A new concept is intended to make the S-Bahn on the main route more flexible and therefore more punctual: As Deutsche Bahn announced on Thursday, a nationwide pilot project for so-called flex travel on the S-Bahn main route has been running since this week.
A specific time window, a so-called slot, is provided for each trip. Previously, if one train was late, the others had to wait for their slot, for example in Pasing or at Ostbahnhof, and were also late. As of this week, the rule is first come, first go. According to this principle, trains depart up to two minutes earlier if a slot is free.
To ensure that passengers do not miss their train, the railway has brought forward the departure times for the main route stations in the timetables by two minutes to the earliest possible departure time. Instead of a minute, a countdown symbol can be seen on the displays on the platform. It indicates that the S-Bahn will be leaving within the next few minutes.
“We tested flex travel beforehand and were convinced by the results. That’s why we’re now introducing it as a new standard until further notice and hope that it will have a positive effect on more punctual trains and a more stable S-Bahn system,” says S-Bahn -Boss Heiko Büttner. The whole thing is part of a quality initiative called “Strong S-Bahn Munich – Program 14plus”.
The Munich S-Bahn repeatedly tests the patience of commuters in particular with delays and planned or unplanned main route closures. Most recently, after the heavy snowfall in Munich, she didn’t drive regularly for days.