DB Regio awarded Baden-Württemberg Network 11 concession

THE transport minister of the German state of Baden-Württemberg, Mr Winfried Hermann, the president of the board of DB Regio, Mr Jörg Sandvoss, and the managing director of Bavarian Railways (BEG), Mr Thomas Precht, signed an agreement on August 24 for DB Regio to operate the Hohenlohe-Frank-Untermain Network 11 concession.

The 12-year concession will run from December 2019 to December 2031 and covers 3.4 million train-km per annum, of which 1.1 million are in Bavaria. The network is currently used by 17,300 passengers per day and comprises the following routes:

• Asshaffenburg - Miltenberg - Wertheim - Lauda - Crailsheim

• Crailsheim - Schwäbisch Hall - Hessental - Öhringen - Heilbronn

• Miltenberg - Walldürn - Seckach and some services to Osterburken

• some services between Osterburken and Lauda, and

• some services between Würzburg and Lauda Bad Mergentheim.

DB Regio will use existing class 642 Desiro two-car DMUs which will be modernised. The trains will be equipped with air-conditioning, toilets for disabled passengers, and face-to-face seating. DB Regio will provide free Wi-Fi and power sockets on the trains as well as Wi-Fi at large stations.

Interchange with other train and bus services at major junctions will be improved. Train frequency on part of the network in Baden-Württemberg will be increased by about 10%. The Wertheim - Crailsheim and Heilbronn - Schwäbisch Hall - Hessental services will be stepped up to an hourly frequency throughout the day. Additional trains will be introduced between Bad Mergentheim and Tauberbischofsheim to connect with Stuttgart - Würzburg Regional Express services.