Demy Schandeler and Voyages Schmit are joining forces and intend to pool their infrastructures, particularly for vehicle maintenance and electric bus recharging.  (Photo: Marc Schmit)

Demy Schandeler and Voyages Schmit are joining forces and intend to pool their infrastructures, particularly for vehicle maintenance and electric bus recharging.  (Photo: Marc Schmit)

Coach operator Demy Schandeler has bought half the shares of competitor Voyages Schmit. While the two brands will continue to coexist for passenger transport, its group travel services will merge.

The bus company acquired the shares at the beginning of July, but the transaction only became public on Friday. Demy Schandeler operates a fleet of more than 200 vehicles, while Voyages Schmit counts around thirty, Joël Zangerlé, head of marketing & DC tours at Demy Schandeler, told Paperjam. "The group travel business will merge, but the two brands will co-exist," he said.

Carlo Schmit, who founded the eponymous company in 1995, recently retired from Voyages Schmit, which has its depot in Schieren, not far from Ettelbruck. His son, Romain Schmit, will remain director.

As for Demy Schandeler, the coach operator based in Keispelt will keep its depot there as well as the one in Eischen. Two new depots are under construction, one in Strassen and the other near Steinfort, on the Belgian side of the border.

Three quarters of Demy Schandeler's activity are concentrated on passenger transport, with the operation of numerous RGTR cross-country and City of Luxembourg bus lines. The remaining quarter is represented by travel, with six agencies spread across Luxembourg.

Its fleet of 220 buses and minibuses currently includes 11 electric and 10 hybrid vehicles, but this number is set to grow. The new depots will be equipped with more electric charging points. The vehicles of Voyages Schmit should also benefit from this electrification and charging infrastructure, as should the group's maintenance centre in Keispelt.

In total, the two transport companies have almost 400 employees. "Demy Schandeler and Voyages Schmit are both family businesses with a Luxembourg identity, the same philosophy, the same values and the desire to move in the same direction,” said Joël Zangerlé.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.