INCUMBENT operators have retained several contracts in recent German regional tenders, although in some cases they will introduce new train fleets.
Niederbarnmier Railway (NEB) has retained the East Brandenburg network contract tendered by Berlin-Brandenburg state transport authority VBB. NEB will operate the 10 routes surrounding Berlin, representing 6.7 million train-km annually, from December 2024 until 2036, ordering 26 new Mireo Plus B Battery EMUs to replace DMUs on nine of the routes:
- RB12 Berlin Ostkreuz - Oranienburg - Templin Stadt
- RB25 Berlin Ostkreuz - Werneuchen
- RB35 Fürstenwalde (Spree) - Bad Saarow South
- RB36 Frankfurt (Oder) - Beeskow - Königs Wusterhausen
- RB54 (Berlin Gesundbrunnen/Lichtenberg) - Löwenberg (Mark) - Rheinsberg (Mark)
- RB60 Eberswalde - Wriezen - Frankfurt (Oder)
- RB6 Schwedt (Oder) - Angermünde
- RB62 Angermünde - Prenzlau, and
- RB63 Eberswalde - Joachimsthal.
The use of Pesa Link class 633 DMUs on the RB 26 Berlin - Kostrzyn, Poland route will continue, and five additional Link vehicles will be ordered, bringing the total to 16.
In North Rhine Westphalia Rurtal Railway has retained operation of RB 21 Düren - Linnich and RB 28 Düren - Euskirchen services for four years in a contract awarded by Rhineland Public Transport Association (NVR). Service frequencies have been slightly improved in the new contract for around 850,000 train kms annually.
In Saxony transport authority Mid Saxony Transport Authority (VMS) has awarded City-Bahn Chemnitz (50.1% owned by VMS; 49.9% by Chemnitz city council) a 54-month contract to December 2025 to operate RB37 Glauchau - Gössnitz services representing 103,000 train kms annually. City-Bahn Chemnitz replaces DB Regio.
In Hessen, incumbent operator Vias has retained operation of the RB10 Frankfurt - Wiesbaden/Koblenz service with a new 15-year contract that will run from December 2023 to December 2038. The existing Stadler Flirt EMU fleet will be retained and refurbished.
Finally, Transdev subsidiary Trans Regio German Regional Railway has retained the contract to operate RB26 Mainz - Koblenz- Cologne services using the existing Siemens Desiro ML EMU fleet plus six new Siemens Mireo EMUs delivered in 2020. The new 10-year contract runs from December 2023, with options to extend it to 2036, and covers operation of 3.2 million train-km annually.
