What ODEG does

ODEG (Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn GmbH) is a privately held German regional railway operator headquartered in Parchim, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Founded in 2002, it is the largest private railway company in eastern Germany and operates approximately 1,671 km of route network across 19 lines in five federal states: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Berlin, Sachsen-Anhalt, and Sachsen. ODEG runs a fleet of 93 trains (RegioShuttle RS1 diesel railcars, Stadler FLIRT Akku battery-electric multiple units, Siemens Desiro HC double-deckers, and Stadler KISS double-deckers) carrying approximately 33 million passengers per year on ~19.6 million train-km. The company employs around 1,040 staff across ODEG and its maintenance subsidiary ODIG, which is undergoing an €18M workshop expansion in Parchim scheduled for summer 2027 to support the new BEMU fleet.

ODEG's core business model is contract-based rather than ticket-sales-based: revenue is derived from negotiated public service contracts (Verkehrsverträge) awarded by Aufgabenträger — including VMV, VBB, NASA, and ZVON — following competitive tenders. Tickets are sold under the tariff systems of regional transport associations (Verbünde) and flows primarily accrue to those associations rather than ODEG directly. The most recent and strategic contract is WMB II (Westmecklenburg II), commencing December 2025 with a 15-year term through December 2040 and covering ~2 million train-km/year, under which ODEG will deploy 14 new battery-electric Stadler FLIRT Akku trains from 2027 with €15M in federal/NextGenerationEU funding and a leasing arrangement with Akiem.

ODEG is a wholly owned subsidiary of NETINERA Deutschland GmbH, itself majority-owned by Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group, Italy's state railway). Leadership comprises co-CEOs Stefan Neubert (since October 2018, finance/controller background) and Lars Gehrke (since July 2021, operations background). The company's strategic positioning emphasizes sustainability via BEMU adoption, accessibility features developed in cooperation with disability representatives, recurring employee recognition through Allianz pro Schiene's "Eisenbahner mit Herz" program, and tourism-oriented marketing (ODEGTour, Kultur im Zug, regional tourism board partnerships) to deepen passenger yield on its contracted network.

Name

ODEG

Legal name

ODEG – Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn GmbH

Website

https://odeg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ODEG is Germany's largest private regional railway operator, running 93 trains across 19 lines and ~1,671 km in five eastern German states, carrying ~33 million passengers annually under public service contracts. It is a subsidiary of NETINERA/Ferrovie dello Stato.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Passenger Rail Services

NAICS

Commuter Rail Systems (485112), Rail Transportation (4821)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

National/Flag Intercity Rail Operators (TLAFADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Intercity Bus Feeder & First/Last-Mile Connector Operators (Scheduled) (THAIADAJ), Rail Replacement/Disruption Bus Service Operators (Operator-Run) (TLAFADAI)

Keywords

• Regional passenger rail
• Rail transportation services
• Public transport contracting
• Battery-electric trains
• Eastern Germany rail

Headquarters

HQ city

Parchim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Service Contract Revenue: ODEG is commissioned by German federal states and public transport authorities (Aufgabenträger) to operate regional rail services. Revenue is derived from negotiated traffic contracts (Verkehrsverträge) with the VMV (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), VBB (Berlin-Brandenburg), NASA (Sachsen-Anhalt), and ZVON (Sachsen). Ticket revenue collected throughVerbünde and onboard sales flows through to theVerbünde under the applicable tariff agreements, while ODEG's primary revenue comes from the contract fees paid by the commissioning public authorities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ODEG operates regional passenger rail services on 19 lines spanning approximately 1,671 km across five German federal states (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Berlin, Sachsen-Anhalt, Sachsen) using 93 trains. Services are commissioned by state-level public transport authorities (Aufgabenträger) through competitive tenders, with tariffs administered by regional transport associations (Verbünde). The fleet includes diesel (RegioShuttle RS1), electric (KISS, Desiro HC, GTW), and battery-electric (Stadler FLIRT Akku, entering from 2027) multiple units.

Product overview

ODEG (Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn GmbH) operates as a regional railway passenger transport company offering a unified service across 19 lines spanning five German federal states. The fleet portfolio includes multiple train types: RegioShuttle RS1 (diesel railcars for various routes), Stadler FLIRT Akku (battery-electric trains for Westmecklenburg II network from 2027), KISS double-decker trains (high-capacity RE8 services), and Desiro HC (barrier-free regional express). Supplementary services include mobile ticketing through third-party apps, on-board catering on selected lines, rail replacement bus services, curated ODEG Tours packages, a travel blog, centralized lost property handling, and an online fan merchandise shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ODEG Regional Rail Services Core commissioned passenger rail transport on 19 lines across five German federal states (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Berlin, Sachsen-Anhalt, Sachsen) covering ~1,671 km of routes with 93 trains and ~33 million passengers per year.
• ODEG Tours (ODEGTour) Curated travel packages to scenic destinations along ODEG route network, promoted through the ODEGTour annual travel series.
• Mobile Ticketing (Handytickets) Digital ticket purchasing for ODEG services via mobile phone through the ODEG website and third-party apps including HandyTicket Deutschland, BVG Handyticket, and DB Handyticket.
• Schienenersatzverkehr (Rail Replacement Service) Bus replacement transport services operated by ODEG during rail line closures, track construction works, or service disruptions.
• On-board Catering Service On-board food and beverage service offering drinks and snacks on selected ODEG lines including RE1, RE8, RE9, RE10, RB46, RB64, and RB65.
• Bicycle Transport (Fahrradmitnahme) Bicycle carriage service for passengers on ODEG regional trains with designated bicycle spaces on board (e.g., 8 bicycle spaces on RegioShuttle RS1 units).
• Lost and Found Service (Fundsachen) Centralised lost and found handling service for items lost on ODEG trains, with pickup locations in Berlin-Lichtenberg (Möllendorffstraße 49), Parchim (Bahnhof 1), and Görlitz (Reichenbacher Straße 1) plus postal return options.
• ODEG Fan Shop Online merchandise store selling ODEG-branded items including train models, apparel, and accessories.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33 million passengers transported annually across ~1,671 km of route network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stadler Pankow GmbHcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2025Stadler Pankow GmbH (Stadler Rail) is the manufacturer of the 14 FLIRT Akku battery-electric trains entering ODEG's fleet from 2027. The trains are built at Stadler's Berlin-Pankow facility. This is a core operational technology partnership for the WMB II traffic contract, representing the fleet modernization strategy of ODEG.
• NOW GmbHminorOthersNOW GmbH coordinates the BMDV funding directive for alternative propulsion in rail transport. ODEG receives project support through NOW for the FLIRT Akku procurement and charging infrastructure programs.
• Projektträger Jülich (PtJ)minorOthersProject executing organization (Projektträger Jülich) implementing the BMDV funding programs for the FLIRT Akku vehicle procurement and the charging infrastructure at the ODIG Parchim workshop.
• Verkehrsgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern mbH (VMV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVMV is the public transport authority (Aufgabenträger) for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, commissioning ODEG to operate regional rail services. VMV acts as the contracting entity on behalf of the state government for the WMB II traffic contract.
• Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (VBB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVBB is the joint public transport authority for Berlin and Brandenburg, commissioning ODEG to operate regional rail services on multiple lines. VBB provides tariff administration, passenger information systems (VBB Fahrinfo), and coordination of cross-border services.
• Nahverkehrsservice Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH (NASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA is the public transport authority for Sachsen-Anhalt, commissioning ODEG to operate regional rail services in that federal state.
• Verkehrsverbund Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien GmbH (ZVON)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZVON is the public transport authority for the Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien region in Saxony, commissioning ODEG to operate regional rail services on lines RB64, RB65, and others.
• NETINERA Deutschland GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNETINERA is the parent company of ODEG and ODIG within Germany. NETINERA is majority-owned by Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (Italian State Railways). NETINERA provides the shared compliance platform (osapiens), shared IT infrastructure, and group-level governance. ODEG and ODIG benefit from group purchasing power and shared services.
• Allianz pro SchieneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAllianz pro Schiene is a German rail advocacy organization that runs the annual 'Eisenbahner mit Herz' (Railway Worker with Heart) award. ODEG employees are regularly nominated for and win this peer recognition award, which generates positive press coverage and reinforces ODEG's customer service brand.
• Tourismusverbände (Tourism Associations)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerODEG partners with multiple tourism associations including Tourismusverband Mecklenburgische Seenplatte, Tourismusverband Mecklenburg-Schwerin e.V., TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH, Tourismusverband Lausitzer Seenland e.V., Marketing-Gesellschaft Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien mbH (MGO), and Tourismusverband Spreewald. These partnerships support destination promotion and travel content on ODEG's website and blog.
• Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen e.V. (VDV)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVDV is the German Association of Transport Companies, a lobby organization of which ODEG is a member. Through VDV, ODEG participates in industry advocacy, shares best practices, and accesses tariff-relevant data.
• Technisches Hilfswerk (THW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHW (German Federal Agency for Technical Relief) collaborates with ODEG and ODIG in regular emergency exercises simulating collision, derailment, and evacuation scenarios. The partnership strengthens joint response capabilities for rail emergencies.
• DB Netz AG / DB InfraGO AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDB Netz (now DB InfraGO) is the infrastructure manager for most of the rail network on which ODEG operates. ODEG depends on DB Netz for track access, signaling, and construction coordination. Regular joint emergency exercises (Notfallübungen) and coordination on route planning are part of the operational relationship.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Eurobahn (Keolis Deutschland): Eurobahn, part of Keolis (SNCF subsidiary), operates regional rail services in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and elsewhere. Comparable private operator competing for German Verkehrsverträge with similar fleet and contract structure.
• WestfalenBahn GmbH: WestfalenBahn operates regional rail services in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony under public contracts. Comparable as a mid-sized private German regional rail operator with a contract-driven business model.
• Nordbahn Eisenbahngesellschaft: Nordbahn operates regional rail services in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg under public contracts. Comparable private German regional rail operator with similar contracted-revenue model.
• Transdev GmbH (Transdev Rhein-Ruhr, Transdev Sachsen, etc.): Transdev operates multiple regional rail concessions in Germany under competitive Verkehrsverträge, including services in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt that overlap with ODEG's network. Closest analog as a private, multi-contract regional rail operator competing for public tenders.
• Metronom Eisenbahngesellschaft: Metronom is another NETINERA Deutschland subsidiary operating regional rail services in Lower Saxony and Hamburg. Sister-company within the same FS-owned group, sharing infrastructure, IT, and procurement with ODEG.
• National Express Rail GmbH: National Express operates regional rail concessions in Germany (e.g., Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn and Rhineland-Palatinate regional services), bidding against ODEG and other private operators in the same public-tender ecosystem. Comparable as a foreign-affiliated private operator securing German Verkehrsverträge.
• Die Länderbahn (Regentalbahn / Vogtlandbahn / Oberpfalzbahn / Waldbahn): Die Länderbahn is a NETINERA Deutschland group operator running regional rail and bus services in Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony, and the Czech border. Sister company within NETINERA, providing a directly comparable private regional rail operator profile.
• agilis Eisenbahngesellschaft mbH: Agilis operates regional rail services in Bavaria under Verkehrsverträge, also part of the NETINERA Deutschland group. Directly comparable as a private German regional rail operator competing in the same tender market.

Broad incumbents

• DB Regio AG: DB Regio is the passenger rail subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn and the dominant regional rail operator in Germany. It directly competes with ODEG for Verkehrsverträge and operates overlapping services in many of the same eastern German corridors.

Regional players

• Start Unterelbe GmbH (DB Regio subsidiary): Start Unterelbe operates regional rail services in Lower Saxony and Hamburg as a DB Regio subsidiary, illustrating the public-private hybrid model ODEG competes against for regional concessions in northern Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ODEGGmbH
• Facebookfacebook.com/ODEGKarriere
• Instagraminstagram.com/odeg_eisenbahn
• Xx.com/odeg_info
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/odeg-ostdeutsche-eisenbahn-gmbh-verkehrsunternehmen

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ODEG