Train cancellations in the north: metronome under pressure – who is to blame?

Train cancellations in the north: metronome under pressure – who is to blame?

The situation at Metronome is causing a lot of conversation and confusion among passengers. Last week, travelers had to miss their train on numerous routes in the Hamburg-Hannover-Bremen triangle. A total of 178 fewer trips were carried out than planned, which not only caused dissatisfaction among commuters, but also raised the questions: Who is responsible for these cancellations?

How az online reported, only five of the 178 train cancellations were caused by Metronome itself. However, the main cause lies with Alstom, the company responsible for maintaining the Metronome trains. Technical problems, material defects and long waiting times put the company's reliability to the test.

Technical glitches and contract re-awarding

A software update in January in particular threw the 147 series locomotives off track and caused additional technical difficulties. Alstom has confirmed that the problems with long procurement times and software errors have been largely resolved, but there are still technical irregularities in two train sets that still need to be investigated.

As part of the comprehensive transport allocation, Metronom will continue to serve the routes between Hanover-Lüneburg-Hamburg and Bremen in the future. The transport contract, which determines which services must be provided, is important for the coming years. In December 2023, Metronom asked the state local transport company (LNVG) to terminate the contract so that new conditions can be negotiated. The reason for this is the high costs for energy and personnel, which place a heavy burden on the company.

Passenger concerns and expectations

Meanwhile, passengers have raised concerns about Metronome's reliability. Malte Diehl from the Pro Bahn passenger association summed it up: “The RB31 between Hamburg and Winsen was one of the least punctual trains in Lower Saxony last year.” In addition to the unpunctual connections, travelers were also annoyed by broken toilets and dirty trains.

But there is hope for improvement. Metronom would like to put some routes in the north back into operation as early as 2026, of course only under certain conditions. It is expected that the operator DB Regio will be awarded the contract for the southern route from Uelzen via Hanover to Göttingen, while Metronome will be allowed to operate on the northern section until 2033.

The Hanseatic network will soon be divided among several operators, with the LNVG will announce on July 14th who will win the contract. Stefan Kindermann from the Harburg District Passenger Advisory Board expressed the hope that improvements can be achieved, particularly in communication and the cleanliness of the trains. The coming months could be decisive for how the situation in local transport develops.

Rail transport faces challenges not only in Lower Saxony, but also nationwide. The traffic statistics show that both local transport and freight transport are under pressure in various areas, from infrastructure to accidents. It remains to be seen how Metronom and Alstom will fare in this complex situation and whether customers will ultimately be able to rely on the railway again.

Overall, it shows that there is a lot wrong with local transport, which concerns both operators and passengers. The hope for improved quality and reliability remains, but until then it will remain a difficult journey for many travelers.

NDR | Statistics Lower Saxony