Bus fares drop to 15 kroner on three Aarhus routes in trial scheme

A trial scheme launching today will see passengers pay just 15 kroner per journey on three key bus routes connecting Aarhus with surrounding towns, reports Danish broadcaster DR.

Marie Louise Pedersen, a regular commuter on route 11 between Harlev and Aarhus, will now save 18 kroner each way—reducing her fare from 33 kroner to 15 kroner. “It makes a huge difference for me,” she said. “I use the bus two to three times a week, so the costs add up quickly.”

The discounted fare applies to routes 11, 14, and 17 until summer 2027, following a campaign pledge by Venstre, the Conservative Party, and SF in last autumn’s local elections. Nicolaj Bang (C), Aarhus’s technical and environmental councillor, described the move as a test to assess its impact on ridership.

“It’s unpredictable how this will play out and how many people it will attract to the buses,” Bang said. The trial comes despite budget constraints, with the city already planning service cuts on six high-frequency A-bus lines to save 7 million kroner.

Pedersen, who had considered buying a car due to high fares, welcomed the change: “If you want to promote public transport, you have to do something about the prices.” The discounted ticket is available only via the Rejsebillet app and cannot be combined with transfers to other routes or the light rail network.

Bang acknowledged the 100-million-kroner investment in the trial, calling it a necessary step to gather data before potentially expanding the scheme citywide.