The Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (LVB), literally translated into English as the Leipzig Transport Authority, operates the tramway and bus transport services in Leipzig, Germany. The LVB network is a part of the regional public transport association, the Mitteldeutscher Verkehrsverbund (MDV). The LVB was formed by the merger, from 1 January 1917, of two predecessor undertakings, the Großen Leipziger Straßenbahn (GLSt, "Greater Leipzig Tramway Company") and the Leipziger Elektrischen Straßenbahn (LESt, "Leipzig Electric Tramway Company"). The merged undertaking was also known as GLSt until it was reorganized and renamed as the LVB, from 29 July 1938.
Organization
The company is organized as a holding company. LVB owns infrastructure such as track, depots and land, and all vehicles. It holds the concession ("license") for public transport in Leipzig, and is responsible for organization, planning and management of public transport. It provides these services through its various subsidiary undertakings. The LVB Group consists of the following undertakings: LeoBus GmbH (organized from 1 November 2005 from the transport undertakings Regionalverkehr Leipzig (RVL, "Regional Transport Leipzig"); Regionalverkehr Taucha (RVT, "Regional Transport Taucha), Regionalverkehr Riesa (RVR, "Regional Transport Riesa"), Deutsche Nahverkehrsgesellschaft (DNVG, German Suburban Transport Company) and the motorbus division of Leipziger Stadtverkehrsbetriebe (LSVB, Leipzig City Transport Company). Operates regular public transport and school bus services in the region surrounding Leipzig, and other transport services . LeoBus also provides servicing for the motor vehicle and bus fleet. Leipziger Stadtverkehrsbetriebe GmbH & Co. KG (LSVB, "Leipzig City Transport Company LLP") operates the Leipzig tramway and bus networks under contract to LVB . LTB Leipziger Transport und Logistik Betriebe GmbH ("Leipzig Transport and Logistics Services LLC") manages the vehicle fleet, vehicle maintenance and also provides transport and vehicle leasing services . Verkehrs-Consult Leipzig GmbH (VCL, "Transport Consulting Leipzig LLC") provides consulting, planning and project engineering services for passenger and goods transportation . IFTEC GmbH & Co. KG, organized from the predecessor undertakings LFB and LIB, provides "custom maintenance solutions" for rail infrastructure and vehicles. IFTEC is a joint undertaking of LVB and Siemens AG, with each holding 50 percent of the shares. (LFB, Leipziger Fahrzeugservice-Betriebe GmbH ("Leipzig Vehicle Service Enterprises LLC") provided "industrial service and technical systems solution in the field of transport, with special emphasis on rail vehicle maintenance;" it once built vehicles." LIB, Leipziger Infrastruktur Betriebe GmbH & Co. KG ("Leipzig Infrastructure Enterprises LLP") provided maintenance and construction of rail and road transport infrastructure.) LEOLINER Fahrzeugbau Leipzig GmbH ("LEOLINER Vehicle Construction Leipzig LLC"), which was formerly the vehicle construction division of the LFB (above), produces the NGTW6L series of six-axle low-floor articulated tramcars, marketed under the name LEOLINER (the name makes reference to the lion on the town's coat of arms) . Leipziger Servicebetriebe GmbH (LSB, "Leipzig Service Enterprises LLC"), which manages auto parking facilities and provides support services for transport operations, including security, vehicle cleaning and fare inspection. Other services offered include catering . LAB Leipziger Aus- und Weiterbildungsbetriebe GmbH ("Leipzig Training and Advanced Training Services LLC") provides training for tram drivers, commercial drivers, professional training in skilled trade and commercial sectors, and provides advanced-training activities .
These subsidiaries were organized to facilitate tendering of public transport and reduction of public subsidies. They serve outside clients in addition to LVB.
Lines
Bus route letters were replaced by route numbers with the timetable change effective 5 October 1997. In addition, the tramway service network was again revised from 2001 and a marketing campaign began under the name Das Neue Netz ("The New Network"). Thus the following numbering scheme applies currently in Leipzig:
1-29: Tramway services
30s: Temporary tramway services for construction site and shuttle traffic
40s/50s: Temporary Tramway services for large events (Night services were designated in the 50 series in Leipzig until 2001.) 60s: Bus services in western and southern districts (primarily Grünau) 70s: Bus services in eastern districts 80s: Bus services in northern districts (primarily Mockau-Thekla) over 100: Regional and suburban bus services