Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland

File:Start RE Hamburg Hbf 1902141606.jpg

File:Start 246 007 Cuxhaven 2111230932.jpg

File:DSC09375 iLint auf Brücke zwischen Main-Lahn-Bahn und Werksbahn Industriepark Höchst über Hoechster Farbenstraße.jpg railcar in the area of RMV on the way to its filling station at industrial park Höchst]]

Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland GmbH is a German railway company that operates local rail passenger transport in Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. The company is owned by Deutsche Bahn through DB Regio.

According to its own statements, the company would like to act “lean and dynamic” like a start-up company{{cite web|url=https://www.startgmbh.com/files/start_theme/media/Downloads/Factsheet_RVSD.pdf |title=Über die Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland GmbH |publisher=Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland |date=9 March 2022 |access-date=25 May 2023|language=de}} and thus meet the increasing cost and performance pressure in German local rail passenger transport. This came about, among other things, as a result of the liberalisation of local transport in Germany and the associated tenders in German states. The DB Regio company has lost many routes under this pressure in recent years.{{cite news|first=Guido M. |last=Hartmann |title=DB Regio: Wenn der Platzhirsch nur noch schwächelt |newspaper=Die Welt |date=8 June 2016|url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/nrw/article156037017/Wenn-der-Platzhirsch-nur-noch-schwaechelt.html |access-date=25 May 2023|language=de}}

Operations

= Line network =

class="wikitable"

!Line

!Route

!Network and contract period

!Client

!Rolling stock

!Previous operator

|Hamburg Hbf – {{stn|Hamburg-Harburg}} – {{stn|Buxtehude}} – {{stn|Stade}} – {{stn|Cuxhaven}}

|Unterelbe-Netz
(12.2018–12.2027)

|LNVG, HVV

|Traxx P160 DE (246) + 5 double-deck coaches (LNVG rolling stock pool)

|Metronom

|Bremen Hbf – Soltau – {{stn|Uelzen}}

| rowspan="4" |Dieselnetz Niedersachsen-Mitte
(12.2021–12.2029)

| rowspan="4" |LNVG, Region Hannover, NWL, SKUMS, HVV

| rowspan="4" |Alstom Coradia LINT (LNVG rolling stock pool)

| rowspan="2" |erixx

|Hamburg-Harburg – Buchholz – Soltau – Hannover Hbf

|Hildesheim Hbf – {{stn|Hameln}} – Löhne – Bünde/{{stn|Herford}}

| rowspan="2" |NordWestBahn

|Hildesheim Hbf – Bodenburg

|Bad Soden – {{stn|Frankfurt-Höchst}}
(from 01.04.2023)

| rowspan="4" |Taunus-Netz
(12.2022–12.2034)

| rowspan="4" |RMV

| rowspan="4" |Alstom Coradia iLINT

| rowspan="4" |Hessische Landesbahn

|Königstein – {{stn|Kelkheim}} – Frankfurt-Höchst – Frankfurt Hbf

|Brandoberndorf – Friedrichsdorf – {{stn|Bad Homburg}} (– Frankfurt Hbf)

|Friedberg – Friedrichsdorf (– Bad Homburg)
(from 01.04.2023)

{{ric|Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland|HBX}}

(RE 11a)

|Berlin Ostbahnhof – Berlin Hbf – Potsdam Hbf – Brandenburg Hbf – Genthin – Burg (Magdeburg) – Magdeburg Hbf – Oschersleben – Halberstadt Hbf – Thale Hbf/Goslar

| rowspan="16" |Dieselnetz Sachsen-Anhalt II
(12.2024–12.2032)

| rowspan="16" |NASA, TLBV, RGB

| rowspan="16" |LINT 41

| rowspan="16" |Abellio Rail Mitteldeutschland

|Halle (Saale) Hbf – Könnern – Sandersleben – Aschersleben – Halberstadt Hbf – Wernigerode Hbf – Goslar

|Magdeburg Hbf – Haldensleben – Oebisfelde – Wolfsburg Hbf

|Magdeburg Hbf – Schönebeck – Güsten – Sangerhausen – Sömmerda – Erfurt Hbf

|Magdeburg Hbf – Oschersleben – Halberstadt Hbf – Quedlinburg – Thale Hbf

|Magdeburg Hbf – Oschersleben – Halberstadt Hbf – Wernigerode Hbf – Vienenburg – Goslar

|Halle (Saale) Hbf – Könnern – Sandersleben – Aschersleben – Halberstadt Hbf

|Magdeburg Hbf – Oschersleben – Halberstadt Hbf – Blankenburg

|Stendal Hbf – Gardelegen – Oebisfelde – Wolfsburg Hbf

|Magdeburg Hbf – Magdeburg-Neustadt – Barleben – Haldensleben – Oebisfelde – Wolfsburg Hbf

|Magdeburg Hbf – Staßfurt – Güsten – Aschersleben

|Magdeburg Hbf – Osterweddingen – Oschersleben

|Halberstadt Hbf – Wegeleben – Aschersleben

|Halle (Saale) Hbf – Könnern – Bernburg Hbf – Calbe (Saale) Ost – Schönebeck – Magdeburg Hbf

|Dessau Hbf – Köthen – Bernburg Hbf – Güsten – Aschersleben

|Naumburg (Saale) Ost – Naumburg (Saale) Hbf – Laucha – Nebra – Wangen

=Lower Elbe network=

File:Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland- 2019 by-RaBoe 001.jpg

Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland was the first network to take over the operation of the Hamburg Hbf–Cuxhaven (RE 5) line from December 2018 to December 2027 with its subsidiary Verkehrsgesellschaft Start Unterelbe, based in Cuxhaven. This line was previously operated by Metronom Eisenbahngesellschaft. 8 diesel locomotives and 38 double-decker carriages from the state-owned LNVG vehicle pool, which were already in use on the route, were leased for these operations. The previous Metronom employees were also offered a job.{{cite news|access-date=3 February 2025|language=de |first1=Björn |last1=Vasel|first2=Wolfgang |last2=Stephan |date=6 October 2016|title=Metronom-Mitarbeiter sind in Sorge um ihre Zukunft |url=https://www.cn-online.de/cn-galerie/metronom-mitarbeiter-sind-in-sorge-um-ihre-zukunft.html |newspaper=Cuxhavener Nachrichten}}{{cite web|access-date=3 February 2025|language=de |date=7 March 2018|publisher=DVV Media Group |title=DB Regio: Verkehrsgesellschaft Start Unterelbe wird verantwortlich für Unterelbestrecke |url=https://www.eurailpress.de/news/wirtschaft-unternehmen/single-view/news/db-regio-verkehrsgesellschaft-start-unterelbe-wird-verantwortlich-fuer-unterelbestrecke.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307174809/https://www.eurailpress.de/news/wirtschaft-unternehmen/single-view/news/db-regio-verkehrsgesellschaft-start-unterelbe-wird-verantwortlich-fuer-unterelbestrecke.html|archive-date=7 March 2018|url-status=dead |website=Eurailpress.de}} As before, the trains were maintained by the manufacturer Bombardier (now part of Alstom) in Bremervörde.{{cite web|access-date=3 February 2025|language=de |title=Start Unterelbe. Über uns |url=https://www.start-unterelbe.de/ueber-uns}}

=Lower Saxony-Central diesel network (''Dieselnetz Niedersachsen-Mitte'')=

File:Start 648 488 Hannover 2307091011.jpg

The Lower Saxony Regional Transport Company (LNVG) and the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Transport Company (NWL) initially awarded the Lower Saxony-Central diesel network to DB Regio in September 2020.{{cite press release|access-date=3 February 2025|language=de |publisher=LNVG-Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen mbH- www.lnvg.de |title=Neues Netz soll Zugausfälle verringern – DB Regio wird Betreiberin von "Niedersachsen Mitte" |url=https://www.lnvg.de/lnvg/pressemitteilungen/artikel/neues-netz-soll-zugausfaelle-verringern-db-regio-wird-betreiberin-von-niedersachsen-mitte}} In November 2020, it was announced that the network would be transferred to Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland, which began operations in December 2021.{{cite press release|access-date=3 February 2025|language=de |title=start übernimmt zweites Regionalnetz in Norddeutschland |publisher= Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland|url=https://www.startgmbh.com/pressebericht/november-2020-start-uebernimmt-zweites-regionalnetz-in-norddeutschland|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121131453/https://www.startgmbh.com/pressebericht/november-2020-start-uebernimmt-zweites-regionalnetz-in-norddeutschland|archive-date=21 November 2020}}

The network comprises two sub-networks that were previously awarded separately: lines RB 37 (Bremen Hbf–Soltau–Uelzen) and RB 38 (Hannover Hbf–Soltau–Buchholz (Nordheide)–Hamburg-Harburg) were previously operated as the Heidekreuz by erixx, the Heidesprinter. The Weser-/Lammetalbahn network with lines RB 77 (Hildesheim Hbf–Hameln–Löhne–Bünde) and RB 79 (Hildesheim–Bodenburg) was previously operated by NordWestBahn.

Alstom Coradia LINT vehicles from the LNVG vehicle pool continued to be used. The headquarters of Start Niedersachsen Mitte has been in Soltau since November 2021. There is a branch in Hanover and Hildesheim.{{cite news|access-date=3 February 2025|date=4 June 2021 |language=de |first=Rolf |last=Hillmann|newspaper= Walsroder Zeitung | title=Gibt es bald keinen Ärger mehr auf der Heidebahn? - Heidekreis |url=https://www.wz-net.de/gibt-es-bald-keinen-aerger-mehr-auf-der-heidebahn_10_112032416-21-.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006001015/https://www.wz-net.de/gibt-es-bald-keinen-aerger-mehr-auf-der-heidebahn_10_112032416-21-.html|archive-date=6 October 2022}} As of 2021, around 170 employees are employed.{{cite web|access-date=3 February 2025|language=de |title=START NIEDERSACHSEN MITTE – Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland GmbH |url=https://start-ni-mitte.de/uber-uns/start-niedersachsen-mitte/}}

After taking over the network, Start Niedersachsen was criticised because its operations had become unreliable. There were increasing numbers of cancelled services, delays and missed connections, and passengers were not well informed. Start was threatened with a warning from the responsible authority, the Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen (LNVG).{{cite news|access-date=3 February 2025|language=de |first=Ulrike |last=Kohrs |date=10 July 2022 |publisher=Hildesheimer Allgemeine Zeitung |title=Lammetalbahn: Die Probleme sind größer denn je – das droht dem Bahnbetreiber nun |url=https://www.hildesheimer-allgemeine.de/meldung/lammetalbahn-die-probleme-sind-groesser-denn-je-das-droht-dem-bahnbetreiber-nun.html}}{{cite news|access-date=3 February 2025|first=Johanna |last=Scheele |date=27 June 2022 |language=de |newspaper=Walsroder Zeitung]|title=Bahn-Betreiber stellt sich Mittwoch den Fragen der Fahrgäste |url=https://www.wz-net.de/lokales/heidekreis/schwarmstedt/bahn-betreiber-stellt-sich-mittwoch-den-fragen-der-fahrgste_156_112171021-21-.html}} Ultimately, in November 2022, Start Niedersachsen received a contractual penalty of €2.7 million for cancelled and delayed trains.{{cite news|access-date=3 February 2025|first=Anja |last=Trappe |date=11 November 2022 |language=de |newspaper=Böhme-Zeitung |title=Bahn: Start muss Strafe von 2,7 Millionen Euro zahlen |url=https://www.boehme-zeitung.de/nachrichten-blog/2022/11/9/bahn-start-muss-strafe-von-27-millionen-euro-zahlen}}Start has appealed against the penalties imposed because the vehicles leased to Start by the LNVG, as the owner, are not in an age-appropriate and very poor condition.

After problems with maintenance processes due to the poor general condition of the vehicles, there were again significant outages from June 2023, and many trains only ran for a shortened period.{{cite news|access-date=3 February 2025|first=Andre |last=Ricci |date=18 June 2023 |language=de |title=Das Vertrauen der Passagiere steht auf dem Spiel |url=https://www.boehme-zeitung.de/nachrichten-blog/2023/6/18/das-vertrauen-der-passagiere-steht-auf-dem-spiel |newspaper=Böhme-Zeitung}} Start Niedersachsen-Mitte had to stop train services on the RB 37 line (Uelzen–Langwedel railway) for several weeks.{{cite news|access-date=3 February 2025|first=Andre |last=Ricci |date=17 July 2023 |language=de |newspaper=Böhme-Zeitung |title=Das Ende der Geduld ist da |url=https://www.boehme-zeitung.de/nachrichten-blog/2023/7/17/das-ende-der-geduld-ist-da}} In July 2023, Start Niedersachsen-Mitte received a warning from the Lower Saxony State Local Transport Company (LNVG).{{cite news|access-date=3 February 2025|language=de |title=Wieder eine Abmahnung für "Start Niedersachsen" – Heidekreis |url=https://www.wz-net.de/lokales/wieder-eine-abmahnung-fr-start-niedersachsen_10_112235547-21.html |newspaper=Walsroder Zeitung}} The passenger association Pro Bahn called on the Lower Saxony State Local Transport Company to terminate the contract with Start Niedersachsen-Mitte and prepare for emergency operations.{{cite press release |access-date=3 February 2025 |date=14 July 2023 |language=de |publisher=PRO BAHN Landesverband Niedersachsen/Bremen |title=Land soll Kündigung und Notbetrieb des Dieselnetzes Niedersachsen-Mitte vorbereiten |url=https://www.pro-bahn-niedersachsen.de/pressemitteilung/land-soll-kuendigung-und-notbetrieb-des-dieselnetzes-niedersachsen-mitte-vorbereiten/}} In response to renewed restrictions, particularly on line RB 37 (Bremen–Soltau–Uelzen), Pro Bahn reiterated its demand in February 2024 that the LNVG should not shy away from terminating the transport contract, after the previous warning had not led to a stabilisation of the situation and the situation remained unreasonable.{{cite press release| date=19 February 2024|access-date=3 February 2025|language=de |publisher=PRO BAHN Landesverband Niedersachsen/Bremen |title=PRO BAHN erneuert Forderung nach hartem Vorgehen gegen Start Niedersachsen-Mitte – PRO BAHN Landesverband Niedersachsen/Bremen e. V. |url=https://www.pro-bahn-niedersachsen.de/pressemitteilung/pro-bahn-erneuert-forderung-nach-hartem-vorgehen-gegen-start-niedersachsen-mitte/}} The LNVG again called on Start to get the problems with vehicle maintenance under control.{{cite news|access-date=3 February 2025|first=Andre |last=Ricci |date=28 February 2024 |language=de |title=Start: Vor 2029 kein Ende in Sicht |url=https://www.boehme-zeitung.de/nachrichten-blog/2024/2/28/start-vor-2029-kein-ende-in-sicht |newspaper=Böhme-Zeitung}} Start rejected the allegations and once again pointed out the very poor general condition of the vehicles when they were taken over from the previous operators.

In March 2024, the Lower Saxony Regional Transport Company (LNVG) published key figures on operational quality, in which Start Niedersachsen Mitte performed poorly compared to other transport companies.{{cite press release |access-date=3 February 2025|language=de |date=5 March 2024 |publisher=Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen mbH |title=Nahverkehrszüge in Niedersachsen sind zuverlässiger als der bundesweite Fernverkehr |url=https://www.lnvg.de/lnvg/pressemitteilungen/artikel/nahverkehrszuege-in-niedersachsen-sind-zuverlaessiger-als-der-bundesweite-fernverkehr}} In 2023, most trains in the Start Niedersachsen Mitte network were cancelled in the LNVG area, the lowest reliability in terms of short-term cancellations in the LNVG area in 2023 was shown by lines RB 37 (Bremen Hbf–Soltau–Uelzen) and RB 77 (Hildesheim Hbf–Hameln–Löhne–Bünde).{{cite web|access-date=3 February 2025|language=de |publisher=Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen mbH |title=Qualitätsmonitor |url=https://www.lnvg.de/spnv/qualitaet-und-marketing/qualitaetsmonitor/2023/13/}} The line RB 38 (Hannover Hbf–Soltau–Buchholz (Nordheide)–Hamburg-Harburg) had the lowest punctuality rate (up to 5 minutes) of all lines examined in 2023 (68% compared to 86% of local trains in Lower Saxony as a whole). Due to the poor performance, the LNVG called on the DB Group to intervene at Start Niedersachsen Mitte.

=Taunus-Netz=

file:DSC09375 iLint auf Brücke zwischen Main-Lahn-Bahn und Werksbahn Industriepark Höchst über Hoechster Farbenstraße.jpg on its way to the hydrogen filling station at the Höchst industrial park]]

file:Start 648 237 Frankfurt 2212230944.jpg

In March 2022, the Rhein-Main Transport Association (RMV) announced that Start would take over operations in the Taunus network from December 2022. This includes the services on lines RB 11 (Bad Soden am Taunus – Frankfurt (Main) Höchst), RB 12 (Frankfurt (Main) – Königstein (Taunus)), RB 15 (Frankfurt (Main) (HVZ) – Bad Homburg – Brandoberndorf) and RB 16 (Bad Homburg – Friedberg (Hess)); these lines were previously operated by Hessische Landesbahn. 27 new trains from the Alstom Group of the iLINT class with hydrogen propulsion were to be used. Since not enough new vehicles were delivered for the start of operations, Start also leased vehicles (including Deutsche Bahn Bombardier Talent sets from Dortmund) in the first few months.{{cite news|access-date=3 February 2025 |language=de |first=Matthias|last= Pieren |date=29 October 2022 |title=Betriebsstart wird echte Herausforderung |url=https://www.fnp.de/lokales/hochtaunus/usingen-ort893437/herausforderung-betriebsstart-wird-echte-91875997.html |newspaper=Frankfurter Neue Presse}}

In December 2022, the takeover of the Taunus network led to significant mobility restrictions in the Hochtaunus district;{{cite news|access-date=3 February 2025 |language=de |date=29 December 2022 |title=Den Pendlern reicht es |url=https://www.fnp.de/lokales/hochtaunus/usingen-ort893437/den-pendlern-reicht-es-91998712.html |newspaper=Frankfurter Neue Presse}} rail traffic was temporarily completely suspended.{{cite news|access-date=3 February 2025 |language=de |date=25 December 2022 |title=Misere mit der Taunus-Bahn: RMV äußert sich - und kündigt Änderung an |url=https://www.usinger-anzeiger.de/lokales/zusaetzliche-busse-sollen-verlaesslichkeit-bringen-91993757.html |newspaper=Usinger Anzeiger}} An as yet unspecified IT problem ensured that passengers were not informed about replacement buses either online or on the display boards at the stations during the rail outage. The project partners RMV, Alstom (provider of the hydrogen vehicles) and Infraserv (provider of the hydrogen) also reported in a joint press release about considerable difficulties in taking over operations due to technical problems with the hydrogen trains.

After months of restrictions due to the increasing deterioration of the hydrogen trains, the RMV has had to award the operation of the RB 11 line to the S-Bahn Rhein-Main instead of to Start Regionalverkehre Deutschland from 25 September 2023 "until further notice".{{cite web|access-date=3 February 2025 |language=de |archive-date=17 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917113242/https://www.rmv.de/c/de/informationen-zum-rmv/der-rmv/rmv-aktuell/s-bahn-rheinmain-betreibt-ab-25-september-temporaer-regionalbahnlinie-rb11 |date=17 September 2023 |publisher=Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund |title=S-Bahn RheinMain betreibt ab 25. September temporär Regionalbahnlinie RB11 |url=https://www.rmv.de/c/de/informationen-zum-rmv/der-rmv/rmv-aktuell/s-bahn-rheinmain-betreibt-ab-25-september-temporaer-regionalbahnlinie-rb11}}

=Maas-Wupper-Express=

In December 2021, the Rhine-Ruhr Transport Association (VRR), the Westphalia-Lippe Local Transport Association (NWL) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Waterways announced that from December 2026, Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland would operate the hourly regional express line Maas-Wupper-Express (RE 13) between Hamm, Hagen, Wuppertal, Düsseldorf, Mönchengladbach, Venlo and Eindhoven with multi-system-capable Stadler Flirt vehicles.{{cite press release|access-date=3 February 2022 |date=3 January 2022 |language=de |publisher=Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr |title=Ausweitung der grenzüberschreitenden Verbindung zwischen den Niederlanden und Deutschland direkt und ohne Umsteigen mit dem RE 13 bis Eindhoven – Vergabeentscheidung für den Maas Wupper Express |url=https://www.vrr.de/de/presse/ausweitung-der-grenzueberschreitenden-verbindung-zwischen-den-niederlanden-und-deutschland-direkt-und-ohne-umsteigen-mit-dem-re-13-bis-eindhoven}} The line is currently operated by Eurobahn and only runs between Venlo and Hamm.

=Netz Mitteldeutschland=

On 7 July 2023, Nahverkehrsservice Sachsen-Anhalt (NASA) awarded Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland GmbH the contract for the Saxony-Anhalt diesel network (DISA II)—now with the new name of Mitteldeutschland (Central Germany).{{cite web|access-date=3 February 2023 |date=7 July 2023 |language=de |title=Nach Abellio: Bahn-Tochterunternehmen übernimmt Dieselnetz |url=https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/sachsen-anhalt/bahn-dieselnetz-uebernahme-100.html |website=mdr.de}} Operations will begin with the timetable change in December 2024 and will run for 8 years.

57 Alstom Coradia LINT 41 sets are being used, of which 54 were taken over as part of the tender due to the insolvency proceedings of the previous operator Abellio Rail Mitteldeutschlands, three vehicles are leased.{{cite web|access-date=3 February 2023 |language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215144953/https://bahnblogstelle.com/225680/bahn-tochter-start-uebernimmt-dieselnetz-von-abellio/ |archive-date=15 December 2024|date=15 December 2024|title=Bahn-Tochter Start übernimmt Dieselnetz von Abellio |url=https://bahnblogstelle.com/225680/bahn-tochter-start-uebernimmt-dieselnetz-von-abellio/ |website=Bahnblogstelle}} These will continue to be maintained by Verkehrs Industrie Systeme Halberstadt.{{cite press release|access-date=3 February 2023 |publisher=Nahverkehrsservice Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH |date=7 July 2023 |language=de |title=DB-Tochter start soll Zuschlag für DISA-II erhalten |url=https://www.nasa.de/presse/aktuell/detail/news/db-tochter-start-soll-zuschlag-fuer-disa-ii-erhalten}}

References

Category:Deutsche Bahn

Category:2016 establishments in Germany