[DK] DSB will take over the GoCollective franchise on September 1st

[andersj]

Theme was briefly discussed here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...by-minister-of-transport.292230/#post-7472646

The process was paused due to the election in Denmark, but the ministry suddenly had to act quick last week as GoCollective threatened with bankruptcy by June 29th lacking 100m DKK for bills due. The agreement was put into place Friday giving GoCollective 30m DKK in extra subsidies for July and August as well as DSB immediately buying 9 trains that are currently out of service - 6 Alstom Lint 41 and 3 Siemens Desiro Classic. DSB will use the next months getting the Lint's fit for service, while DB Cargo earlier this year got the contract to renovate the Desiro's for GoCollective.
The ministry will get a share from the GoCollective owner Mutares potential future sale of the bus franchise as a compensation for the extraordinary subsidies.

In total 59 trains will be transferred to DSB:

• 29 Alstom Lint 41 delivered in 2004
• 8 Desiro Classic delivered in 2002 to DSB, and transferred to Arriva in 2020
• 12 Alstom Lint 41 delivered in 2010
• 8 Desiro Classic delivered in 2010 to DSB, and transferred to Arriva in 2020
• 2 Alstom Lint 41 delivered in 2012, previously owned by Vestbanen but operated by Arriva in Arriva livery.

DSB as an operator without tendering is a temporary solution. The franchise with GoCollective was terminating in December 2028 with an option to renew it for 2 further years. A new tender has not yet been started and it is planned that the whole network except Vejle-Struer should be operated by battery electric trains in the future. Vejle-Struer will get electrified with traditional catenary to allow direct trains to Copenhagen for cities such as Holstebro and Herning.
DSB will continue the local GoCollective train head quarter in Silkeborg and trains and staff will be placed in a subsidiary to DSB.

 

[Watershed]

Is there any information on the cause of the financial difficulties? Is it simply that they over (or under)bid for the contract?

 

[andersj]

Arriva most likely underbid and the new owner of Arriva Denmark, now GoCollective (Mutares) is probably happy to get out of the contract. The financial difficulties was most likely to get the deal through, it's not like Mutares don't have any cash to put into the company if they wanted to.

 

[andersj]

Some news regarding the take over.
- The new fully DSB owned company will be called "DSB Vores Tog" (DSB Our Train(s))
- DSB will double the number of daily direct trains from 4 to 8 between Copenhagen-Herning-Holstebro-Struer from December 2026.
- Local operator "Midtjyske Jernbaner" will operate the Struer-Thisted route as a subcontractor for DSB Vores Tog from October 1st. They will use four Siemens Desiro Classic trains that has been replaced by new Siemens Mireo Plus B battery trains. DSB Vores Tog will provide drivers for the services.

The emergency no-bid contract with DSB Vores Tog is limited to 2 yeas + an option for additional two years due to EU tendering rules.

 

[Gloster]

- Local operator "Midtjyske Jernbaner" will operate the Struer-Thisted route as a subcontractor for DSB Vores Tog from October 1st. They will use four Siemens Desiro Classic trains that has been replaced by new Siemens Mireo Plus B battery trains. DSB Vores Tog will provide drivers for the services.

Who is going to operate Holstebro-Skjern and what with? My understanding is that, except when Banedanmark are digging things up, the Midtjyske’s Desiro were intended for that service. (I am a bit out of it, not having been able to visit Denmark for six or seven years.)

 

[andersj]

Midtjyske Jernbaner operates Holstebro-Skjern and Vemb-Lemvig-Thyborøn with 7 Siemens Mireo Plus B battery trains.