Rail market opening means creating bite-sized pieces for Berlin S Bahn and NS contracts

DB currently runs the S Bahn as part of the greater Berlin transport network

DB currently runs the S Bahn as part of the greater Berlin transport network

The steady opening up of European rail markets to competition is involving some tough decisions about how to package the offer of contracts. Germany and the Netherlands have been early implementors of the EU requirements, but have been facing some controversial issues.

In June, the Berlin Senate voted to push ahead with controversial proposals to split the city’s S-Bahn network into three separate businesses in order to introduce competition when tendering for operating concessions.

Bids...