Saxony to reduce regional and S-Bahn train services

Public transport authorities in Saxony are planning significant reductions in regional and S-Bahn train services starting with the timetable change on December 13. The cuts are driven by sharply rising track access charges (Trassenpreise) and station fees.

The Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe (VVO) reported that additional costs for the ZVVO association will reach approximately 8.8 million euros in 2026, with projections exceeding 14 million euros annually for 2027. These financial pressures stem from a European Court of Justice ruling in March 2026, which invalidated previous caps on track access prices for local transport following a lawsuit by DB InfraGO AG.

Specific service reductions include the S3 S-Bahn line, where the section between Tharandt and Freiberg may be discontinued during peak hours, and the RB45 regional line, which is expected to operate only every two hours on weekends between Döbeln and Elsterwerda. Other lines, such as the RB71 (Pirna–Sebnitz) and S-Bahn lines S1 and S2, are also facing potential cuts. The Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen (VMS) is also under financial pressure, which may lead to reduced services on regional lines and City-Bahn connections, particularly on weekends and holidays.