The Niedersachsen transport authority LNVG has awarded Eisenbahnen & Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser (EVB) a 10-year contract to continue operating the regional train service RB33 between Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, and Buxtehude. The new contract will run from December 2027 through December 2037 and covers a route carrying about 2 million passengers annually. It also includes an option for EVB to operate the RB34 Bremervörde to Stade line if that service is reinstated.
Hydrogen fleet introduction and operational challenges
EVB introduced Alstom Coradia iLint hydrogen trains on the RB33 route in August 2022 under a lease agreement managed by LNVG. Initial technical problems with these hydrogen-powered trains have largely been
resolved. However, persistent difficulties with obtaining spare parts and ongoing fuel cell reliability improvements by the manufacturer have limited train availability. On average, only half of the planned 14 hydrogen trainsets are operational daily.
Operational adjustments and capacity impact
Due to the limited hydrogen train availability, LNVG has supplied EVB with diesel multiple units to provide partial capacity relief. Nonetheless, these diesel units do not fully address peak-hour capacity constraints. EVB has also resorted to running some services with a single train unit rather than paired units to avoid cancellations. Transferring trains from other services has been deemed ineffective due to creating bottlenecks elsewhere.
Official remarks on contract significance and regional service
Minister
for Economic Affairs, Transport & Construction Grant Hendrik Tonne emphasized that re-awarding the RB33 contract to EVB guarantees passenger reliability until 2037 and sustains hydrogen train operations. EVB spokesperson Christoph Grimm highlighted that securing the contract reinforces the company’s competitiveness against Deutsche Bahn and large international operators while preserving more than 100 jobs. Grimm described RB33 as EVB’s home line integral to the network it was founded to maintain in 1981.
Contract context within Weser-Elbe & Unterelbe 2027+ tendering
The RB33 contract is the final award in the Weser-Elbe & Unterelbe 2027+ tendering process led by LNVG in partnership with Bremen and Hamburg. Concurrently, the RE5 route from
Cuxhaven to Hamburg was awarded to Metronom, and the RB39 Soltau to Lüneburg service went to Erixx. EVB is over 80% owned by the Land of Niedersachsen and competes with both Deutsche Bahn and other international companies in local passenger train operations.
Passenger advisories on service capacity
EVB has cautioned passengers to anticipate high occupancy on some RB33 services in the coming months due to hydrogen train availability constraints. The company notes that this may affect peak hours despite diesel unit deployments and single-unit operations designed to reduce cancellations. These capacity issues stem from technical and supply chain challenges that remain unresolved.
