The Bavarian passenger transport authority or BEG yesterday announced public transport operator National Express Group Plc (NEX.L) as the preferred bidder for all Nuremberg S-Bahn services. This award of two twelve-year contracts for commuter rail services follows a competitive tender process.
These two contracts are to operate the whole S-Bahn Nuremberg network, including five rail lines in one of the most prosperous parts of Bavaria, Germany’s second most populous state. The contract is likely to generate revenues of over 1.4 billion euros over the 12-year period.
The S-Bahn service is currently operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB Regio) and carries over 20 million passengers per annum. National Express would begin operating from December 2018 and would buy 38 new electric five car trains on behalf of the Bavarian passenger transport authority.
S-Bahn services, which are broadly comparable to London’s Overground network, operate in all major German metropolitan areas. This contract award follows National Express’ success in 2013 in winning two regional rail routes in North Rhine-Westphalia. These services would start operating in December this year.
The two contracts cover the five lines that make up the Nuremberg S-Bahn. The five lines serve routes from Nuremberg to Erlangen and Bamberg, Ansbach, Roth, Allersberg, Neumark, Altdorf and Hartmannshof. The five lines serve a region of almost 1.5 million inhabitants.
by RTT Staff Writer
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