Provinces end bus contract with EBS in eastern Netherlands early
Bus operator EBS will stop running buses in the IJssel-Vecht region halfway through 2029, years before its contract was due to end, after heavy financial losses.
The provinces of Gelderland, Flevoland and Overijssel have decided to end the public transport contract with bus operator EBS early. The contract covers bus services in the IJssel-Vecht concession, a region in the east of the country.
EBS was supposed to run the buses there until 2035. The contract will now end halfway through 2029.
The reason is money. EBS is making heavy financial losses on the concession.
concessie
A public transport concession is an exclusive contract granted by a regional government to a transport company to operate buses, trams, or regional trains in a specific area for a set period. In the Netherlands, provinces and metropolitan regions use these agreements to stipulate strict requirements for service frequency, routes, and sustainability. This system ensures reliable regional transit networks while allowing authorities to hold operators accountable for their performance.