NORTH Hessen Transport Association (NVV) has awarded RegioTram Kassel a 10-year contract to continue operating tram-train services in Kassel, in central Germany. The contract will run from December 10 2023, when RegioTram Kassel’s existing contract ends, until December 20 2033.
The winning bidder was selected through a negotiation process with price set as the only criterion.
The contract comprises bi-voltage tram-train operation on the routes:
- RT 1 Hofgeismar - Hümme - Kassel main station - city tram network - Kassel Holländische Strasse
- RT 4 Woflhagen - Kassel main station - city tram network - Kassel Holländische Strasse, and
- RT 5 Melsungen South - Kassel main station - Kassel Auestadion stadium.
The contract has an annual volume of 2.37 million train-km, but this could vary.
The operator will use the existing Alstom-built Regio Citadis tram-trains, which are owned by Regional Rail Kassel (RBK), and will have to reach a maintenance agreement with Kassel Transport (KVG).
