Trains between Zwickau and Dresden heavily used

More and more people are using the trains on the Saxony-Franconia Main Line between Vogtland and Dresden. Passenger numbers have risen significantly in recent years, particularly between Dresden, Freiberg, Chemnitz and Zwickau, according to Mitteldeutsche Regiobahn (MRB). It took over train services in the Central Saxony electronic network in 2016. According to the information provided, this includes the RE3 and RB30 lines between Hof and Dresden as well as the RB45 line between Chemnitz and Elsterwerda.

More than 10.5 million passengers used these trains last year. This means that the number has almost doubled since the takeover. According to the company, this trend is continuing this year. Following the decline during the coronavirus pandemic, a noticeable recovery began in 2022. The Deutschlandticket in particular has led to fuller trains. As a result, the trains become cramped at peak times, it said. Sometimes bicycles can no longer be taken on board.

More passengers, more revenue?

However, according to the MRB, ticket revenue is lagging behind the increase in passengers. This is because the Deutschlandticket now accounts for a large part of this income; it is cheaper for passengers than many previous monthly tickets. This leads to a considerable drop in revenue for private transport companies. "The compensation funds provided by the federal and state governments are unlikely to be sufficient to close this gap," explained MRB Managing Director Jan Kleinwechter. "The current regulation therefore reflects neither the actual use nor the funding requirements."

The company is therefore advocating a new distribution model within the industry that takes actual passenger demand into account.