GERMANY: The Land of Bayern’s railway agency BEG has selected Transdev’s Bayerische Regiobahn for the next contract to operate Rosenheimer Kreuz regional passenger train services.
BRB has operated the services since December 2013. Bayern Minister of Transport Christian Bernreiter said the incumbent had submitted the most convincing offer in the European tendering process, and he was confident that passengers would benefit from the continuity
The contract announced on July 7 runs from December 2029 to December 2043. It covers the operation of 4·9 million train-km/year on routes RE5 München – Rosenheim – Salzburg, RB54 München – Rosenheim – Kufstein and RB58 München – Holzkirchen – Rosenheim. The 260 km network carries around 17 million passengers/year.
Services under the next contract will remain at the current level, with a basic hourly interval boosted to half-hourly during the weekday peaks. ‘We have already largely exhausted the possibilities for timetable design due to the heavily utilised infrastructure’, said BEG spokesperson Thomas Prechtl. ‘We are therefore continuing the proven operating concept.’ This includes making a permanent a recent increase in train lengths between München and Salzburg.
BRB will use the exiting 35 Stadler Flirt 3 electric multiple-units, which will be deep-cleaned and the seats reupholstered.
With uncertainly about the impact of the Deutschlandticket and planned revisions to other services in Bayern, the contract provides for BEG to bear the revenue risk for at least two years after the start of operations. The operator will then have the opportunity to generate revenue, but also bear the revenue risk. BEG will assume the risks associated with increases in infrastructure charges, and energy and personnel costs will be passed on through adjustments to the fees BEG will pay.
