Overview

• Mobility chief Wolfgang Siefert and project company SBEV set the earliest start of service to 2029, revising a previous 2027 target.
• Key packages drew no or unusable offers since 2023, with some bids reaching up to 2.5 times SBEV’s cost estimates.
• SBEV plans to relaunch 20 of 30 remaining contracts by late 2026 and is splitting lots, including separating surface and tunnel works, to widen bidder interest.
• The city-approved budget stands at €515 million, with additional funding needs expected by 2027 that the company says it cannot yet quantify.
• Contractor capacity is described as constrained by national rail overhauls led by Deutsche Bahn, while Nürnberg’s U3 nears 2027 milestones and Munich’s U9 remains in early geotechnical drilling with long timelines and uncertain costs.