THE Westphalia-Lippe Local Transport Association (ZNWL) and Lower Saxony Transport Authority (LNVG) have launched a joint tender to operate regional passenger services on the Northern Westphalia Network.
The tender has been split into two lots, which will both run for 15 years.
Lot 1 concerns services tendered by ZWNL on line RB76 (Verl - Gütersloh - Harsewinkel), with an annual volume of 300,000 train-km, and an option for line RB68 (Münster - Sendenhorst) with an annual volume of 500,000 train-km.
Services in Lot 1 due to begin operating in December 2026, and ZWNL will provide battery EMUs (BEMU) to operate the service.
Lot 2, let by both ZWNL and LNVG, covers regional services starting from December 2028, including:
- RE82 Regional Express services (Bielefeld - Detmold - Altenbeken)
- RB63 (Münster - Coesfeld)
- RB67 (Bielefeld - Warendorf - Münster)
- RB71 (Bielefeld - Rahden/Bad Salzuflen), and
- RB73 (Bielefeld - Lemgo-Lüttfeld).
From December 2029, the contract will also include:
- RB74 (Bielefeld - Paderborn)
- RB75 (Bielefeld - Halle West - Osnabrück), and
- RB77 (Herford - Hameln - Elze - Hildesheim).
The full Lot 2 contact covers the operation of 7.1 million train-km annually.
The winning bidder will be required to secure the lease of BEMUs.
Both contracts will be awarded following negotiation. Bids must be submitted by August 11.
Services on the Northern Westphalia Network are currently operated by Nord West Bahn using DMUs.
