GERMANY: Bayern railway agency BEG has directly awarded Die Länderbahn a contract to continue operating passenger service RB38 Gotteszell – Viechtach.
Regular passenger services on the 24·8 km route ended in 1991. BEG and Die Länderbahn agreed to reintroduce a trial service for five years from September 12 2016 to determine whether there was sufficient demand for a permanent service.
That contract was due to end on September 11 2021, but an extension was awarded running for a further year. The latest contract runs until December 9 2023.
The service is operated using five Stadler RegioShuttle RS1 railcars and totals about 300 000 train-km/year.
