The Bavarian Railway Company (BEG) has started the “Allgäu Tilting Technology” tendering process. As part of the tender, the BEG will select the railway company that will operate regional transport with tilting technology vehicles in the Allgäu from December 2029 to December 2041.
During the term of the contract, the fleet will be gradually replaced by new, locally emission-free tilting technology vehicles. Diesel-powered tilting technology vehicles are currently still in operation on the network. This is a negotiated procedure with a preliminary Europe-wide competition for participation. Interested companies can apply by the end of August 2024 at the latest. The BEG is expected to award the contract in mid-2025. The BEG plans, finances and controls regional and S-Bahn transport on behalf of the Bavarian Ministry of Transport.
“This is one of the most exciting and challenging tenders since the Free State took over responsibility for local rail passenger transport in the Free State almost 30 years ago,” says Bavaria’s Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter, who is also Chairman of the BEG Supervisory Board. “With this project, Bavaria is bringing attractive train services, climate protection and innovation onto the track at the same time. Because only with a modern tilting technology vehicle can the travel times required for the finely balanced Bavaria timetable and optimal transfer connections at the junction stations be achieved in the rail network of the hilly Allgäu.”
The contract includes several lines between Augsburg or Munich and Buchloe, which continue via Kempten and Immenstadt to Lindau and Oberstdorf. The connection of two pairs of trains beyond Augsburg to/from Nuremberg (“Allgäu-Franken-Express”) is being put out to tender as an option. In addition, there are the lines from Augsburg via Türkheim to Memmingen and Bad Wörishofen. All lines are currently operated by DB Regio.
New trimodal and barrier-free tilting technology vehicles
In contrast to the diesel tilting technology vehicles of the 612 series currently in use, the vehicles that are still to be developed will be electrically powered and can draw power from three sources: from the overhead line, from the battery carried on board and from a hydrogen-powered fuel cell. In addition, unlike the previous tilting technology vehicles, they will be barrier-free.
“This vehicle will be a world first and will usher in the tilting technology era 2.0 in Bavaria,” says Minister Bernreiter. “I am also confident that we will be trendsetters with it.” The minister refers in particular to the cabinet resolution he brought about a good year and a half ago, with which the Bavarian state government committed to the future of tilting technology and achieved the breakthrough for the current direction.
Careful replacement of the vehicle fleet
The BEG is planning a careful replacement of the vehicle fleet. The term of the transport contract is therefore divided into two operating phases: In the first operating phase, used tilting technology vehicles are still permitted, and the fleet is gradually replaced by the new trimodal tilting technology vehicles. This transition period is intended to ensure the smooth commissioning of the entire fleet.
“The reliability of regional transport is our highest priority, especially with regard to passengers,” explains Bärbel Fuchs, Managing Director of BEG. “That is why we are proceeding as carefully as possible when deploying the new tilting technology vehicles, with sufficient time for trial operation in small numbers. Only when the new tilting technology vehicle has proven itself in everyday operations will the fleet be completely replaced.”
As soon as all vehicles have been replaced, the second operating phase will begin. At this point, the two lines RE 71 and RE 73 (Augsburg -) Türkheim – Memmingen / Bad Wörishofen will be removed from the transport contract. Vehicles without tilting technology will probably then run on these lines, which will not have a significant impact on the timetable.
In return, the line RE 79 Augsburg – Buchloe – Kempten will be included in the Allgäu tilting technology network and will be served for the first time with tilting technology vehicles. This line currently belongs to Lot 1 of the Allgäu diesel network. The travel time savings from the faster tilting technology vehicles will be used on this line, among other things, to be able to serve the planned new stations Aitrang and Kempten-Ludwigshöhe every hour in the future.
In both operating phases, the BEG is retaining the tried and tested timetable concept, with coordinated transfer connections at the railway junctions where lines meet. The previous wing train concept will also be continued, i.e. the separation or merging of train sections in Türkheim (on the lines to Bad Wörishofen and Memmingen in the first operating phase) and in Immenstadt (on the lines to Lindau and Oberstdorf).
Collective procurement for the Allgäu and Northeast Bavaria
As part of the Allgäu tilting technology tendering process, the new tilting technology vehicles for the lines in Franconia and Upper Palatinate, which are currently combined in the Northeast Bavaria Express Transport (EVNO) network, will also be ordered. The new vehicles will be made available to the bidders as part of the EVNO follow-up contract, probably from December 2032.
The reason for the joint procurement of the new vehicles for both networks is that the trimodal tilting technology vehicle is a new development. Potential manufacturers therefore need a minimum number of vehicle orders in order to start designing and producing such a vehicle.
High quality requirements
The BEG sets detailed requirements for operational and service quality. The railway company that wins the tender process receives monthly and annual target values for punctuality and connection security. If the company falls below these values, penalties are due. If trains are cancelled completely, the transport company receives no compensation from the BEG; if the train cancellations are the transport company’s own fault, the BEG also imposes penalties.
The BEG also measures the operator’s service quality using tests and passenger surveys. The criteria include the cleanliness of the trains, the functionality of the equipment and passenger information. If a transport company falls below the target values set by the BEG, it must pay penalties. If it exceeds the minimum requirements, it receives a financial bonus.
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