Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) - The Hessian State Railway is expanding its operations. Managing Director Veit Salzmann described the new maintenance facility in Butzbach as a milestone on Thursday, in which the company's own and third-party rail vehicles are to be serviced from 2025.
The workshop will be equipped with the latest technology and according to the latest environmental standards, announced the state-owned railway company. Hydrogen vehicles and battery trains could also be serviced there. HLB has founded its own subsidiary, HLB Maintenance, to acquire external orders. There is a photovoltaic system on the roof of the building and the heat is supplied by a modern combined heat and power plant.
New in the HLB portfolio from December 2023 is the "Mittelhessen-Express", previously operated by Deutsche Bahn, with four regional lines between Frankfurt, Dillenburg, Friedberg, Schwalmstadt and Hanau. The HLB also defended its offers "Wetteraunetz", "Ländchesbahn" and "Lahn-Vogelsberg-Rhön" in new tenders, each of which is to be expanded. The North Hessian Regiotram will also be operated for another ten years. From the timetable change, the HLB will cover 28 million train kilometers.
The HLB Group achieved sales of EUR 289 million last year after EUR 278 million in 2020. Sales including associated companies have increased to a total of EUR 450 million. The consolidated profit was 4.2 million euros. Salzmann announced a "slightly positive" result for the current year. The high costs for energy and material had a negative impact.
