore not valid.

What should I do if the bus is already full but I need to get to the other campus?

The app will have a waiting list function. If there are no seats available, you can use the usual public transport options (DB or U18 and tram 901). The shuttle is a limited additional service.  

Can I use the shuttle service without a smartphone?

Yes. The service is also available as a web version at shuttle.uni-due.de. It is therefore not essential to use a smartphone.

What should I do if the train is not running but I need to get to the other campus?

If there are no seats available on the shuttle, you can use the usual public transport options (e.g. rail replacement service or U18 and tram 901) or carpool. The shuttle is a limited additional service that cannot compensate for the DB service. 

What should I do while the Duisburg-Essen railway line is closed?

If there are no seats available on the shuttle, you can use the usual public transport options (rail replacement service or U18 and tram 901) and carpooling. The shuttle is a limited additional service that cannot compensate for the DB service. In view of the currently announced closure, it is advisable to make early use of digital formats (digital teaching, video conferencing for business meetings).