Using your CampusCard as a bus pass
What must I do to make sure my CampusCard is a valid bus pass?
Before you use it as a bus pass for the first time you must make sure, that:
- your CampusCard displays the VBP logo
- you have validated your CampusCard for the current semester
Now your CampusCard is ready for use as a bus pass.
You will need to carry additional photographic ID (i.e. your passport, foreigners registration card or, if you are an EU citizen, your national ID card) whenever taking the bus.
A general note on buying tickets on a German bus
In Germany you have to buy your ticket from the driver when you board the bus. Don't just hop on board and wait for someone to come and sell you a ticket as you run the risk of being caught fare-dodging, even if this was not intentional!
Likewise, if you use your CampusCard bus pass, you should show it to the driver when getting on the bus without waiting to be asked.
When is my bus pass valid?
The semester bus pass is valid throughout the semester for which you have validated your card. The summer semester runs from 1 April to 30 September and the winter semester from 1 October to 31 March.
Which bus services can I use it for?
The integrated bus pass is valid for nearly all bus services operated by Verkehrsbetriebsgesellschaft Passau (VBP), a subsidiary of Stadtwerke Passau (SWP), within the city limits of Passau (look for the VBP logo on the timetable and on your student ID card). There is only one exception: the semester bus pass arrangement does not cover the so-called 'Oberhausbus', which runs between the Old Town Hall and the castle.
Where can't I use the semester bus pass?
Please be aware that your integrated bus pass is only valid on city buses. It is not valid on regional bus services (RBO/VLP): these bus operators are distinct from SWP/VBP and primarily serve destinations outside the city limits (Landkreis Passau).
Deutschlandticket and 29-Euro Ticket for students
The government has launched the Deutschlandticket, a new ticket valid on all regional and local public transport in all of Germany. While this does not include long distance trains (high speed trains, sleeper trains, international trains, etc.) or long distance coaches, there is no limit to how far you travel within Germany on these tickets.
From the winter semester 2023–24 onwards, students can purchase a discounted Deutschlandticket, also known as the 29-Euro Ticket. This can also be bought as an add-on ticket on top of your semester bus pass, which subtracts the price of the semester bus pass from the discounted Deutschlandticket.
Overview of conditions for the semester bus pass and the D-Ticket versions
| Ticket | Semester bus pass | Deutschlandticket (D-Ticket) | 29-Euro Ticket (D-Ticket for students) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Validity period | Whole semester (six months) | Monthly subscription | Monthly subscription |
| Geographic validity | City buses in Passau (VBP buses) but not regional buses (RBO) | Local and regional public transport in all of Germany (regional buses, regional trains, urban transit in all German cities) | Local and regional public transport in all of Germany (regional buses, regional trains, urban transit in all German cities) |
| Price | 32 euros per Semester, included in the semester contribution fee | 29 euros per month for students at Bavarian universities 49 euros per month without the student discount | The price is 23.70 euros per month for students at the University of Passau |
| Eligibility | Only students enrolled at the University of Passau | Anyone (cost: 49 euros); students enrolled at a Bavarian university can get the discounted 29-euro version | Only students enrolled at the University of Passau |
Where to buy the Deutschlandticket/29-Euro Ticket
Passau's local bus company (Stadtwerke Passau) does not sell the discounted Deutschlandticket; instead, it is sold through a booking platform [German content] in cooperation with the transport association of the city of Regensburg (Regensburger Verkehrsverbund, RVV). Please note that the booking platform is only available in German. For a step-by-step description of the booking process English, see the question "This sounds like a great deal! How can I get one?" in the FAQs below.
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