Wave of Awards Following the Decision of the Federal Court of Justice on VRR
New financing models open up the market
In February, the Federal Court of Justice in a landmark decision prohibited the direct awarding of transport contracts. It thus created the conditions for greater competition in public transport. According to industry insiders, the decision will trigger a wave of new award procedures. In addition, transport authorities intend to encourage competition for transport contracts with innovative models. One more reason to introduce the new vehicle financing models of the transport authorities and to exchange points of view with 55 top-class experts from all over Germany at this year's regional rail transport meeting held in Wiesbaden on March 16, 2011.
At the beginning, Peter Langenberg, senior board member, and George Seifert of Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) transport association will introduce their innovative financing model that was first successfully used at the invitation to bid for RB 47. This model allows the railroad operator to select the vehicles according to its requirements with financing taken over by the transport authorities.
In the following, Theda Fuchs of European Investment Bank will show ways to purchase vehicles with the bank's assistance. Thomas Nawrocki and Ralf Hoopmann of state regional transport provider Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen (LNVG) will present a car pool model. They will specifically highlight the use and value retention of the vehicles, but also discuss a possible transfer of operations in the event of an operator change. At the conclusion of the event, Patrick Sluga of Hannover Equipment Leasing GmbH will address the impact of the financial crisis on the German regional rail passenger transport market and venture a look into the future.
The event was organized by two consulting companies that provide advice on numerous major projects in regional rail transport: consultants "Interfleet," specializing in systems engineering and life cycle management and law firm Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek, specializing in providing counsel on large public projects.
