The Future of Commuter Rail in North America (2025) / Chapter Skim
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6 Inspiration from Abroad: Germany's S-Bahn and Regionalbahn Systems
Pages 48-53

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From page 48...
... Several factors contribute to the better resilience of the German regional rail networks. This case study evaluates the factors driving ridership trends and considers the applicability of each of the identified strategies and practices to the North American rail market broadly and to commuter rail agencies specifically.
From page 49...
... As in North America, tram and U-Bahn services are not part of the national Table 9.   Common rail categorizations in Germany. Abbreviation Train Category Description Governance Overview ICE Intercity Express High-speed long DB Fernverkehr plans distance and operates IC InterCity Semi-high-speed DB Fernverkehr plans intercity train and operates RE Regional-Express Serve regions States plan, DB Regio without all stops contract operator RB Regionalbahn Standard all-stop States plan, DB Regio regional service contract operator S S-Bahn Hybrid regional rail Transport Associations service plan, DB Regio or local contract operator U U-Bahn Underground rail Transport Associations plan, contracted agency operator T Tram Urban light rail Transport Associations plan, contracted agency operator
From page 50...
... 6.2 Lessons for North America While differences do exist between the German and North American historical, regulatory, and policy frameworks, distinct lessons from the German case can be helpful in explaining how the German regional systems capture a greater portion of the overall market. Predictable, Well-Branded, and Standardized Services The S-Bahn and RB services provide several service aspects that assist riders, planners, and gov ernment officials with understanding what they will get out of their services.
From page 51...
... From June through August 2022, the federal government sponsored the introduction of the 9-euro ticket, which allowed for unlimited use of local and regional transit in Germany, including S-Bahn and RB services.119 Subsequently, the federal government transitioned to the Deutschland Ticket, which enabled the same unlimited local and regional transit use for 49 euros per month until January 2025, when the price was expected to increase to 58 euros per month. However, as Figure 21 shows, North American and German regional train ridership increased at a similar rate in 2022 and 2023, so the effect of the unlimited ticket and its relation to various fare experiments at North American agencies is unclear.
From page 52...
... The primary tasks of the Tracks Division of DB InfraGO, for merly DB Netz, are "designing timetables, managing operations and construction, maintenance, and ongoing improvements to rail infrastructure."121 As the infrastructure manager, DB InfraGO is held to strict open access and non-discriminatory regulation for long-distance trains and accepts various operators for regional trains contracted for states and transit associations (Knorr and Eisenkopf 2022)
From page 53...
... The barriers of high cost, low information, and poor connectivity can be reduced by addressing regional governance directly in terms of planning, funding, and coordination. • Implementing fare integration and free transfers, consistent and easily understood branding, and timetables built around convenient connections across a region helps transit agencies, and commuter rail providers in particular, make transit vastly more accessible to potential riders.


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