Tender for Munich-Prague Railway Relaunched

Wedoany.com Report on Feb 6th, The tender process for the Munich-Prague railway passenger service has been relaunched. The Bavarian Railway Company (BEG) and the Czech Ministry of Transport have jointly initiated a second round of tendering, aiming to award the contract for operating the rail passenger service connecting Munich, Regensburg, and Prague.

This tender covers the RE/Ex 36 regional line, with a contract period from December 2031 to December 2046. The initial tender in autumn 2024 was cancelled due to a lack of economically viable bids. This new tender utilizes a negotiated procedure, includes a preliminary European selection stage, and has adjusted the award conditions to attract more bidders.

Bavaria's Transport Minister and Chairman of the BEG Supervisory Board, Christian Bernreiter, stated: "The connection between Prague and Munich is a crucial European artery. The project's complexity requires adequate preparation time." The contract involves a total of approximately 2.8 million train-kilometers per year, with about 1.8 million within Bavaria. The schedule is expected to roughly maintain the current two-hour frequency, with the addition of a new evening service from Prague to Munich departing around 7:45 PM.

Bärbel Fuchs, CEO of BEG, noted that lessons were learned from the first tender, leading to simplified requirements and the addition of conditions to limit bidder costs. The updated plan aims to reduce locomotive usage and shunting operations, indirectly lowering staffing needs. This also helps alleviate congestion at Munich and Regensburg central stations. At the same time, BEG has retained the requirement for using new rolling stock to maintain comfort standards on the international corridor.

Operating trains between Munich and Prague faces challenges due to alternating electrified and non-electrified sections and three different power supply systems. While full electrification is expected in the latter half of the contract period, the new requirements aim to significantly reduce locomotive changes. Currently, trains require locomotive changes three times: in Regensburg, Schwandorf, and Plzeň. The new contract, by utilizing hybrid locomotives, will enable service between Munich and Plzeň without locomotive changes, with only one change required in Plzeň due to the different power supply system.

To meet growing demand, especially on the Regensburg-Plzeň section, authorities have ordered new trains with at least 500 seats, equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi. By relaunching the Munich-Prague railway tender, Bavaria and the Czech Republic aim to strengthen this vital cross-border rail link, promoting regional and international transport mobility between southern Germany and Central Europe.