BUDDY - THE FLEXIBLE NIGHT BUS SERVICE RUN BY STADTWERKE HEILBRONN

Your buddy service operates on Friday nights from midnight to 6 a.m. and on Saturday nights/any nights to a public holiday from midnight to 8 a.m.

Your buddy service operates within the Heilbronn city limits including Flein. Unfortunately, trips beyond the city limits are not on offer.

If you have not already done so, you must first download the SWHN app. The SWHN app will be available for download from 1 July 2022 in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

You can plan your ride back home with the buddy service by first entering your departure and destination details, as well as your preferred departure or arrival time. We suggest you switch on the location services in settings to grant the SWHN app access to your current location. Alternatively, you may also type in where you are or place the red pin on the map at the desired location.

If a Buddy vehicle is available at the travel time you requested, the app will give you the predicted departure and arrival times, plus how to get to the departure point on foot. The SWHN app automatically tells you at which Heilbronn stop your buddy will pick you up and at which stop you need to alight.

Under booking details, you can specify the number of passengers and whether one of them is a wheelchair user. Below the number of passengers, please indicate how many of them have a valid HNV ticket. For them, the SWHN app will automatically charge the convenience surcharge only. Please present your valid HNV tickets to the driver at the outset of your journey. After entering all booking details, you are ready to request your buddy.

Based on your details, the SWHN app will now try and find a buddy for you. It will calculate all your journey data, including the walking route to your departure stop. You may now book your buddy. Subsequently you will get an overview with all the details of your buddy ride.

If you already have a valid HNV ticket for fare zone A (Heilbronn), no matter whether it is a subscription ticket, day ticket, etc., you will only have to part with €2.50 for a Buddy journey, i.e., pay the convenience surcharge. HNV day tickets are even valid for buddy journeys until the end of service on the following day (see 18), giving you even more flexibility on your way back home.

Your buddy is a flexible travel option servicing more than 200 stops in both Heilbronn and Flein. In addition, there are also some virtual stops. Your SWHN app shows you exactly where you can get on and off a buddy.

The SWHN app is the mobility and service app provided by Stadtwerke Heilbronn, offering all you need in one place. The buddy service, HNV timetable information and mobile HNV tickets. Going forward, the SWHN app will offer further services, such as EV charging, tickets for Heilbronn public swimming pools and the Heilbronn ice rink. The SWHN app will be available for download from 1 July 2022 in the respective app stores for iOS and Android devices.

Yes, passengers will need an SWHN user account so they can be correctly identified when boarding the buddy. In addition, you may use the SWHN app to pay for the buddy service and HNV tickets.

No. You can only book and pay for your buddy trip through the SWHN app. This way, we can offer the buddy service at low prices and make it available to you all night long.

Sometimes things don’t turn out the way you planned. That’s why you can cancel your buddy journey at no charge until 15 minutes prior to the departure time. If you choose to cancel at a later time, we will have to charge a cancellation fee of €2.50.

The buddy system bundles requested journeys with similar destinations at similar times. Due to our ride-sharing philosophy, departure and arrival times may change slightly. This may also result in short detours for you, but at the same time it helps cut waiting times for everybody. That’s not only efficient, but also good for the environment. But the very best part about it is that you may meet other nice people on your buddy journey.

Do you need to be on time to catch your train? Or do you have to be at home at a certain time? Then simply enter your preferred time of arrival when you plan your journey. Your buddy will then take you to your destination on time. However, please make sure to allow for a time buffer, because traffic jams, road works or other unforeseen events cannot be ruled out. This way you avoid arriving at your destination too late.

Are you a regular buddy user or do you have an important appointment? Then book your buddy ride up to seven days in advance. If you find you don’t need your buddy after all, please make sure to cancel your buddy ride in good time to avoid cancellation fees. Please see 9 for more details.

If you require a buddy vehicle that is accessible for wheelchair users, please let us know when you plan your journey. Please note that there is only room for one wheelchair at any one time. Is more than one of you using a wheelchair? Then please book separate trips, one per wheelchair. You will then be transported one after the other.

Yes. You can book for up to 5 additional passengers.

No. For identification purposes, the person booking the buddy trip must also be travelling. Unfortunately, you can’t book a journey on behalf of other persons.

If you have a valid HNV day ticket for up to five persons, please select five travelling passengers and five passengers with a valid HNV ticket as you plan your journey. This way, you will be only charged a supplementary €2.50 convenience surcharge per person. Please present your HNV day ticket to the driver when boarding the buddy.

Yes. Please select the total number of persons travelling on the subscription ticket in accordance with the HNV subscription ticket regulations. Then select the same number of passengers as travelling with a valid HNV ticket. Each person will then only pay a supplementary €2.50 convenience surcharge. Please present your HNV ticket to the driver when boarding.

Yes. Children may also use the buddy service. Please include all children in your total number of travelling passengers as you plan your journey. All children with a valid HNV ticket, e.g. the Sunshine Ticket, will only pay the convenience surcharge. Please make sure you include them in your total number of passengers with a valid HNV ticket. All children without a valid HNV ticket will pay the regular buddy fare of only €5.00.

All under 5s can only use the buddy service if accompanied by a person aged 16 or over who will also be responsible for their safe transport including the provision of the necessary aids (e.g., child carriers, child seats).

No. Animals are not permitted onboard the buddy vehicles. Exceptions are assistance dogs in line with legal regulations (e.g., guide dogs).

A severely disabled person’s card with a valid stamp will count as a valid HNV ticket. This also includes another person, if the card indicates that the holder is entitled to take along an accompanying person (category “B”). This means that both you and the person accompanying you will only have to pay the convenience surcharge. If you wish to be accompanied by another person, please include this person as a passenger as you plan your journey (see 17).

No. The buddy night bus service is a public transport service. Unlike a cab, it will not stop everywhere in Heilbronn, but only at public transport stops. Therefore, travelling by buddy is less expensive than hailing a taxi in Heilbronn.

No. The scheduled night busses no longer run in Heilbronn. The N1 and N2 Heilbronn night bus services were discontinued on 30 June 2022. Instead of using the regular night bus, you can now travel with the buddy night bus service.

No. However, if you have a student ticket, for example, or any other valid HNV ticket or subscription, you will only pay €2.50 per buddy journey.

Problems with getting registered? Questions about purchasing a mobile ticket? Didn’t receive your ticket? Don’t worry. Click here to get to our SWHN app support site.