Havelland Railway

What Havelland Railway does

Havelländische Eisenbahn AG (HVLE), founded in 1892 as Aktiengesellschaft der Osthavelländischen Kreisbahnen and rebranded to its current form in 2006, is a privately held German railway undertaking (EVU) headquartered in Wustermark OT Elstal near Berlin. The company operates as a private rail freight carrier serving industrial shippers, logistics providers, connecting railway operators, and other railway undertakings across Germany and into international markets including Poland. Its customer base spans settlement waste transport, limestone and construction materials, coal, military supply trains, and intermodal/inter-regional freight, complemented by connecting railway management and regulatory representation services on behalf of industrial sidings.

HVLE's core operations rest on a fleet of 46 locomotives — including the largest EuroDual BR 159 hybrid dual-mode fleet in Germany at 18 units, developed jointly with Stadler and approved by the EBA in 2020 — and 779 freight wagons covering bulk, tilting-roof, flat, and self-discharging configurations. The company operates its own railway infrastructure (NN-Rail network, Industriebahn Premnitz, and a majority stake in the Rbf Wustermark marshalling yard through RLCW), ECM-certified vehicle maintenance workshops across six locations (Wustermark, Berlin, Celle, Hennigsdorf, Magdeburg, Blankenburg/Harz), and connecting railway services including regulatory inspections and representation before railway supervisory authorities.

The business generates revenue across four streams: rail freight transport (transaction-based), railway infrastructure access (transaction-based), ECM-certified rail vehicle maintenance (professional services), and connecting railway management (professional services). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; contracts are negotiated directly with industrial customers and logistics providers. Distribution is sales-led via direct B2B relationships, participation in trade fairs (InnoTrans, transport logistic), and engagement with infrastructure operators and freight shippers. HVLE is independently operated with no identified external institutional investors, has scaled revenue from EUR 22.5M (2009) to EUR 72.2M (2024) and headcount from 74 to 281 over the same period, and holds an integrated set of certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 50001, EU 2018/762 SMS, EU 2019/779 ECM, SQAS, Entsorgungsfachbetrieb, and GMP+2020.

Name

Havelland Railway

Legal name

Havelländische Eisenbahn AG

Website

https://hvle.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Havelländische Eisenbahn AG (HVLE) is a privately held German railway undertaking founded in 1892 that operates rail freight transport, railway infrastructure, ECM-certified vehicle maintenance, and connecting railway services for industrial shippers, logistics providers, and other railway undertakings across Germany and into Poland using a fleet of 46 locomotives and 779 freight wagons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rail Freight Transport

NAICS

Line-Haul Railroads (482111), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (488210), Short Line Railroads (482112)

SIC

Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011), Railroad Switching & Terminal Establishments (4013)

akta.pro primary industry

Unit Train & Dedicated Contract Rail Services (TLADACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bulk Commodity Railroads (Coal/Grain/Ore/Aggregates) (TLADACAA), Intermodal Rail Operators (Container/Trailer-on-Flatcar) (TLADACAB), Rail Freight Yard Operations (Classification, Hump & Flat Yards) (TLAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Rail freight transport
• Railway infrastructure operation
• Locomotive fleet services
• Freight wagon logistics
• Connecting railway management

Headquarters

HQ city

Wustermark

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Rail Freight Transport: Core revenue stream from transporting goods by rail, including regional, inter-regional, and international freight. HVLE operates in all segments of rail freight transport with a modern locomotive fleet and freight wagons.
2. Railway Infrastructure Operation: Operation and management of railway infrastructure including NN-Rail network and Industriebahn Premnitz, providing track access to third-party railway undertakings.
3. Rail Vehicle Maintenance: Maintenance services for rail vehicles under ECM (Entity in Charge of Maintenance) certification, serving both own fleet and third-party customers.
4. Connecting Railway Services: Provision of connecting railway managers, organization of siding operations, regulatory inspections, and acting as responsible representative before railway supervisory authorities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Havelland Railway (Havelländische Eisenbahn AG / HVLE) is a private railway undertaking operating rail freight transport services across regional, inter-regional, and international routes. Its core offerings include rail freight transport for industrial customers and logistics providers, operation of railway infrastructure (NN-Rail network, Industriebahn Premnitz, Wustermark marshalling yard) including track access for third-party operators, and ECM-certified rail vehicle maintenance for its own fleet and external customers. The company operates a fleet of 46 locomotives (including 18 EuroDual BR 159 dual-mode hybrids co-developed with Stadler) and 779 freight wagons from multiple sites across Germany.

Product overview

HVLE (Havelländische Eisenbahn AG) operates as a private railway transport company (EVU) founded in 1892, offering a comprehensive suite of rail freight services. The core offering includes rail freight transport across all segments, railway infrastructure operation, and vehicle maintenance with certified ECM functions. The fleet consists of 46 locomotives (including 18 EuroDual BR 159 hybrid dual-power locomotives developed jointly with Stadler) and 779 freight wagons. HVLE also provides research & development services, consulting, and connecting railway management. The company operates from multiple locations including Wustermark, Berlin, Celle, Magdeburg, Hennigsdorf, and Blankenburg/Harz, serving regional, national, and international freight routes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rail Freight Transport (Güterverkehr auf der Schiene)

Quantifiable outcome

• Rail freight transport since 1892 with consistent growth; 2024 revenue of EUR 72.2 million (from EUR 22.5 million in 2009)

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rail & Logistik Center Wustermark GmbH & Co. KG (RLCW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008HVLE holds a majority stake in RLCW, which operates the Rbf Wustermark marshalling yard. RLCW received EUR 2.8 million in funding from the State of Brandenburg in July 2020 for expansion of the Wustermark marshalling yard, extending tracks to 750m European standard train length.
• BTC Bahntechnologie Campus Havelland GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the HVLE network of railway technology partners in the Havelland region, contributing to railway technology education and innovation ecosystem.
• VDV (Verkehrsunternehmen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner — Association of German Transport Undertakings. HVLE participates in VDV network for industry collaboration and standards.
• Institut für Bahntechnik GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitute for Railway Technology — network partner contributing to research and development in railway systems and technology.
• Allianz pro SchieneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance for Rail — advocacy network partner promoting rail transport and sustainable mobility.
• Netzwerk Europäischer Eisenbahnen (NEE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of European Railways — industry network for advocacy and collaboration among European rail operators.
• Entsorgergemeinschaft Transport und Umwelt e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisposal sector association for transport and environment — network partner relevant to HVLE's settlement waste transport operations. HVLE holds Entsorgungsfachbetrieb certification.
• LogistikNetz Berlin-BrandenburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogistics Network Berlin-Brandenburg — regional logistics network partner supporting regional freight coordination.
• Kompetenznetz Rail Berlin Brandenburg GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRail Berlin Brandenburg Competence Network — regional rail industry network.
• Technische Universität BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for research collaborations in railway technology and rail freight transport. HVLE participates in R&D projects including Reefer project for refrigerated container energy analysis.
• StadlercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development of EuroDual BR 159 hybrid dual-mode locomotive. HVLE participated in development and received EBA (Eisenbahnbundesamt) type approval for the locomotive in February 2020. HVLE operates the largest EuroDual fleet in Germany.
• Bombardier Transportation (now Alstom)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHVLE took over the works railway of Bombardier (now Alstom) in Hennigsdorf in 2004. HVLE also acquired Bombardier TRAXX locomotives (E 185, V 246) and Bombardier Blue Tiger (V 330) locomotives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SBB Cargo International: Swiss-led private rail freight operator focused on North Sea-Mediterranean corridor flows through Germany. Comparable as a private competitor in German freight corridors, particularly relevant given HVLE's international traffic ambitions.
• Rail Cargo Group (ÖBB): Austrian national rail freight group with significant German and Central European operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping line-haul, bulk, and intermodal services that compete with HVLE in cross-border and German corridors.
• DB Cargo: Deutsche Bahn's freight rail subsidiary and Germany's dominant rail freight operator, serving all major segments. Comparable as the broad incumbent setting the competitive context HVLE operates against, with overlapping offerings but at vastly larger scale.

Direct peers

• TX Logistik: Italian-owned private rail freight operator with deep German and Pan-European operations. Closely comparable to HVLE in business model (B2B rail freight, multi-segment, intermodal focus) and target customer mix (industrial shippers and logistics providers).
• HGK (Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln): German municipal logistics group combining inland ports, rail freight, and infrastructure management. Comparable to HVLE because it operates both freight rail services and infrastructure/terminal facilities, with an industrial customer focus.
• CFL Cargo: Luxembourg-based private rail freight operator with operations in Germany, France, and Belgium. Comparable to HVLE as a mid-sized private freight rail company operating across borders, with a customer base in industrial and intermodal segments.
• LTE (Logistik und Transport Europe): Austrian private rail freight group operating across Central Europe (Austria, Germany, Hungary, Croatia). Comparable to HVLE as a mid-sized private rail freight operator targeting industrial and bulk customers with a multi-segment service portfolio.
• Captrain: European rail freight operator serving industrial and bulk shippers across multiple countries, owned by SNCF. Comparable to HVLE in private operator positioning, multi-segment freight services, and direct contracting model with industrial customers.

Others

• Railpool: European locomotive leasing and full-service provider with significant presence in Germany. Comparable to HVLE as an adjacent ecosystem participant - HVLE supplies maintenance and HVLE represents an alternative operator on Railpool-locomotived networks.

Regional players

• RBH Logistics (Rüdersdorfer Bahn und Hafen): German private rail freight and port logistics operator serving Brandenburg and Eastern Germany. Comparable to HVLE due to overlapping regional footprint in Eastern Germany, industrial customer base, and connection-railway activities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/hvle_official/?hl=de

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Havelland Railway