Berlin's Iconic Heritage Buses Face Extinction Without a New Home by 2026
A Berlin-based heritage bus company is fighting to survive after losing its long-term storage and workshop spaces. Traditionsbus GmbH, which preserves and operates historic double-decker buses, now faces an uncertain future unless a new home is found by the end of 2026. Without one, its 37-year history—and many of its vintage vehicles—could soon be lost.
The association began in 1989 when its first double-decker was bought for 2,000 deutsche marks in Rüdesheim am Rhein. Over the years, it grew to include models like the DN95, BVG's first low-floor double-decker, delivered from 1995 and retired by 2010. These buses became a familiar sight on Line 218, where the company still operates heritage services today.
The group also runs school trips and private charters, including a 2021 booking for SPD candidate Franziska Giffey. But rising costs have made survival difficult. Maintenance and repairs for the ageing fleet far exceed the original purchase prices, while gentrification has pushed rents beyond what the non-profit can afford. In late 2025, it was evicted from its Industriestraße depot in Tempelhof.
A temporary fix was found with four parking spots spread across Hakenfelde, Charlottenburg, and Schöneweide. Yet without a permanent base, the association risks losing its main income source: running vintage buses on Line 218. If no suitable, affordable storage is secured by the end of 2026, the fleet could be scrapped, ending decades of preservation work.
The clock is ticking for Traditionsbus GmbH. Its buses, some of which have served Berlin for generations, now depend on finding a stable home within months. Without it, the city's heritage transport network—and the vehicles themselves—may disappear for good.
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