Berlin court rejects Alstom's protest over S-Bahn's €20B contract dispute

The Berlin Public Procurement Tribunal has rejected a formal objection from Alstom regarding the S-Bahn network tender. The decision involves a major contract for supplying, maintaining, and operating part of Berlin’s S-Bahn system. The ruling is not yet final, as involved parties have two weeks to appeal to the Berlin Court of Appeal. In August 2025, a consortium of S-Bahn Berlin GmbH, Siemens Mobility, and Stadler Rail won the contract. The deal covers the delivery of around 1,400 new S-Bahn cars and the operation of key north-south and east-west routes, representing roughly two-thirds of the network.

Alstom had challenged the tender process, arguing it was unfairly disadvantaged by the requirement for a single provider to manage both vehicle supply and operations. The Berlin Senate Department for Economics confirmed the tribunal’s main decision and informed all parties involved.

Criticism has grown over the contract’s rising costs. Initial estimates of around eight billion euros have now ballooned to between 15 and 20 billion euros, drawing concerns from passenger associations and politicians. The tribunal’s ruling is not yet legally binding, and further delays remain possible. Both sides now have a two-week window to file an appeal. The outcome will determine whether the consortium can proceed with the multi-billion-euro project.