Outstanding mobility, made in the Rhineland

The year 2026 was a year of special recognition for go.Rheinland and its partners. No fewer than four major international awards honored projects and initiatives that exemplify innovative mobility in the Rhineland. The award-winning projects showcase the breadth of go.Rheinland’s commitment—from innovative support services for regional mobility development to digital ticketing options and modern, transparent brand communication.

eezy.nrw significantly simplifies access to public transit: Passengers check in and out of their trip via the app, and the fare is automatically calculated based on the distance traveled as the crow flies. This technical innovation was complemented by targeted marketing campaigns that have demonstrably attracted new user groups and fostered long-term loyalty to the service. KVB and VRS specifically focused on campaigns centered around major local events such as the Cologne Carnival or Black Friday. Promotions such as free ride days, two-for-one offers, and targeted discounts encouraged passengers to try out the system. As a result, the number of active users doubled within a year.

“easyConnect” Honored in the “Cross-Border Ticketing” Category

In the “Cross-Border Ticketing” category, the international jury also recognized the innovative potential and significant customer benefits of “easyConnect.” With this innovative ticketing project, the Aachen Transport Association (AVV) and its partners have, for the first time, created a cross-border interoperable ticketing system that links the German eTarif “eezy” with the Dutch fare system. As a result, both fare plans can be used with the check-in and check-out system via an app, and cross-border travel between North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands is significantly simplified for passengers.

International Award for Regional Mobility Strategy

In June 2026, the VRS and go.Rheinland received the prestigious UITP Award from the International Association of Public Transport (French: Union Internationale des Transports Publics). The award recognized the region-wide strategy for establishing a network of mobility stations across the Rhineland. As an intermodal hub, the mobility station aims to facilitate transfers between different modes of transportation. To this end, demand-based mobility services are systematically bundled at a single location. The jury recognized the project—selected from among 236 submissions from 54 countries—as an innovative and replicable solution for the mobility transition.

In addition, the mobile station strategy aims to establish uniform standards, accessibility, a high quality of life for residents, and close cooperation with local municipalities. This makes the concept a successful model that serves as an example for others to follow. By mid-2026, approximately 120 mobile stations were already in operation in the Rhineland.

Double Victory at the German Brand Award

go.Rheinland’s communications work was also recognized this year. The “Wir sind dran.” branding campaign received two awards at the German Brand Award in June: as the winner in the “Brand Communication – 360° Campaign” category and as the “Lighthouse Project of the Year.” The expert jury was particularly impressed by the bold approach of openly addressing the challenges in public transit while simultaneously presenting concrete solutions.

The “Wir sind dran.” campaign focused on transparency, authenticity, and real people from the region. Employees from transit companies, infrastructure operators, and go.Rheinland itself took center stage as the faces of the mobility transition. Across digital and traditional media, the campaign generated 16.4 million impressions and 13.9 million video views.

Working Together Toward the Mobility of Tomorrow

The four awards underscore the successful development of go.Rheinland, VRS, and AVV as pioneers in mobility and the future. They exemplify the close collaboration with transportation companies, municipalities, and other partners, as well as the goal of making mobility in the Rhineland simpler, more sustainable, and more attractive. Whether it’s infrastructure, digital services, or communication—the awards demonstrate that innovative solutions from the Rhineland are gaining recognition far beyond the region.