Chaos on Saxony's diesel lines

Due to what seems to be financial problems, Städtebahn Sachsen has suspended all its services (diesel lines around Dresden: Dresden to Kamenz, Dresden to Königsbrück, Heidenau to Altenberg, and Pirna to Sebnitz via Neustadt) on Thursday, without offering replacement buses and redirecting their phone lines to VVO.

Today, the contracting organisation, Zweckverband Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe (ZVOE/VVO) has stripped Städtebahn of its contract, after hurryingly organising a bus replacement. Although Städtebahn blames DB Netz for insufficient vegetation control on the lines where it operates, it seems that Städtebahn was in a difficult financial situation anyways. The ultimate cause was that the rolling stock company terminated the contract, which meant that Städtebahn staff couldn't even attempt to run the trains.

All in all, everyone tries to blame anyone else, while passengers are enjoying bus rides...

What is the procedure now? Dies DB take over until a replacement TOC ist found?

VVO has organised a bus replacement and is now looking for an emergency awarding to another company (no EU tendering needed due to the situation). In an interview with MDR, a spokesperson said it will hopefully only takes "weeks". There are in talks with other major German train operators, but not necessarily DB.

duesselmartin said:

What is the procedure now? Dies DB take over until a replacement TOC ist found?

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I presume DB has neither suitable stock (class 642) nor crews to spare?

There have been long-standing issues on the Pirna-Sebnitz route which I thought were put down to staff shortages.

Slightly OT: the two threads on Drehscheibe-Online had between them hit 500 posts a moment ago.

What has happened to the staff? Are they still being paid, have they been made redundant? Will they still be there to run the service when a new company is awarded the contract?

Belperpete said:

What has happened to the staff? Are they still being paid, have they been made redundant? Will they still be there to run the service when a new company is awarded the contract?

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I don't think Germany has a TUPE equivalent, so they've probably lost their jobs - possibly without pay if the company has actually collapsed.

Re the units the leaseco will still have them and will presumably offer a deal to whoever takes over as otherwise they will have to find somewhere else for them.

Städtebahn recently agreed on new terms with GDL train drivers' union, who are trying to resolve things for the entire staff now. According to this article, GDL, the Saxony ministry for transport, VVO and staff representatives are looking to secure a staff transfer (not just drivers, but management and workshop too) to the new company (https://www.sachsen-fernsehen.de/vvo-kuendigt-vertrag-mit-der-staedtebahn-642564/). Somewhere else I read that they're still being paid for at least this month, due to the aforementioned agreement with GDL.