Deutsche Bahn Shakes Up Bavarian Timetables with Enhanced Services
With the Sunday timetable change from Deutsche Bahn, expect numerous adjustments in Bavaria. As the Bavarian Railway Company (BEG) revealed on Wednesday in Munich, the changes include hourly regional express connections between Bayreuth and Hof, as well as Bamberg and Coburg. The trains from Hof and Prague will now have separate connections to Regensburg and Munich, which BEG hopes will improve overall reliability.
Munich's S-Bahn lines to Herrsching, Tutzing, and Wolfratshausen will now run every 20 minutes all year round. Previously, this was only a summertime treat. Long-distance services are also set for an overhaul. Deutsche Bahn plans to boost the number of Sprinter journeys between Munich and Berlin to up to 14 per direction, allowing for nearly hourly service during the day.
There is also a new direct connection from Nuremberg to Vienna via Regensburg, Plattling, and Passau once construction work on the railroad line between Nuremberg and Bamberg is completed. Unfortunately, the improvements will not be available until December 17 due to construction delays.
Bavaria's Transport Minister, Christian Bernreiter (CSU), acknowledged that rail services remain essential in the region. Bernreiter pointed out the challenging financing situation with the Deutschlandticket, rising energy prices, and higher personnel costs.
Passengers traveling between Hof and Prague can now find separate connections, as announced by BEG. Interested parties can find details of all the Bavarian timetable changes at .
Deeper Insights
To maintain the smooth operation of local transportation, DB is investing over 13 million euros in new infrastructure in Unterfranken, including the replacement of obsolete bridges and the installation of noise barriers. Electronic Stellwerke (ESTW) are also being installed between Munich and Mühldorf, upgrading antiquated mechanical technology. These improvements necessitate temporary track closures and replacement services.
Additionally, there are plans for a direct Munich-Paris train, connecting the two cities through ICE trains from DB and TGV trains from SNCF, expected to commence service by the end of 2026. Further, the renowned U3 and U6 lines in Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG) are undergoing a comprehensive renovation and modernization project, with bus replacements ensuring reliable transportation while work is in progress.
Monthly expenses for the Bavarian increase in local transport services reach approximately 1.7 billion euros.
