Germany expands regional rail service in Mainfranken and launches 50‑meter Urbanliner trams in Berlin

From December 2030 the private operator Benex (under the Agilis brand) will take over the Regionalverkehr Mainfranken network. The contract, awarded by the Bayerische Eisenbahngesellschaft, covers roughly 7.2 million train‑kilometres per year and includes the new RS‑1 line from Marktbreit via Würzburg to Flieden, extensions toward Gemünden am Main, and a planned Regio S‑Bahn Mainfranken. The operator expects denser half‑hourly timetables, more seats and newer rolling stock, contingent on track upgrades by DB InfraGO.

In Berlin, the BVG has placed its first 50‑metre Urbanliner trams into regular service on the heavily used M4 line. Built by Alstom, each tram can carry over 300 passengers and features modular interior lighting, LED door‑status strips, advanced camera‑based driver assistance, and improved wheelchair access. Infrastructure upgrades, such as reinforced track supports at Alexanderplatz, were completed to accommodate the vehicle’s weight of up to 100 tonnes. The Urbanliner replaces the older GT6 double‑car units and is slated for fleet expansion to 65 vehicles by 2028.