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Rhein-Main Transit Sets Ridership Record, Warns of Heavy 2026 Disruptions From 2,800 Rail Works

RMV leadership cites overburdened infrastructure as the main drag on reliability.

Overview

  • RMV counted 839 million trips in 2025, up 11 million year over year, while about 13% of S-Bahn and 16% of regional trains arrived late and around one in ten services were canceled.
  • More than 2,800 construction sites are scheduled in 2026, including modernization around Mainz and a July–December overhaul of the right Rhine line from Wiesbaden with impacts extending into North Hesse.
  • Mitigation steps include fixed replacement-bus stops at all stations, upgrades to the underlying data platform this year, and a dedicated RMV control center starting next year to strengthen disruption information.
  • A tariff overhaul is underway as legacy tickets are discontinued and average prices rise by about 4.75%, with City-Ticket coverage expanded to 13 cities and RMVgo’s In/Out feature calculating the best fare after check-in and check-out.
  • Staffing gaps in driving and signal-box operations are largely resolved, yet RMV expects noticeable improvements only after rail investments exceeding €20 billion over roughly a decade, with battery-train tests beginning on RB21 and hydrogen trains planned on the Taunus line by year’s end.