On December 12, Transdev Hannover GmbH started passenger operations for three lines of Hannover’s S-Bahn network, in the north of Germany. These include the S3 line between Hildesheim and Hannover and the S6 and S7 lines between Hannover and Celle. At 00:04 on December 12, the first of a total of 15 blue-white-red trains started on-time with the S3 from Hanover Central Station.
We have been particularly looking forward to the moment when the first passengers travel on our new trains.
Hartmut Körbs, Managing Director of Transdev Hannover GmbH, who personally accompanied the Transdev Hannover premiere train with his management colleague
We wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to welcome the first Transdev train at Hannover’s main station.
Nadine Böger
For the first few days, passengers on the eastern network will be assisted by passenger controllers on the platforms in Algermissen, Ehlershausen and Lehrte, among other places. « We started providing information about the change of operator early on. However, such a change raises one or two questions on the part of the passengers – for this reason, colleagues from the company will support the passengers on the platforms as passenger guides during the first few days, » says Nadine Böger and Hartmut Körbs adds: « The focus is particularly on the morning hours, when many commuters and schoolchildren are on the move. At midday and also in the afternoon, they will also be found at selected stations. »
Next June 2022, Transdev Hannover will then take over the rest of the S-Bahn network of the state capital with lines S1, S2, S4, S5, S8, S21 and S51.
Transdev had won in November 2018 the S-Bahn Hannover contract, taking over from Deutsche Bahn. The contract, valued at more than € 1.5 billion over 12 and a half years, is the largest regional rail contract in the history of Transdev Germany.
With Transdev as the new operator of the Hanover S-Bahn, not only do fresh colors come into play, the new vehicles used also offer our passengers more comfort, such as fast Internet at their seats or more legroom. The special needs of mobility-impaired passengers have been considered in the design of the interior. I wish Transdev employees and all S-Bahn passengers a perfect start to service according to schedule.
Steffen Krach, Region President