Chaos on the Chemnitz-Leipzig railway line: VMS is planning an express bus!

Chaos on the Chemnitz-Leipzig railway line: VMS is planning an express bus!

Commuters on the railway line between Chemnitz and Leipzig have been facing considerable challenges for months. Delays, vehicle breakdowns and inadequate information for passengers affect the everyday lives of many travelers. The RE 6 regional express, which runs on this busy route, is struggling with a variety of problems that are further exacerbating the already tense situation. Loud Blick.de The ongoing difficulties are not only frustrating for the passengers, but also for the Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen (VMS), which is urgently looking for a solution.

In order to guarantee commuters a reliable and timely connection, the VMS is planning to set up an additional express bus service every 30 minutes. Matthias Korda, managing director of the VMS, explained that if the Mitteldeutsche Regiobahn (MRB), which belongs to the Transdev group, does not offer stable additional traffic, the VMS is prepared to organize this independently. This shows that the pressure for a solution is immense and the patience of passengers is being put to the test.

Difficult conditions

The problems on the RE 6 are diverse. From March onwards, individual wagons will no longer be allowed to be used due to diesel smells, which will drastically reduce the seating capacity from 300 to just 223 seats. This reduction particularly affects commuters who rely on the train every day. Korda criticized the insufficient improvement of the situation and the failure of the MRB to take concrete measures despite repeated requests and fines from the VMS.

In addition, the route between Chemnitz and Leipzig is single-track and not electrified, which makes the use of modern electric multiple units difficult. The VMS hopes to be able to use Alstom battery trains from December 2024, but these plans are on hold due to delivery delays. These uncertainties contribute to the dissatisfaction of passengers who rely on reliable and comfortable use of rail transport.

Urgent need for action

The VMS is pushing for a coordinated replacement concept that also integrates buses into the planning to ensure the contractually agreed seating capacity. Korda urgently emphasizes that the current conditions are no longer acceptable for passengers and that local transport urgently needs to become reliable again. The continuation of problems like those currently on RE 6 could have long-term consequences for the acceptance of local public transport in the region.

For further information on the current situation on RE 6 and the planned express bus service, please refer to the details on the VMS website: VMS.de.