Transdev will take over the first transportation services on routes of the S-Bahn Hannover in Germany earlier than planned. The regional Public Transit Authority of Hannover, the Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen mbH and the Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe have now commissioned the Transdev Group to operate live trial runs on three routes on the S-Bahn Hannover network.
With effect from the timetable change on 12 December 2021, Transdev will operate S-Bahn services for six months until June 2022 on the lines
- S 3 Hildesheim Hbf. – Sehnde – Lehrte – Hannover Hbf.
- S 6 Celle – Burgdorf – (Lehrter Kurve) – Hannover Hbf.
- S 7 Celle – Burgdorf – Lehrte – Hannover Hbf.
« The early takeover of the Eastern Network gives us the opportunity to get to know the network before the major start of operations in summer 2022 and to come into contact with our passengers, » says Hartmut Körbs, co-Managing Director of Transdev Hannover.
The drivers of Transdev Hannover will start with 15 new Flirt3XL vehicles from the manufacturer Stadler. The trains offer the usual passenger capacities and will run according to the known timetable.
« We want to make the change of operator as pleasant and easy as possible for passengers, » emphasized Regional President Hauke Jagau and Traffic Department Head Ulf-Birger Franz for the Hannover region. The advantages of the new trains, such as the modern interior concept, which is designed for maximum comfort, will contribute to this. In addition to the modern equipment of the seats with sockets and free WIFI throughout the train, great emphasis was placed on accessibility during the development. In cooperation with various associations, an interior was created that takes into account the individual needs of the passengers and thus increases the attractiveness of the Hannover S-Bahn.
« The network of the S-Bahn Hanover is complex, and the handover needs precise preparation, the successive takeover of the S-Bahn lines helps us a lot – we are ready to go and look forward to our passengers, » says Nadine Böger, co-Managing Director of Transdev Hanover.
« We are very well prepared to take over the first S-Bahn services and are looking forward to getting started as early as the end of this year, » continued Körbs and Böger. « 15 of the new vehicles will have been delivered and registered by the start of operations, and we have also already trained sufficient staff. »
With the small timetable change in June 2022, Transdev will take over the remaining seven routes of the Hannover S-Bahn network.
*Photo credit: Transdev Hannover GmbH_Ostnetz