Demographic change will create major challenges for public transport providers in the coming years. While agglomerations will in part be able to maintain or increase their population, the situation in most rural areas will change dramatically as a result of fewer schoolchildren, an aging population and emigration. Bus and rail services risk to lose much of their current customer base. However, other rural areas will continue to thrive and demand for basic mobility will remain even in the disadvantaged regions. But due to high levels of car ownership, disperse settlement patterns and car-oriented lifestyles, this demand is difficult to capture by public transport.