Internationale Gesellschaft für Eisenbahnverkehr

The Internationale Gesellschaft für Eisenbahnverkehr (IGE) was a medium-sized, owner-managed German company based in Hersbruck, Franconia (Bavaria). It operated through two business divisions: IGE GmbH & Co. KG, a private railway undertaking (Eisenbahnverkehrsunternehmen, EVU) and railway infrastructure undertaking (Eisenbahninfrastrukturunternehmen, EIU) providing rail freight, passenger and special train logistics; and IGE Erlebnisreisen und Reiseservice GmbH, a tour operator specialising in international railway journeys. The company traced its roots to the Hersbrucker Eisenbahnfreunde e.V., a railway enthusiasts' association that began running special trains to European railway destinations in 1984. In August 1985 the Interessengemeinschaft Eisenbahn e.V. (IGE) split off from that association, and on 15 September 1988 IGE Bahntouristik GmbH & Co. KG was entered in the commercial register with Armin Götz as managing director. From that base the company organised international railway trips, often using steam-hauled special trains across Europe. In 1991 it opened the "IGE Reisebahnhof" travel agency with a Deutsche Bundesbahn agency in Hersbruck station, and from 1994 it operated its own special train of historic 1960s express coaches, later known as the "Blue Train", which was sold to Switzerland in 2018. In 1995 IGE managing director Armin Götz and SWR presenter Hagen von Ortloff launched Eisenbahn-Romantik-Reisen, international special rail trips accompanied by an SWR film crew and offered at a discount to club members. IGE received its licence as a railway undertaking for freight and passenger traffic on 31 July 2003, and from 2003 it operated the non-public rail siding at Hersbruck station right of the Pegnitz. In 2004 the company was renamed IGE GmbH & Co. KG. In 2012 the railway operating business was separated from the tourism offerings, and until the 2023 insolvency the two divisions traded separately. From 25 April 2008 IGE offered individual passenger train services under the Mitfahrzug.de brand, positioning itself as a provider of international long-distance train services using its own special trains and empty or transfer runs; the service struggled and was discontinued in 2010. On 24 August 2023 IGE GmbH & Co. KG filed for insolvency proceedings. Operations initially continued under provisional insolvency administration, but the hoped-for restructuring did not succeed. The majority of employees and remaining customer contracts were taken over by BBL Logistik GmbH, the insolvency proceedings were fully opened, and a BBL branch was established at the former company site. The remaining entity, IGE Erlebnisreisen und Reiseservice GmbH, continues as a tour operator for international railway journeys and operates a DB agency in Hersbruck selling domestic and international rail tickets.

The Internationale Gesellschaft für Eisenbahnverkehr (IGE) originated in the Hersbrucker Eisenbahnfreunde e.V., a railway enthusiasts' association that began offering special train trips to European railway destinations in 1984. In August 1985 the Interessengemeinschaft Eisenbahn e.V. (IGE) was spun off from that association and participated in the Deutsche Bundesbahn's steam nostalgia programme. On 15 September 1988, IGE Bahntouristik GmbH & Co. KG was entered in the commercial register with Armin Götz as managing director, marking the start of commercial international railway travel, often using steam-hauled special trains across Europe. In 1991 the company opened the "IGE Reisebahnhof" travel agency with a Deutsche Bundesbahn agency at Hersbruck station left of the Pegnitz; in 2001 it moved to the station right of the Pegnitz, establishing a lasting local DB agency with personal customer service. From 1994 IGE operated its own special train composed of historic 1960s express coaches, used throughout Europe and later known as the "Blue Train"; it was sold to Switzerland in 2018. In 1995 IGE managing director Armin Götz and SWR presenter Hagen von Ortloff launched Eisenbahn-Romantik-Reisen, international special rail trips accompanied by an SWR film crew and offered at a discount to Eisenbahn-Romantik-Club members; railway films produced from these trips were broadcast on public television. After SWR withdrew from film productions with IGE by 2019, the category was continued as "IGE-Eisenbahn Romantik Reisen: Reisen und Spielen mit Hagen von Ortloff" with the same discount model. IGE held a licence as a railway undertaking (EVU) for freight and passenger traffic from 31 July 2003, and from 2003 it operated the non-public rail siding at Hersbruck station right of the Pegnitz, in the former freight yard. In 2004 the company was renamed IGE GmbH & Co. KG. In 2012 the railway operating business was separated from the tourism offerings; until the 2023 insolvency, the two divisions IGE GmbH & Co. KG and IGE Erlebnisreisen und Reiseservice GmbH traded separately. From 25 April 2008 IGE offered individual passenger train services under the Mitfahrzug.de brand, positioning itself as a provider of international long-distance train services using its own special trains and empty or transfer runs for which individual travellers could buy tickets. A fixed schedule was planned after a test phase, but Mitfahrzug.de ran into difficulties: journeys took nearly twice as long as comparable regular trains, coaches were not air-conditioned during long summer stops, and services often ran irregularly and ad hoc. The service, still promoted in the media for 2010, was discontinued that same year. On 24 August 2023 IGE GmbH & Co. KG filed an application to open insolvency proceedings over its assets. Business operations initially continued under provisional insolvency administration, and the administrator saw good chances of a successful restructuring. This hope was not fulfilled. According to the new owner, the majority of employees and remaining customer contracts were taken over by BBL Logistik GmbH, and the insolvency proceedings were subsequently opened in full. A BBL branch was opened at the former company site (BBL statement, January 2024). Controversy arose when a local newsroom quoted the former managing director after an interview as saying that IGE GmbH & Co. KG would be "continued, with the addition BBL", which proved untrue; BBL Logistik GmbH subsequently made unmistakably clear that it was a BBL location with the addition "IGE". The report was also illustrated with a photo of a handshake between the former managing director and the mayor of Hersbruck, Robert Ilg, which was later considered misleading and wrongly placed the insolvency in a political context; the city administration pointed out that the photo belonged to the actual event, a locomotive christening at IGE shortly before its insolvency. The remaining entity, IGE Erlebnisreisen und Reiseservice GmbH, is a tour operator for international railway journeys, offering multi-day railway trips in various categories on a regular basis, and operates a DB agency at its Hersbruck site where tickets for domestic and international rail travel can be purchased.

• 2024

  BBL Logistik GmbH takes over majority of employees and remaining customer contracts; BBL branch opened at former site (January 2024).

• 2023

  IGE GmbH & Co. KG files for insolvency on 24 August.

• 2019

  SWR fully withdraws from film productions with IGE; travel category continued under new name.

• 2018

  "Blue Train" sold to Switzerland.

• 2012

  Railway operating business separated from tourism offerings.

• 2010

  Mitfahrzug.de service discontinued.

• 2008

  Mitfahrzug.de brand launched on 25 April for individual passenger train services.

• 2004

  Company renamed IGE GmbH & Co. KG.

• 2003

  Licence as railway undertaking (EVU) for freight and passenger traffic from 31 July; operation of non-public rail siding begins.

• 2001

  Travel agency moves to Hersbruck station right of the Pegnitz.

• 1995

  Eisenbahn-Romantik-Reisen launched with SWR presenter Hagen von Ortloff.

• 1994

  IGE begins operating its own special train of historic 1960s express coaches, later the "Blue Train".

• 1991

  "IGE Reisebahnhof" travel agency with Deutsche Bundesbahn agency opened at Hersbruck station.

• 1988

  IGE Bahntouristik GmbH & Co. KG entered in commercial register on 15 September; Armin Götz managing director.

• 1985

  Interessengemeinschaft Eisenbahn e.V. (IGE) spun off in August.

• 1984

  Hersbrucker Eisenbahnfreunde e.V. begins special train trips to European railway destinations.

Owner-managed private railway and specialist rail travel operator focused on international and special train services.

• Rail freight services

• Rail passenger services

• Rail special traffic services

• International railway journeys

• Eisenbahn-Romantik-Reisen

• Mitfahrzug.de

• IGE Reisebahnhof DB agency

1. 1Internationale Gesellschaft für Eisenbahnverkehrwikidata.org
2. 2Internationale Gesellschaft für Eisenbahnverkehrde.wikipedia.org