Bentheim Railway
Bentheimer Eisenbahn AG is a publicly-owned German regional transport and logistics group operating rail passenger, bus, rail freight, logistics, travel agency, and parking services across the Grafschaft Bentheim region and into the Netherlands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1896
- HeadquartersNordhorn, Germany
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Bentheim Railway does
Bentheimer Eisenbahn AG is a privately held German regional transportation and logistics group headquartered in Nordhorn, Lower Saxony, operating since 1896 across passenger rail, bus, freight, logistics, travel agency, and parking management lines. The company runs the Regiopa Express (RB 56) rail passenger service on the Bad Bentheim–Neuenhaus corridor under contract with LNVG (Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen), operates city, regional, and school bus services in the Landkreis Grafschaft Bentheim through subsidiary Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH Nordhorn, and provides rail freight transport over an owned ~100 km network connecting to the EuroTerminal in Coevorden, Netherlands. A wholly owned rail vehicle workshop certified to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015, DIN EN 15085-2, and ECM standards handles maintenance in-house, and a new logistics warehouse in Coevorden opened in 2022.
The business is structured as a holding company with wholly owned operating subsidiaries (Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH Nordhorn, Kraftverkehr Emsland GmbH, BE Netz GmbH, Reisebüro Berndt GmbH, Grafschafter Parkraum Management GmbH) and one jointly controlled entity (GPM Bad Bentheim). Revenue is generated through a mix of public service contracts (rail passenger via LNVG, bus via Landkreis Grafschaft Bentheim) on subscription/recurring terms and transactional fees for freight, logistics, travel agency, and parking services. Customer segments span regional commuters, industrial and commercial freight shippers (e.g., Salzgitter Flachstahl), and private/business travelers served through 10 Reisebüro Berndt branches operating under the Lufthansa City Center network. Majority ownership rests with Landkreis Grafschaft Bentheim, Stadt Nordhorn, and Stadt Neuenhaus, with no public listing or external funding rounds disclosed.
Bentheim Railway firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bentheim Railway
- Legal name
- Bentheimer Eisenbahn AG
- Website
- https://bentheimer-eisenbahn.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1896
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Bentheimer Eisenbahn AG is a publicly-owned German regional transport and logistics group operating rail passenger, bus, rail freight, logistics, travel agency, and parking services across the Grafschaft Bentheim region and into the Netherlands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bentheim Railway industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regional Rail and Public Transport Services
- NAICS
- Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (4852), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance (48412)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Intercity Bus Franchises/Concessionaires (Public Service Contracts) (THAIADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Intercity Coach Fleet Operations & Management Contractors (TLAFAFAJ), Intercity Bus Feeder & First/Last-Mile Connector Operators (Scheduled) (THAIADAJ)
Keywords
Where Bentheim Railway is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nordhorn
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Bentheim Railway business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Schienenpersonennahverkehr (Rail Passenger Transport): Public rail passenger transport under contract with LNVG (Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen) operating RB 56 (Regiopa Express) on Bad Bentheim - Neuenhaus route
- Busverkehr (Bus Transport): City and regional bus services operated by Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH Nordhorn on behalf of Landkreis Grafschaft Bentheim, including school transport
- Eisenbahngüterverkehr (Rail Freight): Rail freight transport services with single wagon traffic connections to major north German economic centers, container terminals and ports
- Spedition & Logistik (Forwarding & Logistics): Logistics and forwarding services through Kraftverkehr Emsland GmbH with trucking operations throughout Germany and cross-border services
- Reisemarkt (Travel Market): Travel agency services through Reisebüro Berndt GmbH with 10 locations offering private and business travel
- Parkraummanagement (Parking Management): Parking management and development services through GPM (Grafschafter Parkraum Management) and GPM Bad Bentheim
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Deutschlandticket for nationwide public transport |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Niedersachsen-Ticket for regional train and bus travel |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Bus fare zones in Grafschaft Bentheim |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | FAIRTIQ app-based ticketing |
| Subscription | Monthly | U21 Freizeitkarte Niedersachsen |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Bentheim Railway product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bentheimer Eisenbahn AG operates regional public passenger transport (Regiopa Express RB 56 rail service and bus services through subsidiary Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH Nordhorn) under contract with public authorities, alongside rail freight transport on its own approximately 100 km network connecting Bad Bentheim (Germany) to Coevorden (Netherlands). The group also offers freight forwarding and logistics through Kraftverkehr Emsland GmbH, travel agency services through Reisebüro Berndt GmbH, and parking management through GPM.
Product overview
Bentheimer Eisenbahn AG operates as a diversified transportation and logistics group under a unified corporate umbrella. The core offerings include the Regiopa Express (RB 56) rail passenger service and Eisenbahngüterverkehr rail freight transport, supported by in-house rail vehicle workshops. The company manages bus transport through Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH Nordhorn, operates the Reisebüro Berndt travel agency network, provides logistics via Kraftverkehr Emsland GmbH, and handles parking management through GPM. The subsidiary BE Netz GmbH manages rail infrastructure. Additional services include container handling at EuroTerminal and commercial vehicle workshops. The portfolio is unified by the parent company's 130+ years of regional transportation expertise and shared operational synergies across rail, bus, logistics, and travel services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Regiopa Express: Railway service (RB 56) operating on the Bad Bentheim - Neuenhaus route with extension to Coevorden planned
- Wolkenschieber Gruppenreisen
- Grafschafter Logistik Zentrum
Products and services
- Regiopa Express (RB 56) Rail passenger transport (Schienenpersonennahverkehr) operated on behalf of LNVG (Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen), running on the Bad Bentheim to Neuenhaus route with hourly service and planned extension to Coevorden, Netherlands.
- Eisenbahngüterverkehr (Rail Freight Transport) Rail freight transport services connecting Bad Bentheim (Germany) and Coevorden (Netherlands), with own rail network of nearly 100 km and single wagon traffic connections to international freight centers (GVZ) and container terminals in northern Germany.
- Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH Nordhorn (Bus Transport)
Quantifiable outcome
- Largest public transport provider in Landkreis Grafschaft Bentheim with 1,280 km line network
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bentheim Railway
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bentheim Railway technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Bentheim Railway partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lufthansa City Center (LCC)coreReisebüro Berndt GmbH (subsidiary) joined Lufthansa City Center network from January 2023, operating 10 travel agency locations under the LCC brand. Previously operated as Reiseland partner. Provides access to Lufthansa's global travel network and booking systems.
- Verkehrsgemeinschaft Grafschaft Bentheim (VGB)corePublic transport association formed July 1994 between Nutzfahrzeuge Nordhorn GmbH and Richters Reisen GmbH for coordinated public passenger transport in Grafschaft Bentheim. Established as GbR (civil law partnership) in February 1996. Coordinates bus and rail services across the region.
- EuroTerminal Emmen-Coevorden-Hardenberg b.v.coreCross-border container terminal partnership for handling container transfer between road and rail. Central facility for European and international freight shipments. Located in the Netherlands, serving as key logistics hub connecting the Bentheimer Eisenbahn rail network to international destinations.
- DB Cargo / Cargo Rail EuropecoreRail freight cooperation providing optimal transport chains between rail and road. DB Cargo is the largest rail freight operator in Germany, enabling Bentheimer Eisenbahn to offer connections to major economic centers and ports.
- Verkehrswacht Grafschaft BentheimminorTraffic safety organization partnering with Bentheimer Eisenbahn for 'Busschule' (Bus School) educational programs teaching children safe behavior on buses.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bentheim Railway competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hohenzollerische Landesbahn (HzL): Historic regional railway group in Baden-Württemberg operating passenger rail, freight, bus services and travel agency — closely comparable multi-modal regional transport group structure including infrastructure ownership.
- AKN Eisenbahn: Operates AKN regional rail services in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg under public service contracts with Hamburger Verkehrsverbund — comparable regional rail concessionaire serving a cross-border (state-level) catchment.
- Rurtalbahn: Regional rail and bus operator in the Rhineland under public service contracts, also engaged in rail freight and combined transport — comparable diversified regional transport operator with own infrastructure.
- Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB): Regional rail and bus operator in Brandenburg and Berlin under VBB contracts — comparable mid-sized German regional rail concessionaire with integrated bus operations.
- VIAS Rail: Operates regional rail passenger services in Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia under public service contracts — directly comparable regional rail concessionaire with overlapping operational geography in western Germany.
- vlexx: Regional rail operator in Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and parts of Hesse, running diesel multiple unit services under contract with respective Länder — comparable size and regional concessionaire model.
- Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn (ODEG): Operates regional rail passenger services in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin under public service contracts — a directly comparable mid-sized German regional rail concessionaire with multi-modal transport offerings.
- Harzer Schmalspurbahnen (HSB): Historic narrow-gauge railway operating passenger services and freight in the Harz region under public service contracts — comparable historic regional rail operator with own infrastructure and tourism exposure.
- WestfalenBahn: German regional rail operator running regional passenger services in Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and surrounding regions under public service contracts with LNVG and other transport authorities — directly comparable operating model and contract structure to Bentheimer Eisenbahn's RB 56 service.
Broad incumbents
- Eurobahn (Keolis Deutschland): Subsidiary of global Keolis group operating regional rail and bus services across North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and other German Länder — comparable regional rail concessionaire with significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bentheim Railway social profiles
Digital presenceBentheim Railway compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Bentheim Railway financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bentheim Railway leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Bentheim Railway subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Bentheim Railway funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bentheim Railway M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bentheim Railway
What does Bentheim Railway do?
Bentheimer Eisenbahn AG operates regional public passenger transport (Regiopa Express RB 56 rail service and bus services through subsidiary Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH Nordhorn) under contract with public authorities, alongside rail freight transport on its own approximately 100 km network connecting Bad Bentheim (Germany) to Coevorden (Netherlands). The group also offers freight forwarding and logistics through Kraftverkehr Emsland GmbH, travel agency services through Reisebüro Berndt GmbH, and parking management through GPM.
Is Bentheim Railway a public or private company?
Bentheim Railway is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Bentheim Railway founded?
Bentheim Railway was founded in 1896. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Bentheim Railway based?
Bentheim Railway is headquartered in Nordhorn, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Bentheim Railway make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Schienenpersonennahverkehr (Rail Passenger Transport) is the primary driver. The others are busverkehr (Bus Transport), eisenbahngüterverkehr (Rail Freight), spedition & Logistik (Forwarding & Logistics), reisemarkt (Travel Market) and parkraummanagement (Parking Management).
Who are Bentheim Railway's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hohenzollerische Landesbahn (HzL), AKN Eisenbahn, Rurtalbahn, Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB), VIAS Rail, vlexx, Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn (ODEG), Harzer Schmalspurbahnen (HSB) and WestfalenBahn. Eurobahn (Keolis Deutschland) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Bentheim Railway have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bentheim Railway.
What industry is Bentheim Railway in?
Bentheim Railway's product category is Regional Rail and Public Transport Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAIADAG, Intercity Bus Franchises/Concessionaires (Public Service Contracts), with a secondary code of TLAFAFAJ, Intercity Coach Fleet Operations & Management Contractors. Its NAICS code is 4852 and its SIC code is 4100.