Metronome remains: Trains between Bremen and Hamburg secured until 2033!

Metronome remains: Trains between Bremen and Hamburg secured until 2033!

After a long phase of uncertainty and disagreement, the Metronom railway line will continue to run between Bremen and Hamburg in the future. Again Weser courier reports, Metronom has won the tender for large parts of the Hanseatic network. New contracts will apply from June 14, 2026 and will run until the end of December 2033. This means that the characteristic blue, white and yellow trains will continue to run along this important route.

But the joy about this success is mixed, because the past was anything but easy for Metronom. The NDR reported numerous challenges, including a drastic increase in train cancellations and a noticeable decrease in punctuality. The punctuality rate fell from over 90% to around 75%, which caused dissatisfaction among passengers. The RB31 between Hamburg and Winsen in particular is considered one of the least punctual trains in Lower Saxony. Problems such as short-term train cancellations, defective toilets and inadequate cleanliness were increasingly criticized by passengers.

A look at the future

The new contract allows Metronome to operate the following lines:

• RE 3 (Hannover – Uelzen – Lüneburg – Hamburg)
• RE 4 (Hamburg – Bremen)
• RB 31 (Hamburg – Lüneburg)
• RB 41 (Hamburg – Buchholz – Rotenburg – Bremen)

After years in which the operating community suffered from significant economic problems, Metronom is now required by the state local transport company (LNVG) to train and retain staff in the long term. High energy and personnel costs were cited as the main reasons for the economic difficulties. Metronom had even asked for an early termination of the contract in order to negotiate new contract terms, as the originally planned contract was supposed to run until 2033.

“There is something going on,” says Malte Diehl from the Pro Bahn passenger association. He raises concerns about metronome reliability. Critical voices are increasing, especially with regard to communication with passengers and the cleanliness of the trains. Nevertheless, those responsible like Stefan Kindermann from the Harburg District Passenger Advisory Board hope for improvements in the future.

Contractual conditions and further developments

The LNVG plans to continue to monitor the Hanseatic network, which will be divided among several operators in the future. These contracts regulate the services to be provided by the railway companies and include important points such as timetables, stops as well as quality and subsidies. How taz reported, the exact distribution of tasks in regional transport will be decided in spring 2025.

Overall, it remains to be seen whether Metronome can take advantage of the opportunity to prove itself and fix the problems it has encountered in the past. Many passengers in Lower Saxony are hoping for smoother operations and a return to a positive travel culture on the railway lines between Hamburg and Bremen.