Ongoing contention surrounds the Berlin S-Bahn, with no immediate resolution in sight.
The Berlin S-Bahn procurement procedure, which began preparations over nine years ago, has reached a decisive moment. The decision in the process has been made, and the result was communicated to the parties involved on Friday.
The consortium Deutsche Bahn/Siemens/Stadler is set to receive the contract for supplying at least 1400 S-Bahn carriages, marking a significant step towards modernising the city's rail network. The total volume of the contracts to be awarded has increased over the years, now standing at a substantial 15 billion euros, with 7.5 billion euros allocated for trains and maintenance, and 7.5 billion euros for operation.
The qualification competition, which started on July 20, 2020, has been a long and complex process. The requirements were changed several times, leading to the deadline being postponed 24 times, most recently to March 27, 2025. Bidders had to shoulder high millions to participate in the tender.
The S-Bahn procurement procedure has been a topic of debate, with concerns raised about its adherence to procurement law. The chairwoman of the procurement senate has stated that the procedure partially violated procurement law.
Experts estimate that Berlin and Brandenburg may have to spend several hundred million euros more due to the S-Bahn procurement procedure, with the additional costs potentially exceeding one billion euros. These estimates have raised concerns among passenger advocates, with Lukas Iffländer, deputy chairman of the passenger association Pro Bahn, expecting the costs of the S-Bahn procurement to be shocking.
Matthias Stoffregen, managing director of the association Mofair, has advocated for procurement procedures to create real competition. He believes that the S-Bahn procurement could have benefited from a more competitive bidding process.
Alstom, one of the bidders, has until September 11 to file an appeal in the procurement procedure. The company is considering taking the matter to the procurement chamber and, if necessary, to the regional court. The appeal procedure in the S-Bahn tender case might still be conducted in the near future, and there is a moderate possibility that Alstom will pursue the case through legal channels.
The deployment of the new S-Bahn generation is scheduled to start in 2031, marking the beginning of a new era for Berlin's rail network. The new S-Bahn carriages will operate on eleven lines in the Stadtbahn and Nord-Süd networks for 15 years, and maintenance of the carriages will be required for an additional 30 years.
The S-Bahn procurement procedure is seen as a reaction to the S-Bahn crisis, which peaked in 2009. The crisis highlighted the need for modern, reliable, and efficient rail services in Berlin and Brandenburg. Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding the procurement procedure, the deployment of the new S-Bahn generation represents a significant step towards addressing these issues and improving rail services for the region's residents.
