The state is investing in the infrastructure of the HSB.

Today in Wernigerode, Dr Lydia Hüskens, the Minister for Infrastructure and Digital Affairs, signed an agreement together with Peter Panitz, the Managing Director of NASA GmbH, and Katrin Müller, the Managing Director of HSB GmbH, regarding the financing of infrastructure measures (LuFV) for Harzer Schmalspurbahnen GmbH (HSB). This comprises approximately five million euros for 2025 and 5.2 million euros for the current year. The funds are earmarked for track refurbishment at the Westerntorkreuzung and Kirchstraße level crossings in Wernigerode, technical safety measures at the Kirchstraße level crossing, and section-by-section track renewal on the line between Sorge and Elend, as well as track refurbishment at the Drei Annen Hohne level crossing on the K 1354/Brockenstraße.

'It is important that the modernisation of HSB takes place at all levels. In doing so, we are creating and securing attractive jobs in the region,' said Lydia Hüskens in Wernigerode. 'We are supporting the company in its reorganisation, but we are also linking this to very clear expectations regarding its future direction,' she emphasised. She added that the state cannot provide the necessary support for the required investments in rail infrastructure on its own. Therefore, a key shared goal is to secure additional funding in the form of federal grants.

HSB Managing Director Müller thanked the Minister for the state’s continued support, emphasising: 'This agreement sends an important signal for the future of the Harz narrow-gauge railways. It enables us to carry out targeted maintenance on our 140-kilometre infrastructure network, while also providing us with the necessary backing to tackle the challenges ahead.”

The state has previously supported the HSB with additional infrastructure investment funding through one-off grants and fixed-term contracts. In 2019, this support helped fund wage and salary increases. For the period from 2019 to 2024, a financial framework of around €27.8 million in state funding was established, enabling the HSB to carry out necessary infrastructure refurbishment measures flexibly and in consultation with NASA GmbH. Funding is currently secured through a contractual framework comprising the framework agreement on the maintenance of Harzer Schmalspurbahnen GmbH, the transport contract, and the agreement on the financing of infrastructure measures.