The Bavarian passenger transport authority (BEG) in Germany has selected UK public transport operator National Express as the preferred bidder for all Nuremberg S-Bahn services.

The two 12-year contracts will allow National Express to operate the whole S-Bahn Nuremberg network, which covers five rail lines that serve routes from Nuremberg to Erlangen and Bamberg, Ansbach, Roth, Allersberg, Neumark, Altdorf and Hartmannshof.

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The contracts are expected to generate more than €1.4bn over the 12-year period.

"This new contract is further evidence that our track record in running the UK’s leading rail franchise is recognised internationally."

National Express Group chief executive Dean Finch said: "This new rail contract in Bavaria, which builds on our earlier success in North Rhine-Westphalia, is further evidence that our track record in running the UK’s leading rail franchise is recognised internationally."

The S-Bahn services operate in all major German metropolitan areas and serve more than 20 million passengers a year.

The service is currently operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB Regio) and National Express will start its operation from December 2018.

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As part of this development, the UK operator will purchase 38 new electric five car trains on behalf of BEG.

In 2013, National Express won a contract for two regional rail routes in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and these services are expected to start operation in December this year.

In the UK, it operates the C2C rail franchise that runs rail services between London and south Essex.

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