Unlocking the Brakes on Schönbuchbahn FINALLY Achieved

Schönbuchbahn Train Approval Nears, but Challenges Remain

The Schönbuchbahn train, a long-awaited addition to the public transportation system in the Böblingen and Tübingen districts, may soon be approved for passenger transport by the Federal Railway Authority. This approval is expected to be granted in the coming weeks, according to recent reports.

The Schönbuchbahn, initially reactivated in 1996 and hailed as a success story, has faced a series of hurdles in its journey towards full operation. The trains, ordered in 2017 and starting to arrive from 2020, were treated partly like trams and partly like trains during the approval process, which has taken four years due to the Federal Railway Authority's decision to use the criteria for trams.

The Schönbuchbahn trains are state-of-the-art, cost-effective, powerful, and environmentally friendly, running on electricity unlike the current diesel-powered "RegioShuttles". However, the setting of the brakes has proven to be a problem, not fitting into the bureaucratic framework.

Maintenance costs for the aging diesel trains have risen by 30 percent since 2022, and reinforcement buses running during peak hours have not been well-received. The Schönbuchbahn trains, with each vehicle boasting 94 seated and 161 standing places, are expected to alleviate this issue.

Approval for the Spanish company CAF's electric trains to operate on the Schönbuchbahn was granted by the relevant railway authorities, with the decision expected by the end of 2023. The Association's Managing Director, Gerstner, has specified that train drivers still need to be trained, and the trains are expected to be operational by 2025.

The enthusiasm for the Schönbuch Railway has waned due to noticeable declines in reliability and frequent cancellations. This has been a source of frustration for Böblingen's independent county commissioner, Roland Bernhard, who expressed his dissatisfaction in May 2024 and December 2024 after the postponements.

Despite these challenges, the Schönbuchbahn trains are anticipated to boost passenger numbers, which stood at 7,650 in 2023, lower than the predicted 14,000 passengers per day by 2025. The Schönbuchbahn trains are expected to cost around 70 million euros.

The lease of the Association of Electric Multiple Units by Deutsche Bahn ended two months ago, paving the way for the Schönbuchbahn trains to take over. With the approval process nearing its end, the Schönbuchbahn is one step closer to becoming a regular feature on the public transportation landscape.