Munich–Augsburg route: British company replaces Deutsche Bahn – go-ahead with rumble start
Created: 2022-12-15 07:41
By: Dirk Walter
Go-Ahead runs blue and white multiple units.
© Go-Ahead/Karg
Deutsche Bahn relies on the British company Go-Ahead on the Munich-Augsburg route.
The start did not go smoothly.
Munich – The train operator also changed with the timetable change: instead of Deutsche Bahn with its “Fuggerexpress”, the British company Go-Ahead has been operating on the Munich-Augsburg route since Sunday, continuing in the direction of Ulm and Donauwörth.
But it was more of a rumble start that the newcomer got off the Bavarian train tracks.
The company admits this itself.
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Vehicle malfunctions, inexperienced train drivers, fairy tale-telling passenger information - a whole bunch of problems accompanied the start on Sunday, says spokesman Winfried Karg.
In any case, the company is plagued by a shortage of skilled workers - on a branch line, the Riesbahn, there is only an hourly service for the time being, and Deutsche Bahn also has to help out with vehicles.
Nevertheless, yesterday there were many delays across the network.
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On the main routes, coupling and wings in particular still causes problems: train parts are coupled and uncoupled near Augsburg.
That only works to a limited extent, Karg admits.
Many engine drivers who have just started are still somewhat inexperienced.
"Our task was the largest start of operations this year in Bavaria, so processes still have to be brought into play.
We will soon have routine," says Go-Ahead boss Fabian Amini.
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The Bavarian railway company accompanied the start of operations.
"Go-Ahead did everything they could do," says Managing Director Thomas Prechtel.
"You coped well."
(dw)
