GERMANY: Following a competitive tender, the Niedersachsen and Braunschweig transport authorities have awarded incumbent DB Regio a contract to operate Dieselnetz Niedersachsen-Südost passenger services for 15 years from December 2014.
The contract signed on August 29 covers six routes:
- Braunschweig – Salzgitter – Lebenstedt (RB 44);
- Braunschweig – Wolfenbüttel – Schöppenstedt (RB 45);
- Braunschweig – Seesen – Osterode – Herzberg (RB 46);
- Göttingen – Northeim – Nordhausen (RB 80);
- Bodenfelde – Northeim – Nordhausen (RB 81);
- Göttingen – Kreiensen – Bad Harzburg (RB 82).
LNVG Chief Executive Hans-Joachim Menn said the new contract would provide an improved service at lower cost to taxpayers. There will be more on-train staff, with 70% of services having a conductor, as well as more attractive rolling stock and modernised stations. The total number of train-km operated will increase by 0·25 million train-km/year to 3·7 million train-km/year.
The Alstom Class 648 Coradia Lint DMUs are to be modernised by the end 2015, with real-time information, LED lighting, power sockets and improved accessibility.
