Stadtwerke Nordhausen

What Stadtwerke Nordhausen does

Stadtwerke Nordhausen – Holding für Versorgung und Verkehr GmbH is a municipal multi-utility holding company based in Nordhausen, Thuringia, Germany. Founded in 1990 (originally as Wärmeverbund Nordhausen GmbH, renamed in 1996 after a merger) and owned by the City of Nordhausen and Landkreis Nordhausen, it coordinates subsidiaries across five service verticals: public transportation (Verkehrsbetriebe Nordhausen GmbH, operating tram lines 1, 2, 10, city bus lines A-G, regional bus lines, and Combino/Combino-Duo dual-system vehicles that interoperate with Harzer Schmalspurbahnen on Line 10 to Ilfeld); energy supply (Energieversorgung Nordhausen GmbH, supplemented by Windpark Uthleben and a solar plant); waste disposal and street cleaning (Südharzwerke Nordhausen); aquatic leisure (Badehaus Nordhausen with indoor pool, sauna, and outdoor swimming at Bielener Kiesgewässer); and vocational training (Berufsbildungszentrum Nordhausen gGmbH with autodrom facilities). The group also operates parking management, street lighting, and demand-responsive Rufbus services.

The business model combines transactional fares (single tickets, swimming admissions), recurring subscriptions (annual cards, Deutschlandticket at EUR 58/month through the VBN Mobil app), and fee-based municipal services (waste disposal, school transport contracts). Distribution is multi-channel: a Servicecenter at Bahnhofsplatz, onboard sales by drivers, 8 VENDstation ticket machines, 13+ pre-sale retail partners, and a mobile app. Pricing is publicly disclosed via tariff documents. GTM is direct-to-consumer for transit and leisure, sales-led for school transport and commercial waste contracts. Notable technology investments include the 2026 Gleisgrunderneuerung track renewal (~EUR 2.346M with EUR 1.363M state funding), dual-system Combino-Duo vehicles enabling BOStrab/ESBO interoperability, the Ladepark Nordhausen EV charging park, and VMT HAFAS for schedule information. The group is privately held, unlisted, with no external venture or private equity backing; strategic intent is municipal service delivery and regional value creation rather than growth-stage capital returns.

Name

Stadtwerke Nordhausen

Legal name

Stadtwerke Nordhausen – Holding für Versorgung und Verkehr GmbH

Website

https://stadtwerke-nordhausen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Stadtwerke Nordhausen is a municipal multi-utility holding company in Thuringia, Germany, providing public transport (tram, bus, Rufbus), energy supply, waste disposal, leisure facilities, and vocational training to the Nordhausen district under public ownership by the City and Landkreis of Nordhausen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Utility Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Rail Transportation (488210), Janitorial Services (56172)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Sidewalk & Walkway Snow Clearing (Shoveling/Plowing) (HSAIAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

De-Icing & Anti-Icing (Salt, Brine, Sand Application) (HSAIAIAE), Roof Snow & Ice Removal (Snow Raking, Ice Dam Mitigation) (HSAIAIAG)

Keywords

• Municipal utility services
• Public transportation services
• Energy supply services
• Waste disposal services
• Leisure facilities management

Headquarters

HQ city

Nordhausen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Transport (ÖPNV): Revenue from tram and bus services including city transport, regional transport, school transport contracts, and special event transport. Income from ticket sales through various channels including on-board purchase, pre-sale points, and ticket machines.
2. Energy Supply: Energy distribution and supply through Energieversorgung Nordhausen GmbH including electricity and potentially gas services.
3. Waste Disposal: Waste collection and disposal services through Südharzwerke Nordhausen including household waste, commercial waste, recycling, and hazardous waste. Revenue from disposal fees.
4. Leisure Facilities: Swimming pool and bath services through Badehaus Nordhausen including indoor pool, sauna area, outdoor pools (Bielener Kiesgewässer), and club membership programs.
5. Vocational Training: Training and education services through Berufsbildungszentrum Nordhausen including driving school facilities, autodrom, and professional development courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Stadtwerke Nordhausen is a municipal utility holding company that delivers integrated infrastructure services for the city and district of Nordhausen. Through its subsidiaries, it operates public tram and bus transport (Verkehrsbetriebe Nordhausen), electricity and gas energy supply (Energieversorgung Nordhausen), waste disposal and recycling (Südharzwerke Nordhausen), swimming pools and sauna facilities (Badehaus Nordhausen), vocational driving and professional training (Berufsbildungszentrum), parking services, and street lighting.

Product overview

Stadtwerke Nordhausen – Holding für Versorgung und Verkehr GmbH is a municipal utility holding company providing integrated infrastructure and public services for the Nordhausen region. The company operates as a multi-utility provider combining energy supply (electricity, gas, solar, wind), public transportation (tram, city bus, regional bus, demand-responsive transport), waste disposal and recycling, aquatic/leisure facilities, vocational training, parking management, and street lighting. The holding structure includes subsidiary companies: Energieversorgung Nordhausen GmbH (energy), Verkehrsbetriebe Nordhausen GmbH (transport), Südharzwerke Nordhausen GmbH (waste), Badehaus Nordhausen GmbH (recreation), and Berufsbildungszentrum Nordhausen gGmbH (training). The product portfolio spans core infrastructure services through digital offerings including the VBN Mobil app for ticketing and VMT HAFAS-based schedule information systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Transport (Bus & Straßenbahn) Public tram and bus services operated by Verkehrsbetriebe Nordhausen GmbH covering tram lines 1, 2, and 10, city bus lines A–G and K, and regional bus lines 20–29, 241, 262, 291. Combino and Combino-Duo tram vehicles with barrier-free stops, digital displays, and audio announcements. Includes demand-responsive Rufbus service.
• Energy Supply (Energieversorgung) Electricity and gas distribution for the Nordhausen region, operated by Energieversorgung Nordhausen GmbH (EVN). Includes renewable generation from Windpark Uthleben and Solarkraftwerk.
• Windpark Uthleben Wind energy park operated by Windpark Uthleben GmbH & Co. KG, a pilot project for citizen participation in renewable energy in Thuringen.
• Solar Power Plant (Solarkraftwerk) Solar power generation facility contributing to renewable energy production under the Stadtwerke Nordhausen energy portfolio.
• Waste Disposal & Recycling (Südharzwerke) Waste disposal and recycling services including household waste collection, commercial waste disposal (Entsorgung Gewerbeabfall), container service (Containerdienst), street cleaning and winter service (Straßenreinigung und Winterdienst), and green waste management, operated by Südharzwerke Nordhausen – Entsorgungsgesellschaft mbH.
• Badehaus Nordhausen (Swimming & Leisure) Aquatic and leisure facility operated by Badehaus Nordhausen GmbH, including indoor pool with sport and family basins, sauna landscape, outdoor swimming at Bielener Kiesgewässer, swimming courses for children and adults, fitness programs, and a club membership program.
• Vocational Training (Berufsbildungszentrum BBZ) Vocational training and education operated by Berufsbildungszentrum Nordhausen gGmbH, including driving school programs, autodrom facility for practical driving instruction, and truck training grounds.
• Parking Services (Parken) Parking services including parking space management, parking guidance, and parking infrastructure throughout the city of Nordhausen.
• Street Lighting (Stadtbeleuchtung) Public street lighting infrastructure maintenance and operation throughout the city of Nordhausen.
• Deutschlandticket Monthly national public transit pass allowing unlimited travel on all German local public transportation including VBN services. Available through the VBN Mobil app and Stadtwerke-Servicecenter.
• School Transport (Schülerbeförderung) Specialized transportation services for school children including dedicated routes and schedules during school terms, serving local schools and kindergartens.
• Rufbus (Demand-Responsive Transport) On-demand flexible bus service for areas with lower ridership, complementing fixed-route bus and tram services.
• Charter & Excursion Travel (Individueller Ausflugs- und Reiseverkehr) Charter and excursion travel services using VBN's fleet of buses and historical trams for group travel and special events.
• Ladepark Nordhausen (EV Charging) Charging park for electric vehicles operated by Stadtwerke Nordhausen as part of electromobility infrastructure expansion.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35 years of continuous municipal service delivery since 1990
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Förderverein Straßenbahnfreunde Nordhausen e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Non-profit association supporting tram heritage preservation, event organization, and historical vehicle maintenance. Played major role in organizing 125-year anniversary celebrations. Provides volunteer support and co-funding for special events.
• Harzer Schmalspurbahnen GmbH (HSB)coreTechnology or IntegrationNarrow-gauge railway operator with interoperability partnership for Line 10 service. Dual-system vehicles allow passenger transfer between VBN and HSB networks at Ilfeld. Joint operational coordination for system changes between BOStrab and ESBO standards.
• Berufsfeuerwehr NordhausenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint training exercises for emergency response procedures involving tram operations. Training on electrical safety, vehicle rescue, and coordination between fire department and transport company.
• Freiwillige Feuerwehr SundhausenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partnership for technical assistance at trams including lifting operations, load securing, and overhead line safety procedures.
• IWK Berufsfachschule NordhausenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational training institution partnership for practical insights into mobility limitations and public transport accessibility. Joint project on barrier-free mobility in urban environments.
• Deutsche Bahn AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRailway infrastructure owner providing space for public toilet facility at Nordhausen train station. Long negotiation process resulted in rental agreement for facility operation.
• Kreissparkasse NordhausenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal savings bank partnership for art exhibitions and community events including 'Bunte Bahn' art competition at gallery. Co-sponsorship of prize money and venue.
• Südharzer Volleyballclub Nordhausen e.V. (SVC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports club partnership for annual BeachvolleyballCup tournament organized jointly with Stadtwerke during Rolandsfest city festival.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stadtwerke München (SWM): Large German municipal utility providing energy, public transport (MVG), and swimming facilities. Broader incumbent in the same multi-utility category, illustrating the scaled-up version of the Stadtwerke Nordhausen model.
• Stadtwerke Düsseldorf: Major German municipal utility with energy, public transport (Rheinbahn subsidiary), and water services. Larger incumbent in the same multi-utility category, relevant for benchmarking municipal service integration.

Direct peers

• Stadtwerke Weimar: Thuringian municipal utility providing energy and transport services in Weimar. Similar regional positioning, ownership structure, and integrated service model as Stadtwerke Nordhausen.
• Erfurter Verkehrsbetriebe AG (EVAG): Public transport operator in Erfurt running tram and bus services with Combino vehicles. Directly comparable transport subsidiary model within the Thuringia market, operating modern low-floor tram fleets.
• Leipziger Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft (LVV): Holding company coordinating Leipzig's municipal utilities (energy, transport, water). Comparable multi-utility structure to Stadtwerke Nordhausen, though larger in scale and operating in a major city.
• Stadtwerke Jena GmbH: Jena-based municipal utility offering energy, public transport, and waste services in Thuringia. Closely comparable regional peer operating in the same state with similar scale and multi-utility structure.
• Stadtwerke Erfurt Gruppe: Mid-sized Thuringia municipal utility (Stadtwerke) providing energy, public transport (tram/bus), and related municipal services. Directly comparable as a Thuringian multi-utility holding with similar service portfolio to Stadtwerke Nordhausen.
• Jenaer Nahverkehr GmbH: Public transport subsidiary of Stadtwerke Jena operating tram and bus services in Jena, Thuringia. Direct comparable as a regional tram/bus operator within the same state market.

Regional players

• Technische Werke Friedrichshafen (TWF): Mid-sized German municipal multi-utility providing energy, transport, and telecommunications. Comparable multi-utility structure though operating in a different region (Lake Constance).
• Harzer Schmalspurbahnen GmbH (HSB): Regional narrow-gauge railway operator in the Harz region with direct operational partnership to Stadtwerke Nordhausen via dual-system vehicles on Line 10. Comparable as a rail transport operator in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Stadtwerke-Nordhausen-447136532382794
• Instagraminstagram.com/stadtwerkendh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verkehrsbetriebe-nordhausen-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

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 Stadtwerke Nordhausen