NAH.SH

What NAH.SH does

NAH.SH GmbH is the state-mandated integrated transport association (Verkehrsverbund) for Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, organized as a private limited liability company (GmbH) under the statutory mandate of the Land Schleswig-Holstein. Headquartered in Kiel and employing 51-100 staff, the company does not operate trains or buses itself; instead, it organizes regional rail transport and coordinates bus services across the entire state, working with five rail operators (DB Regio, nordbahn, erixx Holstein, AKN Eisenbahn, neg/GoCollective) and multiple bus and ferry providers within the SH-Tarif unified tariff system. Its operating footprint extends into Hamburg via the hvv integration and cross-border into Denmark on the Niebüll–Tønder–Esbjerg corridor. Founded in 1995, the company is effectively state-owned through its public mandate and funding.

The company's core product surface centers on the NAH.SH mobile application (iOS 17.7+ / Android 8.0+), which combines journey planning (built on HAFAS routing software), real-time departure information, and digital ticket purchasing (Handy-Ticket, Online-Ticket). Supporting channels include the web-based ticket shop (powered by Tickeos), ticket machines at all railway stations, on-bus purchasing with contactless payment, staffed sales offices, and integration with Deutsche Bahn's bahn.de/DB Navigator platforms. Its product portfolio spans the nationwide Deutschlandticket (63€/month subscription), the discounted Deutschland-Schulticket for students, the Deutschland-Jobticket for employer-subsidized commuting, the Deutschland-Semesterticket (free at Kiel, Lübeck, and Flensburg universities), the SH-Tarif network cards, monthly Abo subscriptions (10-pay-12), the cross-border Nachbarticket to Denmark, and ancillary services such as Bike+Ride (via the Book-n-Park portal), accessibility services (Bahnhofsmission Mobil SH), and the interactive network map and route planner.

Revenue mechanics are a hybrid of subscription and managed-services streams: recurring subscription revenue from the Deutschlandticket, Schülerticket, Semesterticket, Jobticket, and Monatskarte im Abo products; usage-based revenue from single tickets, day tickets, group tickets, and bicycle day tickets; and managed-services revenue from the government contract under which NAH.SH organizes rail transport on behalf of the Land. Forward-looking capital programs include the Akkunetz project (55 new battery-powered trains plus charging infrastructure), a new Landesweiter Nahverkehrsplan for 2027-2031 adopted in July 2026, station accessibility upgrades (78% currently wheelchair-accessible, targeting 96%), and new station construction (Bosbüll). The passenger advisory board (Fahrgastbeirat), with 12 members from organizations such as ADFC, BUND, VCD, and PRO BAHN, meets quarterly to advise on service improvements.

Name

NAH.SH

Legal name

NAH.SH GmbH

Website

https://nah.sh

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NAH.SH GmbH is the state-mandated integrated transport association for Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, organizing rail and coordinating bus services under the unified SH-Tarif via its mobile app, web shop, and partner operators, serving the general public, commuters, students, and travelers to Hamburg and Denmark.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales (SH-Tarif): Revenue from ticket sales across the Schleswig-Holstein tariff system covering regional trains (RE, RB), suburban railways (S-Bahn), and bus services. Includes single tickets, day tickets, weekly/monthly passes, network cards, and the Germany-wide Deutschlandticket subscription.
2. Deutschlandticket: Monthly subscription ticket at 63€ valid nationwide in 2nd class local transport. Sold as personal, non-transferable subscription with monthly cancellation option.
3. Government Contract for Transport Organization: NAH.SH GmbH organizes rail transport on behalf of the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The organization coordinates with districts, independent cities, and transport companies within the integrated transport association to develop modern local transport on rail and road.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NAH.SH GmbH is the state-mandated integrated transport association (Verkehrsverbund) for Schleswig-Holstein, organizing regional rail transport and coordinating bus services across the state under a unified SH-Tarif ticketing system. It sells tickets (Deutschlandticket, single, day, monthly passes, Handy-Tickets), provides the NAH.SH-App for journey planning and mobile ticketing, and coordinates infrastructure programs such as the Akkunetz battery-train rollout and Bike+Ride station facilities on behalf of the state of Schleswig-Holstein.

Product overview

NAH.SH GmbH is the state-level local transport association (Verkehrsverbund) for Schleswig-Holstein, organizing regional railway and coordinating bus services on behalf of the state government. Its digital product portfolio centers on the NAH.SH-App — a free mobile application for iOS and Android that combines journey planning (powered by HAFAS), real-time departure information, and mobile ticket purchasing (Handy-Ticket). The SH-Tarif serves as the unified regional tariff across all rail operators (RE/RB services via DB Regio, nordbahn, erixx Holstein, AKN, neg/GoCollective) and bus companies, extended into Hamburg via the hvv partnership. Key ticket products include the Deutschlandticket (63 euros/month nationwide), the Deutschland-Schulticket (discounted student variant), the Deutschland-Jobticket/NAH.SH-Jobticket (employer-subsidized), and the Deutschland-Semesterticket (free semester pass for university students). Analog channels include the Online-Ticket print-at-home shop, physical ticket machines, bus onboard sales, and staffed sales points. Supplementary services include the Bike+Ride portal (book-n-park), accessibility information (Barrierefrei unterwegs), interactive network maps, quality reporting (Qualität auf der Schiene), and the passenger advisory board (Fahrgastbeirat). Editorial offerings include the los! and NAH.ran! magazines. The company also manages the Akkunetz project for 55 battery-powered trains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Akkunetz: Project for battery-powered trains (Akkuzüge) to replace diesel trains for climate-friendly rail transport
• NAH.ran!
• SH-Tarif
• Deutschlandticket

Products and services

• NAH.SH-App Free mobile app for iOS and Android that provides journey planning, real-time departure information, and mobile ticket purchasing (Handy-Ticket) for trains and buses throughout Schleswig-Holstein. Built on HAFAS software. For individual travelers and daily commuters.
• SH-Tarif (Schleswig-Holstein-Tarif) Unified regional tariff system covering all local rail (RE, RB, NBE, AKN, erixx, neg) and bus services across Schleswig-Holstein and into Hamburg, providing a single ticket for multimodal journeys across multiple operators.
• Deutschlandticket Nationwide monthly subscription ticket (63€ per month) valid for unlimited travel in second class across all participating German local transport operators, sold by NAH.SH. Available as personal, non-transferable subscription.
• Deutschland-Schulticket Discounted Deutschlandticket variant offering at least 20€ monthly discount for students and apprentices in full-time school education; available through local distribution partners with prices varying by county.
• Deutschland-Jobticket / NAH.SH-Jobticket Employer-subsidized monthly transit passes offering additional discounts beyond standard pricing; available as nationwide Deutschland-Jobticket or city-specific NAH.SH-Jobticket, with tax advantages for both employer and employee. Over 1,000 employers participate.
• Deutschland-Semesterticket Semester-based subscription ticket equivalent to the Deutschlandticket, provided free of charge to students at participating Schleswig-Holstein universities (Kiel, Lübeck, Flensburg), distributed as a digital Handy-Ticket via the NAH.SH-App.
• Handy-Ticket Digital mobile ticket purchased via the NAH.SH-App for single rides, day passes, group tickets, bicycle passes, and short-distance trips, displayed on the user's smartphone.
• Routenplaner (Journey Planner) Online route planner accessible via the NAH.SH website that calculates optimal train and bus connections in Schleswig-Holstein, displaying travel times, walking distances, platform numbers, and tariff information.
• Einzelkarte, Tageskarte, Kleingruppenkarte (Point-to-Point and Day Tickets) Point-to-point and day tickets for occasional travelers, including single tickets, day passes valid until 6 AM the following day, and small-group tickets for up to five persons on the SH-Tarif.
• Monatskarte im Abo (Monthly Subscription Ticket) Transferable or personal monthly season ticket valid for unlimited travel on chosen routes or the entire SH-Tarif network, billed monthly but payable for only 10 months per year (2 months free), with weekend companion discounts.
• Fahrradmitnahme (Bicycle Transport) Bicycle carriage service in all local trains, regional buses, and Kiel ferries, requiring a bicycle ticket (day pass from 6€ or single ride ticket for short distances), with restrictions during peak hours in the Hamburg area.
• Nachbarticket (Denmark Cross-Border Ticket) Cross-border ticket for rail journeys from Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg into Denmark (Niebüll–Tønder–Esbjerg routes and beyond), available as single, return, group, or bicycle day tickets.
• Akkunetz (Battery Train Network) Infrastructure project for charging 55 new battery-powered trains (Akkuzüge) that are gradually replacing diesel railcars in Schleswig-Holstein, making regional rail transport more climate-friendly.
• Bike+Ride Bicycle parking program creating secure cycling infrastructure at railway stations across Schleswig-Holstein, managed through the Book-n-Park online portal, with state-funded installation and community-based rental of spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19.7% increase in rail transport demand between 2019 and 2025, exceeding pre-Corona levels
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration18 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DB Regio Schleswig-HolsteincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDeutsche Bahn subsidiary operating regional express (RE6, RE7, RE70) and regionalbahn (RB60, RB61, RB71) services across Schleswig-Holstein. Coordinates special schedules during construction periods.
• nordbahn EisenbahngesellschaftcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRailway operator operating RB61, RB63, RB64, RB71, RE72, RB73, RE74, RB75, RB82 lines under the SH-Tarif system.
• erixx HolsteincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRailway operator operating RB76, RE83, RB84 lines in Schleswig-Holstein.
• AKN Eisenbahn GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSuburban railway operator running A1, A2, A3 lines connecting Schleswig-Holstein with Hamburg's transport network.
• neg (Norddeutsche Eisenbahn Niebüll) / GoCollectivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRailway operator running RB65 (Dagebüll-Niebüll) and RB66 (cross-border connection to Esbjerg, Denmark), providing international connectivity.
• Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (hvv)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration partnership enabling SH-Tarif tickets to be valid on hvv services in Hamburg AB area (U-Bahn, S-Bahn, buses, harbor ferries), extending passenger reach.
• Fahrgastbeirat (Passenger Advisory Council)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwelve-member advisory body representing passenger interests including ADFC, BSK, BSV-SH, BUND, VCD, PRO BAHN plus six independent citizens. Meets quarterly to discuss public transport improvements.
• Land Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government providing funding for transport organization, Bike+Ride infrastructure, battery train infrastructure (Akkunetz project with 55 trains), and new railway station development.
• Districts and Independent Cities of Schleswig-HolsteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounties (Kreise) and independent cities (kreisfreie Städte) participate in the integrated transport association (Verkehrsverbund) alongside the state government.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DB Regio: Deutsche Bahn's regional rail subsidiary operating passenger services across Germany, including multiple lines within Schleswig-Holstein under the SH-Tarif — a major operator within NAH.SH's network and a broader incumbent in the German regional rail market.
• Deutsche Bahn AG: National rail incumbent operating long-distance, regional, and freight services — parent of DB Regio and a key system-level partner, but serving a far broader mandate than NAH.SH's regional coordination role.

Direct peers

• Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR): Largest German Verkehrsverbund by area, coordinating public transport across the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region — directly comparable integrated tariff and operator-coordination model.
• Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV): Frankfurt/Rhine-Main regional transport association with unified tariff across rail, bus, and tram operators — directly comparable Verbund structure and product portfolio.
• Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS): Transport association serving the Cologne-Bonn region with unified ticketing across multiple rail and bus operators — directly comparable Verbund structure to NAH.SH in both mandate and product offering.
• Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (hvv): Hamburg's regional transport association (Verkehrsverbund) coordinating rail, bus, and ferry services with a unified tariff system — the most direct peer to NAH.SH given the existing tariff integration partnership and overlapping service area (Hamburg AB zone accepts SH-Tarif).
• Nahverkehrsservice Sachsen-Anhalt (NASA): State-level transport coordinator for Saxony-Anhalt with comparable mandate to organize regional rail and coordinate bus services — analogous function and state-level scope to NAH.SH.
• Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB): Integrated transport authority for Berlin and Brandenburg with a unified tariff across multiple operators — directly comparable in structure, mandate, and function to NAH.SH, but at significantly larger metropolitan scale.
• Nahverkehrsgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg (NVBW): State-level transport coordination body for Baden-Württemberg, organizing rail and coordinating bus services on behalf of the state government — most directly analogous state-level mandate and structure to NAH.SH.
• Münchner Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund (MVV): Munich's regional Verkehrsverbund coordinating S-Bahn, U-Bahn, regional rail, and bus services under a unified tariff — operates the same Verbund model with a multi-modal ticketing product analogous to NAH.SH's SH-Tarif.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxmVUIdn8-nTdQzid2DYWNw
• Facebookfacebook.com/dernahverkehr
• Instagraminstagram.com/nah.sh
• Xx.com/dernahverkehr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 NAH.SH