Since the regionalisation of short-distance rail passenger transport in 1996, competitive tendering for these services has been introduced, although it has not been forced by law. Also in 1996 the German public transport law - the regulatory basis for urban bus/train/underground transport - was amended and allows now for competitive tendering. The paper starts with an overview on the complicated regulatory framework for the public transport services in Germany. It then presents the findings of a project on the experiences with the amended regulatory framework. The project was carried out at the end of 1997 and was aimed at: (1) clarifying the uncertainties of the regulatory framework (e.g. is there a general obligation for competitive tendering?); and (2) elaborating a first overview on the extent of competitive tendering in the German public transport sector. Within this project representatives of the public transport authorities, public transport associations and transport companies were interviewed in order to collect information on public transport tenders - information which was lacking up to now.
Samenvatting