Halle (dpa/sa) - In view of the expected higher utilization of the trains because of the 9-euro ticket, the Abellio railway company is increasing capacities on popular routes. As a result, additional places could be offered, said a spokesman for Abellio Central Germany in Halle on Tuesday. An external transport company was able to procure four additional trains for the corresponding period. These are to be used Monday to Friday on the RE21 Magdeburg - Goslar route and daily on the RB 25 Halle - Saalfeld route. According to Abellio, these additional services are ordered and financed by the authorities.
By deploying the trains, Abellio can increase capacity on several key commuter routes and carry more passengers, it said. This affects the RE 8 Halle - Leinefelde and RE 9 Halle - Kassel lines as well as the RE 10 Erfurt - Magdeburg and selectively the RE 16 Halle - Erfurt line.
The four additional trains would offer more space for bicycles than the regularly used trains, but entry and exit are not barrier-free, it said. An increasing number of day trippers can be expected on particularly popular routes, for example in the Harz mountains or in the Saale valley. The capacity for taking bicycles on individual trains can therefore be exhausted. Abellio appeals to all travelers - especially with bicycles - to avoid rush hours.
