The billion-dollar tender for a large part of the Berlin S-Bahn network has been decided after years of delays.
According to information from the German Press Agency, the contract for important north-south and east-west connections was given a consortium from Deutscher Bahn, Stadler Rail and Siemens. This prevailed against the competitor Alstom, who can still proceed legally against the decision.
The largest award procedure for local public transport in Europe is about an order volume of around 15 billion euros. It comprises the operation of several S-Bahn lines from the 2030s for 15 years, the delivery of 1,400 new cars and vehicle maintenance for 30 years.
So far, the so-called sub-networks north-south and light rail have been operated by the Bahn daughter S-Bahn Berlin GmbH as well as the ring railway. The latter was not part of the tender of the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, which had already started in 2020.
Years of hanging lot
This was delayed again and again. The reasons are diverse, there were also legal disputes. In the north-south parts network, the company was originally planned for the end of 2027, on the light rail for spring 2028. Since the award only reaches in the 2030s, the current, sometimes quite old S-Bahn trains, must probably run on the lines in question longer than planned.
The Berlin Senate initially commented on the awarding of order at the weekend on request, as did the Brandenburg Ministry of Transport. A spokesman for Deutsche Bahn AG said that no position would be taken with a view to the not fully concluded tender procedure.
Alstom warns “real competition”
The French railway group Alstom also did not comment on the award result, but referred to the criticism of the Berlin Chamber Court in the award procedure. “It is a fact that the Berlin Chamber Court in March 2024 classified this tender in central points as a public procurement law,” said an Alstom spokesman.
“When this dimension is allocated, it must be ensured that real competition takes place and that the best S-Bahn offer prevails at the best price,” he said. “This is an order policy requirement and in the sense of taxpayers and passengers.”
Court has already been called
Alstom had sued the award procedure because the company was disadvantaged compared to other bidders. In March of last year, the Berlin Chamber Court dismissed the lawsuit in most points. The award procedure continued with slight changes.
Nevertheless, the court made it clear at the time that the S-Bahn process sees further violations of procurement law. However, Alstom did not collect the complaints on these points in time.
Association against the award decision
The chairman of the railway and transport union (EVG), Martin Burkert, evaluated the award decision positively. A long time of uncertainty ends for the employees. With the decision, an important signal for long -term security is set: “For the employees themselves, but in the end especially for passengers.”
The “Bahn for everyone” initiative, on the other hand, spoke of a “partial privatization” of the Berlin S-Bahn and asked the Senate to change the course. “Instead of catapaping two thirds of the company for 15 to 20 billion euros, Berlin has to secure the majority at S-Bahn GmbH for a low single-digit billion amount,” said spokesman Carl Waßmuth. “Berlin should buy the S-Bahn network and expand the network and operation.”
/kr/dp/he
Berlin (dpa-Afx)
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