Erixx awarded contract for new Salzexpress rail line

The rail operator Erixx has been awarded the contract to operate the new RB 39 regional line, known as the ‘Salzexpress’, between Lüneburg and Soltau. The decision was made by the Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen (LNVG) following a pan-European tender process.

Scheduled to begin service in December 2028, the line will run on an hourly schedule with a travel time of approximately 50 minutes. The LNVG anticipates roughly 3,000 daily passengers on the route. The initial contract runs until December 2033, with an option to extend for up to two years, covering approximately 690,000 train kilometers per year.

Because the track is not currently electrified, Erixx will initially utilize diesel multiple units. However, a transition to battery-powered trains is planned for approximately 2033, supported by a planned charging infrastructure in Soltau. Unlike many other LNVG contracts, Erixx is responsible for providing and maintaining its own rolling stock for this service.