Developments for the future

The German public transport industry is flourishing. As Wolfgang Tiefensee, the German Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, pointed out (Intelligent Transport, Issue 3, 2006) the local public transport network in Germany carries around 27 million passengers every day, and this number is set to increase. Intelligent Transport takes a closer look at exactly what is happening in Germany by inviting the transport authorities of four key cities to outline their plans for 2007.

Berlin

Andreas Sturmowski, Chairman of the Management Board of the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG)

In 2007, the top subject for BVG is hydrogen. In conjunction with the HyFLEET:CUTE project that started at the beginning of last year, by the end of 2007 Berlin’s public transport services will receive 14 MAN buses with hydrogen combustion engines. The project, which is supported by the European Commission, brings the various future technologies for hydrogen-propulsion together for the first time in an international public transport network. Hydrogen-driven buses will be put into operation in a total of eight European cities as part of the EU-financed project. The Berlin fleet of single-decker buses comprises of four buses with naturally aspirated engines and another ten buses with turbo-charged engines. The vehicles are underway in BVG’s regular service. This means that by the end of next year BVG will operate the world’s largest fleet of hydrogen buses.

Hydrogen is the energy concept of the future: more environment-friendly, quiet and cheaper than the usual propulsion technologies. These unbeatable advantages use the concept of bus propulsion with combustion engine and fuel cell technology. Berlin’s transport authority, BVG, is also a mobility partner in the Clean Energy Project (CEP) and thereby also significantly works together with German partners in the development of this engine of the future.

In the rail area, in terms of the underground (U-Bahn), restoration work on the more than 100-year-old network will continue and the U55 will be extended, so that it runs from the government quarter to Berlin’s main train station, which went into use last year. The first delivery of the new HK series underground trains is also expected.

In the tram network, substantial restoration work will again take place. And on a political level, a new transport agreement will be prepared, which, starting in 2008, will regulate relations between the state government of Berlin and the largest German municipal transport company.

Düsseldorf

Dirk Biesenbach, Commercial Director, Rheinbahn Corporation

Düsseldorf, the capital of Germany’s most densely populated state North Rhine-Westphalia) will continue modernising and extending its local public transport services during 2007. Such measures should not be taken for granted in times when transport companies and networks have for years had to compensate for considerable reductions in public spending for the transport of severely handicapped and people at school and in training. The German government has further added to this dilemma by cutting billions in spending on public transport.

Despite this trend, Düsseldorf’s Rheinbahn AG has been successfully restructured with the result that it is now more competitive and:

• will continue to steer its course in major construction projects initiated in the last century when timely applications for new funding were made
• has approved procuring new vehicles despite considerable opposition
• has ordered 41 new buses, thereby continuing to improve its bus fleet emission figures. With the inclusion of ‘Enhanced Environment-friendly Vehicle’ technology (EEV), the Euro 5 emission standard has already been surpassed
• has initiated various, sometimes cost and time intensive pilot projects to experiment with propulsion alternatives such as fuel-cells and a water-diesel combined fuel as well as many other new and innovative technologies to reduce nitric oxide (NOx) and particle emissions by buses.

2007 will witness further transformations relating to infrastructure and technological vehicle improvements. It will, for example, be the year work will begin on constructing the 3.8 km long north-south extension of the ‘Wehrhahn’ underground line – a project which has been in discussion for nearly two decades. This project is to include low-level platforms to be used in conjunction with trains with low-level entry doors – almost a first in underground systems worldwide.

Rheinbahn has consequently ordered 15 new low-floor light rail vehicles ‘NF8U’ from Siemens and Vossloh-Kiepe which will also be brought into service when the Wehrhahn Line is completed. This marks another ‘revitalisation’ stage of the existing fleet – a further 61 of these vehicles are planned to follow. The first vehicles of this type are presently undergoing technical trials in the city network – the official operational start is envisaged during the first half of 2007.

This spring is likely to see another practical innovation. Seven German transport companies, including the Rheinbahn, will be cooperating with the country’s mobile providers, enabling passengers to purchase so-called ‘Handytickets’ via their mobile telephones.

As well as being a must for ice hockey fans, Düsseldorf’s newly opened stadium also serves as a multifunctional arena for other major events. This entails the construction of several tram links which will also be implemented in 2007.

The construction of several new raised platforms for open-air light-rail stops as well as newly designed slightly raised platforms for trams will do away with the step-up entry into low-floor trams. The introduction of this measure during recent years by the city of Düsseldorf and Rheinbahn has greatly facilitated travel for children, mothers with strollers, the elderly and handicapped passengers, bicycle riders.

Hamburg

Günter Elste, Chief Executive Officer of the Hamburger Hochbahn AG (Hochbahn)

The Hamburger Hochbahn AG transports over one million passengers daily, making it the second largest metropolitan public transport company in Germany. 750 metro cars and 650 buses operate on three city U-Bahn lines and 113 bus routes. Hochbahn is owned by the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg but operates as a private enterprise. Its company policy is based on five linchpins: cost management, passenger orientated revenue management, profitable expansion, corporate strategy and an optimised company and management codex.

Continued improvement of its passenger figures (4% in 2006, 2% for Germany) is an ongoing challenge for Hochbahn. In 2007 more specific, long-range projects will be addressed, bringing to focus three sectors:

First, to consolidate those areas where cost-coverage has already proved successful. Although our cost coverage level (84.5%) is one of the highest in Europe, due to restrictions in public funding, efforts in this respect will continue throughout 2007.

Second, Hamburg’s transport services are due to take a new course in 2007. In the summer, construction of the new U4 U-Bahn line will start, linking Hamburg’s new residential and business district (HafenCity) to the City Centre by 2011.Furthermore, a new generation of U-Bahn rolling stock – DT5 units – is being procured, providing Hamburg with a technically and commercially optimised U-Bahn fleet. New bus sector projects are also being planned: by the summer 25 double articulated (‘XXL’) buses will operate on Europe’s most-frequented bus route (the No. 5 Metrobus route). Moreover, 450 buses will be equipped with video cameras, enabling access and use of recordings in an emergency. Positive experience in the metro sector prompted us to extend the feature to our buses. All metro rolling stock and U-Bahn stations are already equipped with sophisticated video equipment causing a drop in crime and vandalism and raising passengers’ sense of security.

Third, of central importance to the Hamburger Hochbahn AG is to expand beyond Hamburg, its core market area. To maintain a permanent position in an increasingly competitive market, particularly with global players, Hochbahn has realised the necessity to increase in size. Our strategy of profitable expansion was put into practice at an early date (2002). Since then four holdings in German rail transport organisations (14.3 million rail km) and four bus companies (20.5 million km per unit in service) were acquired. By establishing BeNEX, a holding subsidiary, holding investments outside our core market area were started in 2007. The company is now seeking financial backing from a long-term partner, as it requires strong equity capital of its own to accelerate expansion. Apart from domestic market challenges, the search for a strategic partner is crucial for 2007.

Munich

Dr. Markus Haller, MVV GmbH, Authorised Signatory, Head of Conception Department, Head of MVV Consulting

After an exciting 2006 with the Football World Cup and the visit of the pope, 2007 is going to be a ‘normal busy year’ for the public passenger transport in the Munich conurbation. But of course, the activities for improvement of the transport system for 2.5 million residents and more than 1,800,000 million daily passengers within the Munich Transport and Tariff Association (MVV) will not stop. The following summary gives an overview of the most important measures planned for 2007 in the fields of infrastructure, services and information.

New infrastructure and services

• In the City of Munich the underground transport network will increase to nearly 90 kilometres. The extension of the U3 from Olympiazentrum to the OEZ is running according to plan. The track section operated by the Munich Transport Company (MVG) with one new underground station is due to open in October. The building of the new tramway line ‘23’ starts in March 2007.
• Not the realisation but an elementary step in the planning process is expected for one of the biggest measures introduced in Munich’s history of public transport: the second inner-city-tunnel for the suburban railway branches. After 35 years of service, the existing tunnel that provides direct access (without passengers having to change) from across the region to the city central zone has reached the limit of capacity. In the rush hour, 30 trains pass the city in each direction. For a further extension of the services and better reliability, the 7 kilometre-long tunnel from the Central Station to Munich East with a depth of 40 metres is an absolute must.
• Also the 210 regional bus routes are still growing. Some municipalities will get new 10-minute-services to the station and the city centres. To improve the service during times of low demand, demand-responsive bus services are planned in the counties.

Extension of information services

Included within these measures is the further extension of the information system. Some details:

• At the heart of the MVV-passenger information is the electronic timetable information (EFA). In average more than 250,000 queries per day retrieve intermodal timetable (door-to-door) information by the EFA. In 2007 the system is also going to give routing information for changes between modes of transport inside the big stations.
• An internet-based best-ticket information system in future will help the customer to always choose the right and the cheapest possible ticket. Depending on the number of passengers, regularity or duration of the trip, this service gives the right advice to save money.
• Finally, the spoken dialogue system, started in 2006, and our new mobile services will be improved in 2007. One of the new features will also be travel information in English.

This small group of activities shows that also in 2007 the MVV and its transport companies will work untiringly on improving and optimising the Munich transport system.