Electronetz Nord Magdeburg to be put out to new public tender
Together with Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen (LNVG), Regionalverband Großraum Braunschweig and the State of Brandenburg, Nahverkehrsservice Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH has issued a new tender on behalf of the State for the Elektronetz Nord Magdeburg services. A Europe-wide search is underway for a rail transport company to operate the network from December 2028 until the schedule change in 2043, covering some 8.4 million train-kilometers per year. Adjustments to the timetable and more space in the trains are important changes to be made to the network.
"From December 2028, we want to provide more capacity on the Elektronetz Nord Magdeburg. Sufficient space for passengers, but also for their bicycles, is an essential prerequisite for relaxed travel. If we want to encourage even more people in the state to leave their cars at home and take the train, we have to create attractive offers," said Sven Haller, State Secretary in the Ministry for Infrastructure and Digital Affairs, in Magdeburg today.
In preparation for these changes, the tendering process for the Elektronetz Nord Magdeburg officially starts today with the publication in the EU Official Journal. The network comprises the high-demand electrical lines in the greater Magdeburg area, including the S-Bahn. These include the RE 20 Magdeburg - Stendal - Uelzen, RB 30 Halle (Saale) - Köthen - Magdeburg - Wittenberge and RB 40 Braunschweig - Helmstedt - Magdeburg lines as well as the S1 Schönebeck-Salzelmen - Magdeburg - Burg and S2 Magdeburg - Zielitz lines. An optional extension of the RB 40 from Magdeburg to Dessau Hbf is included in the tender. The earliest date for implementation would be December 2030. The tendered services cover approximately 21 percent of the total regional rail traffic in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Elektronetz Nord is currently operated by DB Regio AG. The current contract expires after 15 years, as planned, with the timetable change in December 2028. The tender documents provide for a transfer of personnel if the contract is awarded to a new operator. The contract is expected to be awarded in the first quarter of 2025 and will be awarded to the most cost-effective bid according to the evaluation criteria announced to the bidders. Price will not be the only factor. Binding additional services that go beyond the requirements will also be taken into account in the evaluation. Among other things, bidders have the option of voluntarily committing to comprehensive professional training of railway personnel beyond the existing training requirements. Additional services are also possible in the areas of rolling stock equipment, sales and operations.
Adjusted lines of the Elektronetz Nord - Magdeburg from December 10, 2028
S 1: Schönebeck-Bad Salzelmen – Magdeburg – Burg (aktuell: S 1 Schönebeck-Bad Salzelmen – Magdeburg – Stendal – Wittenberge)
S 2: Magdeburg – Zielitz montags bis freitags (neue Linie)
RE 20: Magdeburg – Stendal – Uelzen (aktuell: Schönebeck-Bad Salzelmen – Magdeburg – Stendal – Uelzen)
RB 30: Halle (Saale) – Köthen – Magdeburg – Wittenberge (aktuell: RE 30 Halle (Saale) – Köthen – Magdeburg)
RB 40: Braunschweig – Helmstedt – Magdeburg (aktuell: Braunschweig – Helmstedt – Magdeburg – Burg)