Dortmund gets new innovation line 400 – bus network is being revolutionized!

Dortmund gets new innovation line 400 – bus network is being revolutionized!

The Dortmund transport company DSW21 is bringing a breath of fresh air to the city's bus network. On October 1, 2025, the time has come: the new “Innovation Line 400” will make the streets of the city center unsafe. The maiden voyage is planned for October 27, 2025, and not only commuters but also everyone who wants to explore the city better is looking forward to it.

Line 400 is designed as a ring bus and connects some of Dortmund's most central districts, including the Kreuzviertel, Unionviertel, Borsigplatz and many more. The clarity and connection of the districts is optimized by a dynamic timetable - the buses arrive between 10 and 20 minutes. This is modern and shows the progress in local public transport.

Optimization and new connections

With the introduction of direct connections between different parts of the city, shorter waiting times are guaranteed. The section between Märkische Straße and Stadthaus runs every 20 minutes, while the buses from Stadthaus run every 10 minutes via Saarlandstraße, the Kreuzviertel, the main train station and the Nordmarkt to the “Funkenburg”. These innovations show that we have a good knack for the needs of Dortmund users.

Another plus point is the planned line 401, which will run clockwise across the city center and thus further improve connections. However, not everything will remain as it is: lines 455 and 456 will be discontinued, while lines 412, 451, 452 and 453 will see partial adjustments to their routes. The aim of these changes is to avoid duplication and make the bus network more efficient.

Financing and future prospects

A financial cushion of 600 million euros will be used for this larger expansion, some of which comes from the sale of the energy group Steag. This shows that Dortmund is setting the course for modern local transport design in order to respond to the growing demands of urban mobility. Another step towards the future is planned by 2027: an express bus line to Datteln.

The optimizations to the bus network are part of the city's broader local transport plan, which aims to improve mobility for everyone in Dortmund. The focus is on functionality and user-friendliness in order to avoid long waiting times and inefficient routes. Dortmund has taken a clear direction, you can say that without a doubt.

Further information about the local transport project and the upcoming innovations can be found on the pages of Ruhr24, Bus and Train as well Dortmund.de. Dortmund is moving – something is happening!