French Coach Operator launches new Service towards Germany

In France, iDBUS is an established coach operator. The subsidary company of the French state-owned railway operator SNCF just opened its first service towards Germany. The new line connects Cologne and Aachen with Brussels and Paris. Most German intercity bus companies work together with smaller bus companies using subcontracts. In contrary to that, iDBUS has own drivers and owns a fleet of coaches.

Your line from Paris to Cologne is your first line to Germany. Why should customers choose your service instead of the ones other companies provide?

iDBUS is a high-end long-distance coach service, which offers a comfortable and practical means of transport with attractive prices, even at the last minute. The prices are announced several months in advance and are fixed until the departure time. All coaches have reclining seats with table space and adjustable leg rests, two 19-inch television screens, plug sockets, free Wi-Fi and toilets.

iDBUS also has a customer satisfaction rate of 90%, an exceptional performance in the passenger transport sector. 40% of its customers are loyal to iDBUS. ...

The latest technology is used to ensure a safe and peaceful trip (driver assistance technology, a connection to the head office, three-point safety belts, back-up cameras, sensors, etc.). Furthermore, our drivers, known as Captains, are trained to welcome passengers and keep them updated for the duration of the journey, both in English and French.

All iDBUS stops are found in town centres or in the nearby suburbs. They can easily be reached by car or public transport and are near businesses and restaurants.

Do you have any tips on how to get a good deal on your trips?

We currently have a promotional offer running until the 17th December. It is €15 for a one-way trip from Cologne to Paris and from Aix-la-Chapelle to Paris.

Our prices are fixed and, therefore, do not vary depending on the time of booking. Finally, we also have a ‘Group Deal’ price that allows passengers to buy 4 seats for the price of 3, which is very useful for families or groups of friends.

Most German companies don't have their own drivers or buses. Instead they use subcontractors on the different lines. Why does iDBUS employ its own drivers?

We wish to offer a high-quality service, guaranteeing customer safety. That’s why we have our own fleet of coaches and our own drivers. Safety is evidently one of our top priorities. We have 46 iDBUS coaches, which are all equipped with cutting-edge equipment to ensure a smooth trip and maximum reliability: driver assistance technology, a connection to the main office, three-point safety belts, back-up cameras, door surveillance, sensors, an alarm that sounds if the bus crosses over the white line of a lane, navigation system etc., all of which are subject to regular maintenance and rigorous tests.

Moreover, our Captains are recruited for their professionalism and their experience. They receive personalized driving training on iDBUS routes. The drivers are constantly linked to the head office, open 24 hours a day, which means that they receive useful information relating to their journey.

For you, what is the most exciting part of starting this new line towards Germany?

It is always exciting to open a new line. Our aim is to extend our network by connecting more living cities in Europe. We are convinced that our coach service, which is comfortable, environmentally-friendly, safe and affordable, has its place in Germany. It will improve connections, especially for young people, with Aix-la-Chapelle, a major university campus, and will encourage tourism in Cologne and the surrounding area. Besides this, thanks to our business partnership with the German coach service, Adac Postbus, passengers coming from German cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich and Dortmund, will also have access to the iDBUS network for journeys to Brussels and Paris.

Thank you for this interview. We wish you great success with your new line!