Aufgabenträger · Hessen / Rheinland-Pfalz / Baden-Württemberg

Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar GmbH

Abbreviation: VRN
Land / remit: Hessen / Rheinland-Pfalz / Baden-Württemberg
Legal form: GmbH (cross-Länder)
Seat: Mannheim
B 1, 3–5, 68159 Mannheim
Website: www.vrn.de
Management: Dr. Michael Winnes, Geschäftsführer (as of 6 July 2026)

Background

Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar — cross-border transport association covering parts of Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen. Formally set up as a GmbH, with delegated SPNV-Aufgabenträger responsibilities for parts of the Rhein-Neckar corridor, working alongside NVBW and ZÖPNV RLP Süd.

Remit and mandate

SPNV-Aufgabenträger for the Hesse share (Kreis Bergstraße) and cross-Länder coordination; plays an operational role on behalf of BW and RLP shareholders.

Tender pipeline — Wettbewerbsfahrplan 2025

The following lots are listed in the 2025 Wettbewerbsfahrplan (BSN) with this authority as the lead or as a participating authority. Leadership counts: 0 lot(s) as lead authority, 3 lot(s) as participating authority.

As participating authority

No. 142

S-Bahn Rhein-Neckar Los 2

Gross · Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition

Contract term: 10.12.2034 — 12.12.2048
Services: S-Bahn · Electric · 6,20 M train-km/yr
Rolling stock: Pool: no · New-build: TBD · ETCS: TBD
Operator: Not yet awarded / see authority
Lines: under discussion
Remarks: Network perimeter, Inbetriebnahm(stufen), Lestungsumfang and Contract termen still open, Vehicle deployment (LCC- oder BW-Model) still under review

No. 131

S-Bahn Rhein-Neckar Los 1

Gross · Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition

Contract term: 11.12.2033 — 09.12.2045
Services: S-Bahn · Electric · 7,70 M train-km/yr
Rolling stock: Pool: yes · New-build: yes · ETCS: TBD
Operator: Not yet awarded / see authority
Lines: under discussion
Remarks: Network perimeter, Inbetriebnahm(stufen), Lestungsumfang and Contract termen still open, Vehicle deployment (LCC- oder BW-Model) still under review

No. 117

Main-Neckar-Ried

TBD · Other / TBD

Contract term: 12.12.2032 — TBD
Services: RB + RE · Electric · 3,33 M train-km/yr
Rolling stock: Pool: TBD · New-build: TBD · ETCS: TBD
Operator: Not yet awarded / see authority
Lines: RE 60 Mannheim – Frankfurt RB 67 Mannheim – Frankfurt RB 68 Heidelberg – Frankfurt RE 70 Frankfurt – Mannheim

Source: Bundesverband SchienenNahverkehr (BSN), Wettbewerbsfahrplan 2025. Data are as published in the Wettbewerbsfahrplan and have not been independently verified against the underlying tender documentation.

Recent tender activity (TED, 2026)

Recent notices in the Supplement to the Official Journal (TED) with this authority as a lead or participating authority. This complements the Wettbewerbsfahrplan 2025 pipeline above; for the cross-cutting read see the development note SPNV procurement wave, mid-2026.

TED 472736-2026

S-Bahn Rhein-Neckar (Netz 72)

Prior information notice (Art. 7(2) Reg. (EC) 1370/2007)

Contract term: Staggered commencement expected from Dec 2033; term generally 15 yr
Services: S-Bahn · Electric · 6–9 M train-km/yr per lot (two lots with lot limitation, gross contracts)
Rolling stock: One lot to run with new-build vehicles; in the second lot SFBW provides its existing fleet under the BW model
Key date: Prior information notice of 09.07.2026 — competition to follow; no participation deadline yet
Lines: Rhein-Neckar S-Bahn network around Mannheim, incl. Mannheim – Germersheim – Karlsruhe, Mannheim – Kaiserslautern – Homburg (Saar) – Zweibrücken, Mannheim – Heidelberg – Osterburken/Bad Friedrichshall – Heilbronn and Mannheim – Mainz (– Wiesbaden)
Note: Joint re-award by Land Baden-Württemberg, ZÖPNV RLP Süd, Saarland and VRN; SFBW named as vehicle-providing authority, NVBW as procurement agent. Corresponds to Wettbewerbsfahrplan lots No. 131/142 (S-Bahn Rhein-Neckar Los 1/Los 2)