[FREE / passenger] Isar-Noris-Altmühl network in Bavaria to DB Regio, not ÖBB

Clarification on the Isar-Noris-Altmühl Contract

In February 2025, we published an article titled “ÖBB to Operate the ISA Network in Bavaria? (With Siemens Trains).” In it, we speculated that ÖBB’s subsidiary, Arverio, might win the next Isar-Noris-Altmühl (INA) contract—mistakenly referring to it as “ISA”—because ÖBB had signed a (now we know preliminary) deal with Siemens for rolling stock intended for this network. However, this agreement alone was not definitive proof that Arverio would secure the operational contract, so we included a question mark in the title.

We acknowledge the confusion this caused and regret any misunderstanding. However, the Bavarian State Ministry for Housing, Construction, and Transport clarified the outcome on March 25, 2025: DB Regio will continue operating regional train services on the INA network until 2040.

The INA Contract

In early March 2024, the Bavarian Railway Company (BEG) announced a tender for the Isar-Noris-Altmühl network, a concession covering the period from 2028 to 2040, with the option of three one-year extensions. This contract includes the RE1 express service, currently operated with the troubled Škoda NIM double-deck trains and their replacements (BR 101 locomotives with 200 km/h single-deck coaches).

One year later, it was officially confirmed that DB Regio had won the contract. The company will continue operating regional services between Nuremberg, Munich, and Augsburg until December 2040, replacing the existing trains with new Siemens vehicles.

The service volume will increase by six per cent to 6.4 million train kilometres annually. Seven new Siemens Desiro HC trains (capable of 190 km/h and pressure-tight, similar to Franken-Thüringen-Express trains) will take over on the RE1, upgrading the service from a two-hourly to an hourly frequency.

Timeline for the New Contract:

• December 2028: RE 1 (Munich–Ingolstadt–Nuremberg);
• December 2029: RB 16 (Munich–Ingolstadt–Treuchtlingen–Nuremberg);
• December 2029: RE 60 (Augsburg–Treuchtlingen–Nuremberg).

To prevent confusion with RB 16, the current RE 16 designation will change to RE 60. The RB 16 and RE 60 lines will continue using the existing Bombardier Twindexx double-decker fleet (15x 6-car + 3x 4-car) class 445 EMUs and loco-hauled Twindexx Vario trains, with 6 additional four-car units added.

Most service levels will remain unchanged, though peak-hour trains will be added between Treuchtlingen/Weißenburg and Nuremberg, as well as Munich and Ingolstadt. Starting in December 2029, trains with eight to ten double-decker cars will be introduced on high-demand routes to increase capacity.

What We Reported About ÖBB earlier

On February 26, 2025, TED 129128-2025 was published, revealing that ÖBB had signed a framework agreement with Siemens on February 14, 2025, for the delivery of new EMU trains for the Isar-Noris-Altmühl (INA) network, anticipating a win, but that win did not come. The agreement was valued at €690 million.