Bavarian rail operators extend Alex service to 2031, cut renovation costs and face temporary disruptions

The Länderbahn subsidiary Alex will continue operating the Munich‑Prague corridor until the end of 2031 after receiving a transition contract, following a failed 2024 tender. The service, which runs through Regensburg and reaches the Czech border, is set to be replaced by a new 15‑year contract from 2031 to 2046.

DB InfraGO announced that the cost forecast for the long‑planned renovation of the Nürnberg‑Regensburg line has been lowered by several hundred million euros. The line was slated to reopen on 31 July 2026, with full passenger service expected from 1 August, although some minor works remain.

In Fürth, track work on the U1 underground line from early August forces reduced frequencies and a shuttle train between the stations Jakobinenstraße and Eberhardshof. The HVV‑linked Hochbahn reported that the U3 line in Hamburg resumed operation after a signal‑box fault, while the U1 remains partially closed with replacement buses.

The Regensburger Verkehrsverbund (RVV) will restore its normal bus schedules from 1 August 2026 after the railway works conclude. Meanwhile, Deutsche Bahn cancelled several Regional‑Express RE 1 services between Munich and Nürnberg on 31 July because of limited train availability, directing passengers to alternative regional services.