Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft M.b.h.

What Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft M.b.h. does

Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. is a privately held Austrian regional transportation operator headquartered in Gmunden, Upper Austria, founded in 1883 (with the historic Remise 1894 depot dating to 1894). The company runs four narrow-gauge railway lines — Traunseetram, Linzer Lokalbahn (LILO), Atterseebahn, and Vorchdorferbahn — alongside 25 scheduled bus lines and rail freight services operated with 9 cargo locomotives. It maintains three internal facilities (Bahnwerkstätte Eferding, Bahnwerkstätte Vorchdorf, and BustechnikCenter Schörfling) and runs the restored Remise 1894 heritage depot. The corporate group encompasses Stern & Hafferl Kraftfahrlinien GmbH and four local railway AGs (Linzer Lokalbahn AG, Lokalbahn Gmunden-Vorchdorf AG, Lokalbahn Lambach-Vorchdorf-Egg. AG, Lokalbahn Vöcklamarkt-Attersee AG). Managing Director Günter Neumann leads the company.

The business operates a multi-modal revenue model. Recurring fare revenue comes from scheduled passenger rail and bus transport distributed through the OÖVV regional tariff network and direct station/online sales. Transactional revenue is generated from excursion packages and themed events (Nostalgiefahrten, Bierzug, Märchenzug, Keltenzug, Kinderspass, Alpaka experiences, and combined rail-ship/rail-cable-car Kombitickets with Bergbahn Grünberg and Seilbahnholding), rail freight services, and third-party workshop/maintenance work. Pricing is regulated/transit-tariff for commuter services and take-rate for excursion products, with distribution spanning station sales, OÖVV channels, partner resellers, and the company's own online shop. Customer segments span local commuters, tourists and excursion-goers, freight/cargo customers, and groups/organizations.

The company is currently executing a fleet modernization program centered on a 20-vehicle TramTrain order from Stadler Austria for the Regional-Stadtbahn Oberösterreich, with first vehicle unveiled in March 2026 and planned LILO operations by 2027. Strategic partners include OÖVV, Schiene OÖ, Bergbahn Grünberg, Seilbahnholding, Stadler Austria, IVECO Bus, Gemeinde Attersee am Attersee, and Verein Pro Gmundner Straßenbahn. Recent recognition includes the Österreichischer Bahnkulturpreis 2026 in the Infrastructure category for the Remise 1894 restoration. The business is geographically concentrated in Upper Austria with no disclosed expansion outside the region.

Name

Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft M.b.h.

Legal name

Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H.

Website

https://stern-verkehr.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. is a private Austrian regional transport operator in Gmunden, Upper Austria, running four narrow-gauge railways, 25 bus lines, and rail freight, with in-house workshops, excursion products, and a heritage depot.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Public Transportation

NAICS

Short Line Railroads (482112), Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (48521), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (488210)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Passenger Rail Operators (Intercity/High-Speed/Regional) (TLAFAAAF)

Keywords

• Regional railway services
• Public bus transport
• Rail freight logistics
• Heritage railway tourism
• Excursion packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Gmunden

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Passenger Transport - Rail: Revenue from operating local railway lines including Traunseetram, Atterseebahn, Vorchdorferbahn, and LILO (Linzer Lokalbahn)
2. Passenger Transport - Bus: Revenue from 25 bus lines in Upper Austria and bus rental services
3. Excursion Packages and Events: Revenue from special excursion programs including Nostalgiefahrten, combination tickets with ships and mountain railways, and themed events like Bierzug, Märchenzug, Keltenzug
4. Cargo/Freight Transport: Revenue from freight operations with 9 freight locomotives operating in Upper Austria
5. Workshop Services: Maintenance and technical services for rail vehicles and buses through workshops in Eferding, Vorchdorf, and Schörfling

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. operates regional passenger rail and bus services in Upper Austria, running four local railway lines (Traunseetram, Linzer Lokalbahn/LILO, Vorchdorferbahn, Atterseebahn) and 25 bus lines, supplemented by rail freight transport (9 cargo locomotives), maintenance workshops, heritage excursion programs, and combined travel/leisure packages. The company also operates a fleet of 20 new TramTrain vehicles planned for service by 2027 as part of the Regional-Stadtbahn Oberösterreich project.

Product overview

Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. operates as an integrated regional mobility provider in Upper Austria, encompassing four distinct local railway lines (Traunseetram, Linzer Lokalbahn/LILO, Vorchdorferbahn, and Atterseebahn) with 25 bus lines, rail freight services (9 cargo locomotives), three maintenance workshops (Bahnwerkstätten in Eferding and Vorchdorf, plus BustechnikCenter Schörfling), a heritage depot (Remise 1894), and a full events and excursion program. The core offering consists of scheduled public passenger transport across rail and bus networks, supplemented by themed excursion services (heritage train rides, combined train-and-boat packages, farm visits, and seasonal special events), cargo/freight transport, and workshop/maintenance services for both rail and bus fleets. The company is also preparing to introduce a fleet of 20 TramTrain vehicles for future regional light rail operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Traunseetram Tram service connecting Gmunden and Vorchdorf in Upper Austria, operating as both daily commuter transport and tourist route with themed excursion trains.
• Linzer Lokalbahn (LILO) Regional railway line operated by Stern & Hafferl connecting Lambach to Grünbach/Gunskirchen, part of the Oberösterreich regional railway network and scheduled for future TramTrain operations by 2027.
• Vorchdorferbahn Regional railway line running from Vorchdorf to Gmunden, integrated with the Traunseetram corridor and offering passenger service plus special event excursions.
• Atterseebahn Heritage and commuter railway line from Vöcklamarkt to Attersee, featuring historic rolling stock and themed excursion programs including nostalgic rides, special event trains, and combined train-and-boat packages.
• Kraftfahrlinien (Bus Services) 25 bus lines operating throughout Upper Austria, providing scheduled public transport, rail replacement services, and bus rental (Busanmietung) services for charter needs.
• Güterverkehr (Cargo/Freight) Rail freight transport services operated with 9 cargo locomotives in Upper Austria, supporting regional logistics and industrial freight needs.
• Bahnwerkstätte Eferding Railway workshop facility in Eferding providing maintenance, repair, and technical services for rail vehicles, including new TramTrain vehicle preparation.
• Bahnwerkstätte Vorchdorf Railway workshop facility in Vorchdorf providing maintenance and repair services for rail vehicles on the localbahn network.
• BustechnikCenter Schörfling (BTC) Bus technical center in Schörfling providing bus fleet maintenance, repairs, and technical preparation including hardware/software installations for new vehicles.
• Remise 1894 Historic railway depot from 1894 in Gmunden, restored to serve as operational infrastructure for the Traunseetram while functioning as a venue for railway heritage education, guided tours, and cultural events.
• Stern Events & Messebau Event management and trade fair construction services, organizing special railway excursions, themed trips, and corporate/group travel programs.
• Badeticket Atterseebahn Combined train-and-swimming package offering discounted admission to the Attersee adventure pool for passengers arriving via the Atterseebahn, with free entry on Mondays for public transport users.
• Bahn & Schiff Ahoi Combined rail-and-ship excursion on Lake Attersee, pairing train travel on the Atterseebahn with Schifffahrt boat cruises in either southern or northern lake circuits.
• Kombiticket Grünberg & Traunseetram Combined ticket pairing Traunseetram travel with Grünberg cable car rides and optional treetop walkway access, available for day-long use of the Traunseetram.
• Nostalgiefahrt Atterseebahn Heritage train excursion on historic rolling stock of the Atterseebahn, departing Tuesdays from mid-July through early September, with optional discounted lake steamer connections.
• Kinderspaß auf der Atterseebahn Family-focused excursion combining Atterseebahn nostalgic train ride with lake steamer cruise, accompanied by mascots and children's activity programming.
• Kinderspaß & Alpaka Family excursion pairing nostalgic Atterseebahn travel to an alpaca farm, including guided alpaca walks and farm store visits, with dates in July and August.
• Attergau Alpaka Alpaca experience excursion departing from any Atterseebahn stop, combining train travel with guided alpaca trekking and visits to the farm shop, approximately 3 hours duration.
• Hofrunde Pferdezentrum Stadl Paura Horse center visit combined with Vorchdorferbahn rail travel to Stadl Paura, featuring horse riding, carriage rides, pony experiences, and equestrian demonstrations.
• Uhrmacherhandwerkmuseum Excursion Museum excursion to the Uhrmacher Handwerkmuseum in Vöcklamarkt, combining Atterseebahn rail travel with approximately 2-hour museum visits on Saturdays from April through October.
• Bienenhof Attersee Bee farm excursion at the Attersee lakeside stop, combining train travel with apiary visits, farm shop browsing, café Ambrosius refreshments, and nature trails, with weekend brunch service on Saturdays.
• Themed Excursion Trains (Bierzug, Märchenzug, Keltenzug) Seasonal themed excursion train services including the Bierzug (beer train) on Traunseetram, Märchenzug (fairy tale train), Keltenzug (Celtic train) on Atterseebahn, Nostalgietram heritage tram rides, Hobbylokführer (amateur engine driver) experiences, Bratlzug, and other special event rail excursions throughout the year.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OÖVV (Oberösterreichischer Verkehrsverbund)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026OÖVV is the Upper Austria Transport Association that coordinates regional public transport. Stern & Hafferl operates within this network, selling tickets through OÖVV channels and participating in joint initiatives like the Badeticket program with 50% cost sharing.
• Stadler AustriacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Stadler Austria is supplying the new TramTrain vehicles for the Regional-Stadtbahn Oberösterreich. Christian Diewald, CEO of Stadler Austria, participated in the public unveiling event in Eferding.
• Schiene OÖ (Schiene Oberösterreich)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026State railway authority overseeing rail infrastructure development in Upper Austria. CEO Sonja Wiesholzer participated in TramTrain unveiling event. Joint project for Regional-Stadtbahn development.
• IVECO BuscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026IVECO Bus supplied a new Iveco Crossway LE Line 12-meter city bus for the Kraftfahrlinien fleet, delivered March 5, 2026 at the Hörsching facility.
• Bergbahn GrünbergcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Joint Kombi-Ticket offering combining Traunseetram travel with Bergbahn Grünberg cable car. Tickets sold exclusively through Bergbahn Grünberg online shop. Partnership also includes combined Advent season promotions.
• SeilbahnholdingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in the Kombi-Ticket Traunseetram offering alongside Bergbahn Grünberg and OÖVV.
• Gemeinde Attersee am AtterseeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipality co-sponsoring Badeticket program with 50% discount contribution alongside Stern & Hafferl to promote sustainable travel to the Attersee.
• Verein Pro Gmundner StraßenbahnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation supporting the preservation of Gmunden tram history, contributing to the Remise 1894 restoration project and heritage railway initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• BLS AG: Swiss regional rail and transport operator combining narrow-gauge lines, bus, and freight. Provides an international comparable for the integrated regional rail / bus / freight / tourism model that Stern & Hafferl operates.
• Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe (IVB): City of Innsbruck public transport operator running tram and bus networks in Tyrol. Comparable Austrian regional/city transport operator with similar tram-and-bus integrated model.
• Salzburg AG: Multi-utility serving Salzburg region with public bus and regional transport operations. Comparable multi-modal regional transport operator in an Austrian neighboring region with similar tourist-driven demand mix.

Direct peers

• Montafonerbahn: Austrian regional and heritage railway in Vorarlberg combining commuter rail with seasonal tourism services. Closely comparable to Stern & Hafferl's dual commuter/tourism positioning on narrow-gauge lines.
• Achenseebahn: Austrian heritage steam railway in Tyrol operating scheduled and themed excursion services. Comparable to Stern & Hafferl's Atterseebahn heritage operations and themed excursion program.
• Graz-Köflacher Bahn (GKB): Austrian regional rail and freight operator serving Styria with both passenger and cargo services. Comparable to Stern & Hafferl in combining regional passenger rail with freight operations under a single corporate group.
• Wiener Lokalbahnen (WLB): Austrian regional rail operator running the Badner Bahn interurban tram-train between Vienna and Baden, with bus operations. Closest functional analog to Stern & Hafferl's mix of narrow-gauge/regional rail and bus services under a single private operator.

Broad incumbents

• Westbahn: Private long-distance passenger rail operator in Austria running intercity services on the western corridor. Comparable as another privately held Austrian rail operator, though at intercity rather than regional scale.
• Wiener Linien: Vienna's city public transport operator (subway, tram, bus). A broader Austrian incumbent in the same transport category, but at city scale rather than regional/narrow-gauge focus.
• ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen): Austrian national rail incumbent operating intercity, regional, and freight services nationwide. Sets the regulatory, pricing, and competitive context in which Stern & Hafferl operates its regional network and competes for public funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 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 Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft M.b.h.