Nuremberg S-Bahn

The Nuremberg S-Bahn (German: S-Bahn Nürnberg) is an electric rapid transit network covering the region of Nuremberg, Fürth and Erlangen which started operations in 1987 and is now integrated into the Greater Nuremberg Transport Association (Verkehrsverbund Großraum Nürnberg). The full length of the five current lines is about 277.6 kilometres. The S-Bahn trains are operated by DB Regio Mittelfranken, a subsidiary of DB Regio Bayern. From December 2018 the service was due to be taken over by National Express Germany; however, it withdrew from the bidding process on 25 October 2016, so the lines will continue to be operated by DB Regio Mittelfranken for the foreseeable future. The service between Fürth and Erlangen-Bruck has been marred by frequent delays and service restrictions due to the slow construction for four-track expansion. No completion date is given. The original plans for the upgrade of the Nuremberg Bamberg line to four tracks called for a new alignment of S-Bahn tracks east of the current two tracks to serve a (planned but now canceled) industrial development between Nuremberg Fürth and Erlangen. The city of Fürth sued against these plans, halting the construction and leaving sections of half built track without use. As an "interim solution" switches are planned to be installed to connect existing quadruple track sections to the legacy alignment, but a completion date is not yet known.