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In a significant development for the transportation sector in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB) has published a tender for the "Northwest Brandenburg" network. This tender, which involves 2.9 million train kilometers over a period of eight years, has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the future of several regional train lines, most notably the Prignitz Express.

From the perspective of Regio Infra Nordost's managing director, Ralf Böhme, if there is no traffic offered north of Kyritz for eight years, it could be critical. This sentiment is shared by CDU transport politician, Nicole Walter-Mundt, who has criticized the tender, stating it falls short of expectations and may result in a deterioration of service for many commuters.

The Prignitz Express, a flagship in the i2030 project, is delayed to the point where an electrification of the track is not expected until the mid-2030s. This delay has consequences for the planned extension of the RB 73 and RB 74 to Güstrow. Until then, Brandenburgers will have to travel using old and used diesel trains.

Initially, used diesel vehicles will be deployed in the Northwest Brandenburg network due to the planned electrification. This includes upgrading the tracks north of Pritzwalk to at least 80 km/h to enable through connections to Plau am See and Güstrow with appropriate travel times. The northern section of the route and the extension to Güstrow will require the creation of suitable infrastructure in cooperation with the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to facilitate SPNV-worthy demand.

Another regional train line, RB 73, has been added to the Northwest Brandenburg network. However, the trains that run through from Kyritz to Pritzwalk, previously tendered together with the RB 74 as the "Prignitz network", are no longer mentioned in the new tender. Specifically for Beetz-Sommerfeld, the RE6 will no longer stop in the future, affecting the Sana clinics' employees and patients who rely on the regional train 55.

The tenders have consequences for the operations of DB Regio with its workshop in Neuruppin. The use of used diesel vehicles on the RE6 and RB55 may result in DB Regio winning the tender. The "Hanseatische Eisenbahn" is essentially being sidelined.

As the infrastructure measures are implemented, the plans for the SPNV intended for the route will be adjusted in a timely manner. A specific deadline for the implementation of these infrastructure measures cannot be named at this time due to the need for planning and financing security for the expansion and later railway operation, including a federal investment subsidy.

Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern have commissioned a study showing positive cost-benefit results for the route from Neustadt (Dosse) to Güstrow, including the section Pritzwalk to Güstrow, and have decisively supported the preservation and reactivation of this line with plans aiming for full electrification and speeds up to 160 km/h after 2035.

Traffic on the routes between Kyritz Am Bürgerpark - Pritzwalk and Meyenburg is secured until the end of 2028. Despite the criticism and delays, it is clear that the future of the Northwest Brandenburg network and its regional trains, including the Prignitz Express, remains uncertain.