Metronom Eisenbahngesellschaft

January Görnemann, Frank Hohler

The metronome Railroad Company, Inc. (own spelling metronome ) is a non- State-owned railway company based in Uelzen and with more than 100,000 daily passengers in the meantime largest private railway in Germany. The Company is in the passenger and operates exclusively modern double-deck car trains from Bombardier on the lines Hamburg- Cuxhaven, Hamburg -Bremen, Hamburg- Lüneburg- Uelzen, Hannover- Celle- Uelzen and Northeim Hannover -Göttingen.

  • 3.1 Features
  • 3.2 locomotives and rolling stock 3.2.1 name of the metronome locomotives

Background

In the late 1990s, the three participating states Lower Saxony, Hamburg and Bremen also agreed not to appoint the regional express services on the routes Hamburg -Bremen and Hamburg- Uelzen as usual at DB Regio, but a private railway undertakings (RU ) to set up and this to entrust the implementation of traffic. The change of operator should be used simultaneously for a range improvement in the form of longer trains and better service.

In February 2002, the company was initially founded as the Metro Rail. In the fall of 2003, the company was renamed after a dispute with Metro AG in its present name metronome and modified the company logo. The shareholding structure is unchanged to this day and consists of three companies that represent the individual states. Specifically, these are the NiedersachsenBahn GmbH ( 69.9 %), BeNEX GmbH ( a subsidiary of Hamburg elevated railway ( HHA ) 25.1 %) and the Bremen tram AG ( BSAG ) ( 5.0%). The NiedersachsenBahn GmbH acts as an operating company and is a merger of the OHE (60 % ), based in Celle and the EVB (40 %) from Zeven.

In April 2007, the majority of OHE from the state of Lower Saxony, was the Federal Republic of Germany and DB sold Regio after a bidding process to the Arriva Bachstein GmbH (since March 23, 2011 Netinera Bachstein GmbH), at the Netinera (then Arriva Germany ) with 86 % stake. Thus indirectly controlled Netinera 30.7 % of the capital of the metronome, making her the largest shareholder.

December 14, 2003, the operation was recorded on the relations of Hamburg -Bremen and Hamburg- Uelzen.

Metronome does not own any vehicles; she has held as a railway company, the operator responsibility, so is responsible for the reliability and security of the entire railway operations. All locomotives and wagons are maintained by staff of the OHE on behalf of the manufacturer Bombardier in Bahnbetriebswerk Uelzen. This depot was built specifically for the maintenance of the metronome trains and is located in the north of Uelzen, in the so -called " Dannenberg bow ".

The maintenance of the trains for the Lower Elbe web is in Bremervörde in the EVB, but the trains on the route Stade - Bremervörde be transferred, it run to the start of operation / closure of two units coupled together. With the monitoring and scheduling of its trains, the metronome has also commissioned OHE. From Celle control staff of the OHE, the entire company's operations and conduct of irregularities (eg, delays, road closures, staff cuts, vehicle interference ) appropriate action.

Since 2010 Metronome 9.3 million train kilometers and more than 100,000 passengers per day, is the largest non- state-owned railway. Metronome is a member of TBNE and VDV.

Current operating

Line network

Hamburg - Bremen ( Weser metronome clock ) and Hamburg - Uelzen ( metronome same cycle)

Since December 2003, the commuter trains in Hamburg -Bremen and Hamburg- Uelzen be operated as a fast regional traffic. It is based on a seven-year transportation contract, which was concluded after a " private contract ". Part of the contract were only the fast - RE benefits while retaining all regional trains ( RB) were initially continue to be operated by DB Regio. Metronome will since on these routes in the regulation units with six or eight double-deckers, where the control carriage is guided on the northern end of the train. The timetable change in December 2010, in addition, the regional trains in the form of metronome regional connections ( MEr ) were taken. The LNVG referred this link relations internally as a Hanseatic network.

The increased number of passengers in the first two years of operation ( 2004, 2005) to more than 50 percent. 2005 590 million passenger kilometers were covered. In 2003 (the last year of operation of DB Regio on the lines ), traffic performance had stood at 393 million passenger kilometers.

Hanover - Göttingen ( metronome Leinetal cycle) and Hannover - Uelzen ( Metronome All -stroke )

On 11 December 2005, the metronome began operating on the route Uelzen, Hanover and Göttingen ( KBS 110/350 ) every hour. The eight-year transportation contract between the metronome railway company and the state of Lower Saxony and Hannover Region is a winning European tender basis as well as an option to extend until December 2015. Metronome on this route is usually six cars long. Since the timetable change in December 2009, the metronome no longer stops at the stations Bismarck Hanover Street, Hanover Messe / Laatzen (except during trade fairs ), Rethen (Leine ) and Barnten, where he had hitherto held every two hours. These stations are operated since then by the S -Bahn Hannover.

After 100 days of operation, about 12,000 passengers were transported per day on the line. This represents an increase of ten percent. The punctuality rate increased from 92 to 95 percent. By December 2010, and since December 2012 single metronome trains travel the route Göttingen -Hannover- Hamburg - Uelzen throughout.

Hamburg - Cuxhaven ( North Sea metronome clock )

In October 2006, the company won the regional traffic from December 2007 between Hamburg and Cuxhaven ( " Lower Elbe Railway" ), with an annual traffic capacity of 1.4 million train kilometers. The company was the only bidder in the tender, which provided for the use of the state-owned vehicle pools.

The route is 115 kilometers long and not electrified between Stade and Cuxhaven. There the known metronom Doppelstockwagen be used in conjunction with newly developed diesel locomotives of the series 246.

Metronome Regional Hamburg -Lüneburg and Hamburg -Bremen

Since late 2007, the regional train lines Hamburg -Lüneburg and Hamburg- Tostedt ( single journeys beyond) were (initially until 2010) drove under the product name " metronome Regional" ( MEr ). Both services have been awarded as part of a job that only the metronom Railroad Company gave the only company to an offer.

From December 2010, the former Regional metronome connection Hamburg- Bremen to Tostedt was committed under a new tender. This project was renamed initially under the name metropolis train and then had the name Hanseatic network. In this context, the metronom Railroad Company was awarded the contract for the regional traffic between Bremen Hbf and Rotenburg ( Wümme) and took over in December 2010, this section of road by DB Regio.

Cooperation tickets to Helgoland and the Wadden

Since 2008, in cooperation with the shipping company FRS Helgoline in the period from 1 May to 30 September, a combined ticket under the name metronom Atlantis offers from Hamburg on the Lower Elbe Railway direct connection with bus transfer and ferry in Cuxhaven to Helgoland. Another offer regional metronom maris is valid until October 31, and allows bus tours in Cuxhaven area ( "Cuxland " ) as well as guided walks across the mudflats, inter alia, to the Hamburg Neuwerk.

Improvements

The takeover of operations by metronome on the routes Hamburg - Bremen and Hamburg - Lüneburg - Uelzen was also used for the implementation of a long-planned improvements to services. DB Regio trains were ( four, in individual cases, six double-decker coaches were always used ) due to their lack of transport capacity often late and often crowded due to longer boarding and alighting times. In addition, it sometimes came to vehicle disturbances, which because of the maximum speed of the vehicle used material of 140 km / h was limited opportunity to make up delays.

To remedy these deficiencies, metronome was equipped with a brand new fleet of Bombardier and increases the length of the train on six to eight double-deckers. The cars have improved facilities ( lighting, snack and beverage machines), also the engines are more powerful and can reach a top speed of 160 km / h This, together with further service improvements already after the first year of operation to an increase in passenger numbers by more than 30 percent achieved at a punctuality rate of an average of 95 percent. A traffic survey after the second year was a passenger increase of 50 percent compared to the Regional-Express connection from DB Regio. Meanwhile, it is particularly in commuter traffic to Hamburg again several times to crowded trains. Therefore, the metronome railway company tried to steer since December 2012 with a " Sardinenzug campaign " regular commuters on not quite as strong demand metronome features.

After the first year of operation on the routes Hanover - Uelzen and Hanover - Göttingen a passenger growth of 20 percent was already recorded. In contrast to the relations Hamburg - Bremen and Hamburg - Uelzen the metronome trains solved here even older single-storey n -car sets from. The increase in comfort thus includes also air suspension and air conditioning. On the Lower Elbe Railway n -car sets were also replaced.

The metronome trains have exceeded the limit of 50 million train kilometers in September 2011. Since October 6, 2011, an electric locomotive wear ( 146-18 ) and one diesel ( 246-004 ), the following special inscription: " 50 million kilometers safely by train through Lower Saxony ".

Another aspect is that metronome external security services ( Securitas AB and SDS Uelzen ) to conduct evening accompany all trains at night and prevent vandalism in the parking facilities.

Rolling stock

At a press conference on July 3, 2003, the first of the ten double-decker Wendezuggarnituren was presented.

Equipment

The metronome was before the general ban on smoking in all German passenger trains a pure non-smoking train, offers on the routes Hanover - Göttingen and Hannover - Uelzen the possibility of free reservation for commuters ( "own place " ), wheelchair and bicycle groups as well as a bistro area with drinks and snack vending machines in each metronome train. The cars are fully air conditioned and air suspension.

Restricted mobility shall be entitled at any control car a multipurpose compartment with an accessible toilet is available, which can be reached via ramps which allow the entry and exit with a wheelchair. However, wheelchair users can not easily get in and out everywhere, because not all approached stations are barrier-free.

The top speed of the metronome is 160 km / h He moves faster than a conventional regional train, which can mostly a maximum of 140 km / h, and saves ( thanks to revised schedules) on the route Hanover - Uelzen about eight to eleven minutes, and on the route Hanover - Göttingen seven minutes travel time compared to the previous offers one. So all ICE connections are achieved in Göttingen for the first time on schedule. On the existing line section Hanover - Göttingen the metronome runs at the same speed ( max. 160 km / h) as the Intercity DB. The metronome compounds are classified as regional express routes; this corresponds to the product class C DB. Their transport rates to be applied in the context of cooperation between the two companies in the metronome.

On the huge demand for more bike parking was reacted by metronome. On the lower deck of some intermediate cars all the seats have been removed, thus creating additional parking spaces completely. Since the spring of 2006 Metronome relies on all routes in the summer car with different sized compartments a bicycle. This double-deck coaches have in contrast to the other intermediate cars over deep entrances, making easy loading and unloading. Every autumn the upgraded for bicycle parking spaces seats will be installed again.

In May 2006, 18 new bike car (type DBdpza ) had been put into operation, which offer up to 30 bicycle spaces in the basement.

Locomotives and rolling stock

The fleet of the metronome consists of 29 electric locomotives Bombardier " TRAXX P160 AC" (ME 146-01 to -10 ), Bombardier " TRAXX P160 AC2 " (ME 146-11 to -18 and 146531-539 ) 8 diesel locomotives Bombardier " TRAXX P160 DE " - Series 246, which was developed in just 700 days specifically for the distance between Hamburg and Cuxhaven - as well as more than 220 double-deck coaches of the third generation (type " Görlitz " ), which were also made ​​by Bombardier. The entire rolling stock comes from the country's pool of the country's transport Niedersachsen mbH ( LNVG ). It is rented for the duration of the traffic performance and in the cases provided by the LNVG colors blue, white and painted yellow. This color scheme is found both outside and inside the trains and differs significantly from those of the Deutsche Bahn.

As part of the operation recording some locomotives were baptized in the name of a city or a place of routes.

Name of the metronome locomotives

  • 91 80 6146 501-2 D -ME ​​(ME 146-01 ) - Scheessel
  • 91 80 6146 502-0 D -ME ​​(ME 146-02 ) - Hanseatic City of Lüneburg
  • 91 80 6146 503-8 D -ME ​​(ME 146-03 ) - Bienenbuttel
  • 91 80 6146 504-6 D -ME ​​(ME 146-04 ) - Buchholz in the North Heath
  • 91 80 6146 505-3 D -ME ​​(ME 146 05) - Rotenburg ( Wümme)
  • 91 80 6146 506-1 D -ME ​​(ME 146-06 ) - Winsen ( Luhe)
  • 91 80 6146 507-9 D -ME ​​(ME 146-07 ) - Lauenbrück
  • 91 80 6146 508-7 D -ME ​​(ME 146-08 ) - Uelzen
  • 91 80 6146 509-5 D -ME ​​(ME 146-09 ) - Tostedt
  • 91 80 6146 510-3 D -ME ​​(ME 146-10 ) - Bad Bevensen
  • 91 80 6146 511-1 D -ME ​​(ME 146-11 ) - Einbeck
  • 91 80 6146 512-9 D -ME ​​(ME 146-12 ) - Northeim
  • 91 80 6146 513-7 D -ME ​​(ME 146-13 ) - Alfeld (Leine)
  • 91 80 6146 514-5 D -ME ​​(ME 146-14 ) - Sarstedt
  • 91 80 6146 515-2 D -ME ​​(ME 146-15 ) - Elze
  • 91 80 6146 516-0 D -ME ​​(ME 146-16 ) - Celle
  • 91 80 6146 517-8 D -ME ​​(ME 146-17 ) - Langenhagen
  • 91 80 6146 518-6 D -ME ​​(ME 146-18 ) - Castle Wedel, 50 million kilometers Advertising (now expanded to 60 million km )
  • 91 80 6146 531-9 D -ME ​​( 146531-9 ) - Seevetal mesh
  • 91 80 6146 532-7 D -ME ​​( 146532-7 ) - Seevetal - Meckelfeld
  • 91 80 6146 533-5 D -ME ​​( 146533-5 ) - Bardowick
  • 91 80 6146 534-3 D -ME ​​( 146534-3 ) - Seevetal - Hittfeld
  • 91 80 6146 535-0 D -ME ​​( 146535-0 ) - at times as " Rizzi -Lok "
  • 91 80 6146 536-8 D -ME ​​( 146536-8 ) -
  • 91 80 6146 537-7 D -ME ​​( 146537-7 ) - site
  • 91 80 6146 538-4 D -ME ​​( 146538-4 ) - Rose Garden Klecken
  • 91 80 6146 539-2 D -ME ​​( 146539-2 ) -
  • 91 80 6146 541-8 D -ME ​​( 146541-8 ) -
  • 91 80 6146 542-6 D -ME ​​( 146542-6 ) -
  • 92 80 1246 002-0 D -ME ​​( 246002-0 ) - Buxtehude
  • 92 80 1246 003-8 D -ME ​​( 246003-8 ) - Cuxhaven
  • 92 80 1246 004-6 D -ME ​​( 246004-6 ) - Stade
  • 92 80 1246 005-3 D -ME ​​( 246005-3 ) - Horne Castle
  • 92 80 1246 006-1 D -ME ​​( 246006-1 ) - Hemmoor
  • 92 80 1246 007-9 D -ME ​​( 246007-9 ) - Himmelspforten
  • 92 80 1246 008-7 D -ME ​​( 246008-7 ) - Ottersdorf
  • 92 80 1246 009-5 D -ME ​​( 246009-5 ) -

Source: metronome - Customer E -mail

Note: The "ME " stands for metronome; The locomotives were delivered 01-08 first with "MR" for Metrorail, today are all changed to " ME ". In the diesel, the " BTK " stands for Bombardier Transportation in Kassel. In parentheses are the numbers of the corresponding LZB locomotives. At 146 01-13 is the old name in brackets, 146514-518 were delivered without old number. The mention of the name of the diesel locomotives were in August 2008 of " BTK " ( Bombardier Transportation ) to " ME " ( Metronome ) changed.

Although the locomotive 92 80 1246 011-1 D- IGT ( 246011-1 ) carries the colors of the LNVG, but is not scheduled for metronome go. Only with a longer-term loss of regular locomotives it comes as a metronome for use.

The locomotive 246 001 has been sold in October at the Havelländische Railway ( HVLE ), as well as the locomotive 246 010

Customer magazine

The company's customer magazine called " moments ". It is published quarterly printed and is available online. They informed primarily through metronome itself as well as changes in the timetable, in the car or similar equipment. In addition, interesting facts about the / the metronome, travel and event tips, offered on current topics as well as General to the season or railway.

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