Hanseatische Eisenbahn

Hanseatische Eisenbahn GmbH, commonly abbreviated HANS, is a German regional rail operator focused on local passenger services on comparatively small and rural railway lines. The company emerged in 2014 from the passenger-transport division of Eisenbahngesellschaft Potsdam GmbH (EGP). Both HANS and EGP belong to ENON GmbH, a railway group based in Putlitz in northwestern Brandenburg. The company's operating history is closely connected with the preservation and restructuring of regional branch-line services. In Brandenburg's Prignitz region, the predecessor operation took over services on the Meyenburg–Pritzwalk and Pritzwalk–Neustadt (Dosse) lines in December 2012 after the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg announced the arrangement in November of that year. The initial contract was designed to run for two years, with possible extensions linked to the development of a future operating concept. Subsequent agreements extended the service through the 2016–2018 period. Compared with the former Prignitzer Eisenbahn operation, the initial service scope was significantly smaller, but the arrangement maintained scheduled rail transport on lines that faced pressure from low demand and limited public funding. Hanseatische Eisenbahn and its predecessor also developed or supported specially funded and seasonal services. Weekend trains between Meyenburg and Pritzwalk resumed in July 2013 after the municipalities of Pritzwalk and Meyenburg and the Prignitz district agreed to contribute financially. Seasonal excursions also ran on selected Saturdays toward Plau am See and Krakow am See during 2013 and 2014. These services initially used a company-specific weekend tariff, while later ordered services accepted standard VBB tickets. School transport between Pritzwalk and Putlitz was operated on behalf of the Putlitz-Pritzwalker-Eisenbahnförderverein until summer 2016. The company expanded beyond Brandenburg during the second half of the 2010s. From December 2012 it operated the Neustrelitz–Mirow line in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern under a reduced service concept developed to maintain continuity after the previous operator, Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn (ODEG), withdrew. In December 2017, HANS took over the Waren (Müritz)–Inselstadt Malchow connection after the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district awarded it the contract. In December 2018, it began operating the Elbe-Altmark network, including the Stendal–Tangermünde and Stendal–Rathenow Regionalbahn routes, under a contract awarded by the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg and NASA GmbH. HANS uses lightweight diesel railcars suited to lightly used, non-electrified branch lines. Its documented fleet has included vehicles from the 504, 670, 672 and LINT 27 families. In 2018 the company acquired three DWA LVT/S railcars formerly used by Burgenlandbahn. By the December 2021 timetable change, the operator was reported to run five Regionalbahn routes across Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony-Anhalt, as well as a seasonal Saturday-only RE 27 connection between Bergen auf Rügen and the Sassnitz ferry port. Its role is therefore less that of a nationwide railway brand than that of a specialist operator maintaining publicly commissioned regional links and selected seasonal services.

Hanseatische Eisenbahn is part of the ENON railway group headquartered in Putlitz, Brandenburg. The company was formed in 2014 from the passenger transport division of Eisenbahngesellschaft Potsdam (EGP), although the operating history of its network reaches back to arrangements made before the formal creation of the HANS brand. A major foundation for the business was the transfer of local passenger operations in the Prignitz region. On 2 November 2012, the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg announced that EGP would take over services on the Meyenburg–Pritzwalk and Pritzwalk–Neustadt (Dosse) lines from December 2012. The initial agreement covered two years and required the operator to help develop a concept for the future of the lines. The contract was subsequently extended for another two years in December 2014 and again for the period from December 2016 to December 2018. The service was considerably smaller than the network previously operated by Prignitzer Eisenbahn, but it retained rail access for communities along the branch lines. The Prignitz operation also included locally supported supplementary services. Weekend trains between Meyenburg and Pritzwalk returned on 6 July 2013 after the two municipalities and the Prignitz district agreed to provide financial support. During parts of 2013 and 2014, selected Saturday services continued beyond Meyenburg toward Plau am See and Krakow am See. Because these weekend services were not initially ordered through the state-level transport system, the operator used an EGP house tariff, aligned with the VBB fare between Pritzwalk and Meyenburg. From the December 2014 timetable change, ordered weekend services accepted VBB tickets without restriction. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a new operating concept was developed for the Neustrelitz–Mirow line after the route had been scheduled for cancellation at the December 2012 timetable change. The concept enabled a continuous transition from ODEG to Hanseatische Eisenbahn. Service continued from December 2012 at a reduced level, with the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte acting as the responsible transport authority. HANS also operated the middle section of the Mecklenburgische Südbahn for a period after that section was discontinued in December 2014. A seasonal direct service between Neustrelitz and Plau am See, marketed as Seen.land.bahn, ran in 2014 in cooperation with Hafenbahn Neustrelitz. The company expanded its commissioned network in December 2017 when it assumed the Waren (Müritz)–Inselstadt Malchow route. The following year it entered the Elbe-Altmark network, taking over the Stendal–Tangermünde and Stendal–Rathenow lines. VBB and NASA GmbH awarded the relevant contract on 14 February 2017, and the new service began in December 2018 under a four-year contract. LINT 27 railcars previously used by Transdev Sachsen-Anhalt were used for the operation. Hanseatische Eisenbahn has also relied on rolling stock designed for lightly used branch routes. In 2018 it purchased three DWA LVT/S railcars, numbered 672 907, 672 919 and 672 920, from the former Burgenlandbahn fleet. By the December 2021 timetable change, the company was reported to operate five Regionalbahn routes across three German states. It also operated a seasonal Saturday-only RE 27 connection between Bergen auf Rügen and the Sassnitz ferry port. The company's documented development illustrates the role of small private railway operators in preserving regional services through competitively awarded contracts, local co-financing and adapted service concepts.

• 2021

  Five-route network reported

  [1]Hanseatische Eisenbahnen.wikipedia.org

  At the December 2021 timetable change, HANS was reported to operate five Regionalbahn routes and a seasonal Saturday-only RE 27 service.

• 2018

  Elbe-Altmark operations begin

  [1]Hanseatische Eisenbahnen.wikipedia.org

  The company began operating the Stendal–Tangermünde and Stendal–Rathenow Regionalbahn lines in December.

• 2017

  Waren–Malchow contract begins

  [1]Hanseatische Eisenbahnen.wikipedia.org

  Hanseatische Eisenbahn took over the Waren (Müritz)–Inselstadt Malchow connection in December.

• 2016

  Putlitz school transport ends

  [1]Hanseatische Eisenbahnen.wikipedia.org

  School transport operated on behalf of the Putlitz-Pritzwalker-Eisenbahnförderverein on the Pritzwalk–Putlitz route continued until summer 2016.

• 2014

  Hanseatische Eisenbahn is established

  [1]Hanseatische Eisenbahnen.wikipedia.org

  The company emerged from the passenger transport division of Eisenbahngesellschaft Potsdam and continued the relevant regional rail activities.

• 2013

  Weekend Prignitz service resumes

  [1]Hanseatische Eisenbahnen.wikipedia.org

  Weekend trains between Meyenburg and Pritzwalk resumed with financial support from local municipalities and the Prignitz district.

• 2012

  EGP selected for Prignitz branch-line services

  [1]Hanseatische Eisenbahnen.wikipedia.org

  VBB announced that Eisenbahngesellschaft Potsdam would take over the Meyenburg–Pritzwalk and Pritzwalk–Neustadt (Dosse) connections from December 2012.

• 2012

  Reduced Neustrelitz–Mirow service continues

  [1]Hanseatische Eisenbahnen.wikipedia.org

  A revised operating concept allowed passenger service between Neustrelitz and Mirow to continue after the route had faced cancellation and the transition from ODEG was arranged.

A specialist operator of publicly commissioned regional and branch-line passenger rail services, with an emphasis on maintaining mobility in rural areas and operating lightly used non-electrified routes.

• Passenger rail · 2012

  Regionalbahn passenger services

  Hanseatische Eisenbahn operates locally commissioned Regionalbahn services on rural and branch railway lines in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony-Anhalt. The services are designed around regional transport contracts and adapted operating concepts, including reduced schedules where demand and public funding are limited.

• Seasonal passenger rail · 2013

  Seasonal excursion services

  The company and its predecessor have operated special weekend and seasonal connections intended to support local mobility and tourism. Documented examples include services between Meyenburg and Pritzwalk, occasional extensions toward Plau am See and Krakow am See, the Seen.land.bahn connection, and the seasonal Saturday RE 27 service between Bergen auf Rügen and Sassnitz ferry port.

• Transport operating services · 2012

  Contracted local transport operation

  Rather than selling a consumer product, HANS provides railway operation under contracts awarded by transport authorities and districts. Its work includes taking over existing routes, designing transition or reduced-service concepts, supplying rolling stock and maintaining scheduled passenger operations on lightly used lines.

• 2018

  Take over the Elbe-Altmark networkStrategy

  Background

  VBB and NASA GmbH awarded the Elbe-Altmark operating contract on 14 February 2017 for services scheduled to begin in December 2018.

  Action taken

  Hanseatische Eisenbahn assumed operation of the Stendal–Tangermünde and Stendal–Rathenow Regionalbahn lines.

  Aftermath

  The company expanded its network into Saxony-Anhalt and operated the routes with LINT 27 railcars previously used by Transdev Sachsen-Anhalt.

  Source

• 2017

  Expand into the Waren–Malchow connectionStrategy

  Background

  The Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district sought an operator for the railway connection between Waren (Müritz) and Inselstadt Malchow.

  Action taken

  Following negotiations, the district awarded the service to Hanseatische Eisenbahn, which began operation in December 2017.

  Aftermath

  The route became part of HANS's Mecklenburg-Vorpommern operating portfolio.

  Source

• 2013

  Restore financially supported weekend serviceStrategy

  Background

  Weekend service between Meyenburg and Pritzwalk had not been part of the standard state-ordered service and required local support.

  Action taken

  Hanseatische Eisenbahn's predecessor resumed weekend trains after Pritzwalk, Meyenburg and the Prignitz district agreed to contribute funding.

  Aftermath

  Weekend operation returned on 6 July 2013, with additional seasonal excursions offered in parts of 2013 and 2014.

  Source

• 2012

  Adopt a reduced operating concept for Neustrelitz–MirowStrategy

  Background

  The Neustrelitz–Mirow line faced cancellation at the December 2012 timetable change, while responsibility was moving from ODEG to the regional authority and a new operator.

  Action taken

  A revised, reduced service concept was developed so that Hanseatische Eisenbahn could continue operating the route without a complete shutdown.

  Aftermath

  Passenger service on the line continued from December 2012 under the new arrangement.

  Source

1. 1Hanseatische Eisenbahnen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hanseatische Eisenbahn official websitehanseatische-eisenbahn.de