Hohenzollerische Landesbahn
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHohenzollerische Landesbahn was a German regional railway company that operated passenger, freight, and bus services in southern Baden-Württemberg from 1900 until its merger into SWEG in 2018.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Hohenzollerische Landesbahn, commonly abbreviated HzL, was a regional railway company based in Hechingen, Baden-Württemberg. It was established in 1899 as the Actiengesellschaft Hohenzollern’sche Kleinbahngesellschaft to develop local railway connections in the former Prussian Province of Hohenzollern, an elongated territory surrounded in part by Württemberg. The existing state railway network served only the principal towns of Hechingen and Sigmaringen, leaving many smaller communities and industrial sites without efficient rail access. The company opened its first line in March 1900, linking Sigmaringendorf through the Lauchert valley with Laucherthal and Bingen. Several further branches followed in 1901, connecting Hechingen with Burladingen, Eyach with Haigerloch and Stetten, and Kleinengstingen with Gammertingen. Network extensions completed between 1908 and 1912 created a connected system running from Eyach through Hechingen, Gammertingen, Hanfertal, and Sigmaringendorf toward Sigmaringen. At its greatest historical extent, the company’s network covered roughly 107 kilometres. Initially, the railway was operated on HzL’s behalf by the Westdeutsche Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft and later by Vereinigte Kleinbahnen. From July 1933, HzL managed its own operations. It gradually developed beyond its original light-railway role. Passenger services became the company’s principal activity, while freight services supported regional industry, including the movement of salt from Stetten near Haigerloch. Bus operations began in 1947 and eventually expanded into an extensive regional network. From the late twentieth century onward, HzL increasingly operated services outside its original infrastructure. It hauled freight over Deutsche Bahn routes, provided regional passenger services under contracts with Baden-Württemberg, and operated or managed several notable networks. These included the Bodensee-Oberschwaben-Bahn from 1993, the Zollernalb regional railway services from 1997, the Ringzug system in the Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg region from 2003, and the Seehäsle service between Stockach and Radolfzell from 2006. It also operated special, excursion, and work trains and supported cycling tourism through the Rad-Wander-Shuttle. By 2011, railway passenger operations generated about 80 percent of the company’s revenue, with bus transport accounting for approximately 11 percent and rail freight for roughly 9 percent. HzL was a member of the German association for federally and privately owned railways and of the Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen. In 2017, the relevant public authorities approved its merger with Südwestdeutsche Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft. The transaction took effect on 1 January 2018, creating the combined entity Südwestdeutsche Landesverkehrs-AG. HzL therefore no longer exists as an independent operating company, although its routes, services, facilities, and historical identity continued within the SWEG group.
History
Hohenzollerische Landesbahn was created in 1899 to build and operate local railways in the Province of Hohenzollern, then part of Prussia. The territory was poorly served by the Württemberg state railway because its main routes crossed the region only briefly and called at Hechingen and Sigmaringen. Financing reflected the company’s public-service purpose: the Prussian government held half of the original capital, while the local provincial authority and Westdeutsche Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft each contributed approximately one quarter. Construction began with a line from Sigmaringendorf through the Lauchert valley to Laucherthal and Bingen, opened on 28 March 1900. In 1901, branches followed from Hechingen to Burladingen, from Eyach via Haigerloch to Stetten and its salt works, and from Kleinengstingen to Gammertingen. The company was renamed Hohenzollerische Landesbahn AG in 1907. Further construction connected Burladingen with Gammertingen and Bingen in 1908, Hanfertal with Sigmaringen in 1910, and Stetten with Hechingen in 1912. This produced a connected system of approximately 86 kilometres, with branches taking the total network to about 107 kilometres. External management continued until 1933. The Westdeutsche Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft’s Stuttgart operating office first managed the railway, followed after corporate restructuring by Vereinigte Kleinbahnen. HzL then took direct responsibility for operations. Passenger and freight traffic remained central, while bus services introduced in 1947 became an important complement. Parts of the original railway network were progressively replaced by buses between 1968 and 1973, although the Hechingen–Gammertingen–Sigmaringen corridor remained in railway use. Some discontinued sections continued to support school trains, freight, or seasonal excursion services. The company expanded its operating role during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Since 1990, it hauled salt block trains from Stetten to Ulm over Deutsche Bahn infrastructure and also handled other regional freight movements. In 1993, it took over operation of the Bodensee-Oberschwaben-Bahn. In 1997, it received contracts for regional services on routes linking Tübingen, Sigmaringen, Ulm, Herbertingen, and Aulendorf. The Ringzug operation began in 2003 in the Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg region, and the Seehäsle contract followed in 2006. HzL also operated trains for DB Regio on selected routes and hired locomotives and railcars for special and engineering trains. The company’s ownership became predominantly public. From 1972, Baden-Württemberg held approximately 71.934 percent, while Zollernalbkreis and Landkreis Sigmaringen each held approximately 14.033 percent. HzL also held a minority stake in the naldo transport association. In 2011, passenger rail was the dominant business, with bus and freight activities making smaller but significant contributions. A merger with SWEG was approved in 2017 and took effect on 1 January 2018. The resulting Südwestdeutsche Landesverkehrs-AG absorbed HzL’s operations, bringing the company’s independent corporate history to an end.
- 2018
Merged into SWEG
[1]HzL merged with Südwestdeutsche Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft to form Südwestdeutsche Landesverkehrs-AG.
- 2006
Seehäsle contract acquired
[1]HzL took over operation of the Stockach–Radolfzell Seehäsle route.
- 2003
Ringzug operation began
[1]HzL began operating the Ringzug regional rail system in the Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg area.
- 1990
Salt freight operations expanded
[1]HzL began hauling salt block trains from Stetten near Haigerloch to Ulm over DB infrastructure.
- 1947
Bus operations launched
[1]HzL began bus services, which later grew into an extensive regional network.
- 1912
Core network completed
[1]The final gap between Stetten and Hechingen was closed, creating the company’s principal connected route.
- 1907
Corporate name changed
[1]The company adopted the name Hohenzollerische Landesbahn AG.
- 1901
Initial branch network developed
[1]Branches opened from Hechingen to Burladingen, Eyach to Stetten via Haigerloch, and Kleinengstingen to Gammertingen.
- 1900
First railway opened
[1]The first HzL line opened between Sigmaringendorf, Lauchert valley locations, Laucherthal, and Bingen.
- 1899
Company founded
[1]The Actiengesellschaft Hohenzollern’sche Kleinbahngesellschaft was established to build light railways in Hohenzollern.
Products and positioning
A publicly controlled regional mobility operator focused on connecting smaller communities and industrial locations in southern Baden-Württemberg through passenger rail, freight rail, bus services, and contracted transport operations.
Passenger transportation · 1900
Regional passenger rail
HzL operated regional trains on its historic Hechingen–Gammertingen–Sigmaringen corridor and on routes managed under public-service contracts. Its broader operating portfolio included services associated with the Zollernalb Railway, the Ringzug system, Seehäsle, and Bodensee-Oberschwaben-Bahn. It also provided railway operations for other transport authorities and operators.
Freight transportation · 1900
Rail freight
Freight was a continuing part of HzL’s business, serving industrial customers and moving goods across its own lines and partner infrastructure. Notable activities included salt block trains from Stetten near Haigerloch to Ulm, as well as flat-wagon traffic between Tübingen, Sigmaringen, Bad Saulgau, and Schelklingen in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn.
Bus transportation · 1947
Regional bus services
Introduced in 1947, HzL’s bus business complemented rail services and replaced several railway branches that closed to regular passenger traffic between 1968 and 1973. By the later period, the bus network covered approximately 800 kilometres and served regional hubs including Reutlingen, Horb, Sigmaringen, and Riedlingen.
Excursion rail service · 2000
Rad-Wander-Shuttle
The Rad-Wander-Shuttle was a seasonal excursion service supporting cycling and leisure tourism. It used the reactivated Gammertingen–Kleinengstingen section and also served the Balingen–Schomberg line during the summer period.
Brand decisions
2017
Approve merger with SWEGM&ABackground
HzL and Südwestdeutsche Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft were both predominantly publicly owned regional transport companies in Baden-Württemberg. Their owners and public authorities pursued a combination of the businesses.
Action taken
The relevant district authorities approved the transaction, following approval by the state of Baden-Württemberg.
Aftermath
The merger took effect on 1 January 2018 and created Südwestdeutsche Landesverkehrs-AG, ending HzL’s independent corporate existence.
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