On 19 June, the Berlin Senate voted to split the city’s S-Bahn network into three separate businesses to introduce competition when tendering the next round of operating concessions.
Despite the city parliament favouring a single EUR3bn concession for operations to run the 331km (205 mile) S-Bahn network, bids are to be called shortly for a 15-year concession that begins once DB Regio’s current contracts ends in 2017.
Under the proposals, one operator would take over the North-South routes, and another for the East-West routes. The third would operate the Ring line and its feeder branches.
The first concession awarded will be the ‘Ring & Branches’ group, which may require a subsidy of EUR1.2bn, including EUR600m for the acquisition of 190 two-car EMUs.