NRW cabinet backs statewide rail body Schiene.NRW

Statutory baseline service of 85 million train-km a year; the annual rail transport allowance rises from EUR 1 billion to at least EUR 1.6 billion; Schiene.NRW is due to start on 1 January 2027

The North Rhine-Westphalian government has adopted a draft amendment to the state public transport act that would bring planning and operation of regional rail under a new body, Schiene.NRW; until now three joint authorities (NWL, VRR, go.Rheinland) share the job. The draft sets a statutory baseline of 85 million train-km a year and lifts the regional rail allowance to at least EUR 1.6 billion, while the municipal public transport allowance rises to EUR 160 million. The state parliament is to debate the bill in January, with Schiene.NRW due to start on 1 January 2027 (LOK Report, 19 Dec 2025).