ACTIVE SECTOR ASSOCIATION - IN DIALOGUE WITH POLITICS AND ECONOMY

About 700 companies performing public passenger transport and rail freight transport in Germany are organised in the “Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen” (VDV = Association of German Transport Companies). The VDV advises and supports its member companies and politicians, supports the exchange of experience and know-how between the members and prepares technical, operational, legal and economic principles.

The VDV also represents the interests of its member companies towards parliaments, authorities, industry and other institutions. Therefore, the VDV has offices in Brussels (European office) and Berlin (capital office) besides its head office in Cologne.

The regional interests of the member companies are defended by nine regional groups. Moreover, sixgeneral committees and 19 expert committees are dealing with the special challenges of the sector. More than 400 experts in very different fields do voluntary work in these committees, which results in rules (VDV Recommendations and VDV Reports).

The VDV has existed in its present form since the beginning of 1991 as the Association of Public Transport Companies (VÖV), the Federal Association of German Railways, Motorized Traffic and Funicular Railways (BDE) and the VÖV of the former German Democratic Republic merged to the VDV. The history of the VDV began with the foundation of the Association of Prussian Railways in 1846 and the foundation of the Association of German Tramway and Light Railway Administrations in 1895.

Rheinischer Abend

Rhein trifft Spree: In der ersten Sitzungswoche des Deutschen Bundestages nach der parlamentarischen Sommerpause findet traditionell der Rheinische Abend des VDV statt. Der Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen lädt dazu politische Entscheiderinnen und Entscheider aus Bund und Ländern sowie hochrangige Vertreterinnen und Vertreter seiner Mitgliedsunternehmen, anderer Verbände und der Industrie in das VDV-Hauptstadtbüro im Zentrum Berlins ein.

Der persönliche Austausch in lockerer Atmosphäre, ohne feste Tagesordnung steht dabei im Mittelpunkt.

Wir freuen uns auf Sie am 8. September 2026, wenn für einen Abend der Rhein wieder durch Berlin fließt. Eine Teilnahme erfolgt mit gesonderter Einladung.

Impressionen vom Rheinischen Abend 2025