For 12 years, Veolia Verkehr offered one of the very few privately operated passenger trains in Germany; The Interconnex connecting Berlin with Leipzig and Rostock/Warnemünde. Next December this will end.

This does not come unexpected. Many of you may have read about the current revolution that is rapidly changing the market for medium and long distance passenger transport in Germany: the Fernbus. The introduction of modern, connected and above all very cheap (international) bus services has a big effect on the railway market. Veolia can not adjust to this new opponent, as railway is less flexible and more politically motivated than road transport. Many railway companies also complain about the non-existence of a level playing field here. Add to this the fact that the German railways have raised the price for the use of the tracks considerably, so the Interconnex is no longer profitable.

That other private passenger operator, currently fighting for its place, is the hkx, connecting Hamburg and Cologne. This company hopes to improve its outlook as its long awaited, refurbished trains are finally ready for revenue service.

As the Interconnex stops, Veolia needs to find a different purpose for the rolling stock used for these services. Let's see where the Traxx P160 AC2 electrics and the coaches will pop up again.