die zugvögel Eisenbahnpersonal- & Service

What die zugvögel Eisenbahnpersonal- & Service does

die zugvögel Eisenbahnpersonal- & Service GmbH, founded in November 2018 in Braunschweig, Germany, is a privately held, family-run specialist staffing and training provider for the German railway sector. The company supplies approximately 45 qualified Class B locomotive drivers to more than 30 railway transport companies (Eisenbahnverkehrsunternehmen, EVU) across freight and passenger operations on a long-term Arbeitnehmerüberlassung (temporary worker placement) basis. It also operates an EBA-certified training and examination division authorized under the Triebfahrzeugführerscheinverordnung (TfV), offering RFU continuing education, LZB-CIR ELKE safety-system training, Baureihenausbildung (series-specific locomotive training), individual modules (wagon inspection, dangerous goods, traction fundamentals), simulator-based examination using a Zusi Vectron simulator, and a newer freight-transport qualification program.

The business is co-led by Managing Directors Steffen Haferung (founder, ~30 years rail experience, active driver and examiner) and Melanie Kosse (co-founder, appointed second Managing Director in January 2025, responsible for quality management, IT and digital infrastructure). The company holds an unlimited Arbeitnehmerüberlassung permit from the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (March 2022), Eisenbahn-Bundesamt authorization as a TfV training and examination organization (July 2022), and AZAV and ISO 21001 certifications.

The revenue model combines recurring placement fees from long-term driver leasing (primary) with per-booking professional services revenue from training and examinations (add-on). Disclosed unit pricing for training includes €220 per RFU participant and €1,890 per LZB-CIR ELKE participant; placement rates are individually negotiated. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales directly to EVUs, complemented by individual bookings via website, phone and email for training. Customers include DB Regio, ALSTOM, ČD Cargo, Transdev/S-Bahn Hannover, HVLE, RTB Cargo, NordWestBahn and others, with active service across Nord-, Ost- and Mitteldeutschland from the 300 sqm Braunschweig headquarters.

Name

die zugvögel Eisenbahnpersonal- & Service

Legal name

die zugvögel Eisenbahnpersonal- & Service GmbH

Website

https://die-zugvoegel.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

die zugvögel is a Braunschweig-based specialist staffing and training firm supplying ~45 qualified Class B locomotive drivers and EBA-certified TfV training to 30+ German railway transport companies across freight and passenger operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Railway Personnel Staffing

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Driver & Technician Training, Certification & Workforce Management (THAIANAJ)

Keywords

• Railway personnel staffing
• Locomotive driver placement
• Train driver training
• Railway examination services
• Arbeitnehmerüberlassung rail

Headquarters

HQ city

Braunschweig

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Arbeitnehmerüberlassung (Temporary Worker Placement): Placement of qualified locomotive drivers (Triebfahrzeugführer) at railway transport companies (EVU) under temporary employment contracts. Revenue generated through hourly/daily rates charged to client companies. Primary revenue stream, supporting approximately 45 locomotive drivers deployed nationwide. Focus on long-term placements rather than short-term fill-in work.
2. RFU Training (Regelmäßiger Fortbildungsunterricht): One-day continuing education courses for locomotive drivers covering regulations, operational safety, wagon and brake technology, vehicle technology, and dangerous goods. Priced at €220 per participant plus VAT, minimum 4 participants. Includes examination fees.
3. LZB-CIR ELKE Training: 5-day modular training on the LZB-CIR ELKE linear train protection system, including theory and simulator practice. Priced at €1,890 per participant plus VAT, including examination fees.
4. Baureihenausbildung (Series/Train Type Training): Additional qualification training for various locomotive series. Training conducted on-site at customer vehicles or provided vehicles. Individual pricing and scheduling on request.
5. TfV Examination Services: Written, oral, theoretical, and practical examinations under TfV regulations, including certification. Individual appointments and pricing on request. Also offers simulator-based examinations per customer specifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Core offering

die zugvögel is a German railway personnel services company that provides temporary placement (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung) of approximately 45 qualified Class B locomotive drivers to railway transport companies (Eisenbahnverkehrsunternehmen / EVU) across Germany for freight and passenger operations. In parallel, the company runs an Eisenbahn-Bundesamt-authorised training and examination organisation under the Triebfahrzeugführerscheinverordnung (TfV), delivering RFU continuing education, LZB-CIR ELKE safety system training, Baureihenausbildung (locomotive series qualification), simulator-based monitoring on a Zusi Vectron unit, individual training modules, and TfV-compliant examinations.

Product overview

die zugvögel offers a unified service portfolio combining personnel staffing and specialized railway training. The core offering is the Arbeitnehmerüberlassung (temporary worker placement) supplying approximately 45 trained locomotive drivers to railway transport companies nationwide. Supporting this is a comprehensive training and examination division authorized by the Eisenbahn-Bundesamt according to TfV, offering individual training modules (Einzelmodule), RFU continuing education courses, LZB-CIR ELKE safety system training, series-specific locomotive training (Baureihenausbildung), Zusi Vectron simulator exercises (Simulatorüberwachung), examination services (Prüfungsabnahme), and freight transport qualification programs (Weiterqualifikation Güterverkehr). The portfolio is delivered through a fully-equipped training room in Braunschweig accommodating up to 16 participants, meeting AZAV and ISO 21001 standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Personaldienstleistung (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung)
• Ausbildung & Prüfung nach TfV (Training and Examination under TfV) EBA-authorised overall training and examination programme for railway operating personnel. Designed for individual locomotive drivers and for railway companies needing to qualify or re-qualify staff, with delivery from the Braunschweig training centre meeting AZAV and ISO 21001 standards.
• RFU (Regelmäßiger Fortbildungsunterricht)
• LZB-CIR ELKE Schulung Five-day modular training on the LZB-CIR ELKE linear train protection system covering operation under normal and irregular conditions, with simulator exercises. Priced at €1,890 per participant plus VAT, including examination fees.
• Simulatorüberwachung (Zusi Vectron Simulator Training) Trainer-monitored safety-critical procedure training on the Zusi Vectron railway simulator. Covers realistic handling of irregularities and operational disturbances. Available from €330 per participant plus VAT, with optional LZB-CIRELKE, Zugleitbetrieb, and FV-NE modules.
• Baureihenausbildung (Series-Specific Locomotive Training) Additional qualification training across multiple locomotive series, conducted on-site using the customer's own vehicles or vehicles provided. Pricing and scheduling per individual request.
• Einzelmodule (Individual Training Modules) Modular training offerings covering LZB, TfV basics, E-Traction and V-Traction fundamentals, wagon inspector certification (Stufe 1+2), shunting attendant training, dangerous goods handling, and B1 delta training. Delivered from the AZAV / ISO 21001-certified Braunschweig training room.
• Prüfungsabnahme (Examination Services) Administration of TfV examinations — written and oral per TfV Anlage 5, theoretical and practical per TfV Anlage 6 & 7 — together with verification of general and vehicle-specific professional knowledge and language proficiency assessments. Individual appointments and pricing on request.
• Weiterqualifikation Güterverkehr (Freight Transport Qualification) Further-qualification programme qualifying passenger-rail train drivers for Class B2 freight operations, with practical training in shunting, brake tests, wagon inspections, and freight handling.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maintained all employees and entire customer base throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating operational resilience and reliability.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers33 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.

• Bundesagentur für Arbeit KielcoreOthers · 1 March 2022German Federal Employment Agency, regional office Kiel. die zugvögel received permanent (unbefristete) approval for temporary worker placement (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung) in March 2022. This regulatory approval is required to legally operate as a staffing agency for railway personnel.
• Zusi BahnsimulatorencoreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of Zusi 3 Professional railway simulation software and Zusi Vectron simulator hardware. die zugvögel operates a Zusi Vectron railway simulator for training purposes, including safety-critical procedures, simulator monitoring exercises, and LZB-CIR ELKE training. Simulator available for use by external railway companies on request.
• Menlo79 GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRailway industry communication and consulting firm. Melanie Kosse was interviewed by Menlo79 on the future of temporary work in the railway sector, covering skilled labor shortage and digitization topics. die zugvögel also participated in RAILTALKS events organized/coordinated by Menlo79.
• RailtalksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRailway industry networking event series. die zugvögel participated as panel guests at RAILTALKS #18 Rail Patrol (March 2025) and RAILTALKS #21 Rail Noir (November 2025). Melanie Kosse and Steffen Haferung contributed to panel discussions on workforce motivation and industry topics.
• CreditreformminorOthersBusiness credit information and credit management services provider. Listed as a partner on the die zugvögel website under partner logos.
• Eisenbahn-Bundesamt (EBA)coreOthersGerman Federal Railway Authority. die zugvögel is officially approved by the EBA as a training and examination organisation under the Triebfahrzeugführerscheinverordnung (TfV). This regulatory approval enables the company to provide certified training and examination services for locomotive drivers.
• Ortolan GruppeminorOthersRailway training and education provider. die zugvögel's management and training team attended Ortolan's 2-day Regelmäßiger Fortbildungsunterricht (RFU) for trainers and examiners in Mannheim, demonstrating ongoing professional development partnerships.
• IGT – Inbetriebnahmegesellschaft Transporttechnik mbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioning and transport technology company. die zugvögel employees conduct acceptance and commissioning runs for ALSTOM locomotives (TraxxMS3 and BR 188) on behalf of IGT. Training and examination for these series is conducted by IGT.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• spp direkt GmbH: German personnel services firm focused on railway personnel (Triebfahrzeugführer, Wagenmeister, Rangierbegleiter). Closest direct competitor in the Arbeitnehmerüberlassung segment for locomotive drivers across German EVUs.
• rail experts GmbH: Germany-based recruitment and personnel services firm dedicated to rail industry roles including locomotive drivers, engineers and technicians. Directly comparable in target customer (German EVUs) and service model.
• Ortolan Gruppe: Railway training and education provider in Germany offering RFU, simulator and instructor certification programs. Direct peer in the EBA-accredited training and examination business; also an existing professional development partner.

Broad incumbents

• DB Training, Learning & Consulting (Deutsche Bahn AG): Training subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn delivering rail operating personnel training and continuing education at scale. A much larger incumbent in the same training/qualification space, with potential to both partner with and compete against die zugvögel.
• ALSTOM Transport Deutschland GmbH: Locomotive OEM with its own driver training, commissioning and Baureihe qualification services. A broad incumbent that controls part of the same training value chain and is also a customer of die zugvögel for Baureihe and acceptance runs.
• Siemens Mobility GmbH: Major rolling stock and rail signaling OEM with extensive driver and maintainer training programs (e.g., Vectron, Mireo). Broad incumbent adjacent to die zugvögel's Baureihe and simulator training franchise.

Emerging players

• IGT Inbetriebnahmegesellschaft Transporttechnik mbH: Commissioning and acceptance-run specialist for new locomotives (e.g., ALSTOM Traxx MS3, BR 188), which also performs EBA-aligned training and examinations. Overlaps with die zugvögel on Baureihe-specific training and is an existing commissioning partner.

Others

• Menlo79 GmbH: Rail-industry communications, events (RAILTALKS) and consulting firm. Existing GTM partner; adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but useful comparable for industry positioning.
• EDITH GmbH & Co. KG: Railway software vendor listed as a partner on die zugvögel's site. Adjacent technology provider rather than a peer, but indicates the type of digital infrastructure firms operating around the German rail staffing/training ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/die-zugvoegel

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 die zugvögel Eisenbahnpersonal- & Service