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Fewer trains on the Brockenbahn: HSB is struggling with a staff shortage!
Due to a lack of staff, there will be timetable changes on the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway (HSB) from August 13th to 22nd, 2025.
Fewer trains on the Brockenbahn: HSB is struggling with a staff shortage!
In the last few days, the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways (HSB) had to make major rescheduling due to a personnel shortage. How MDR reported that the number of trains has decreased noticeably since Wednesday. Unfortunately, the reason for this is the lack of train conductors for the signal boxes, which leads to a thinned out timetable. The afternoon connections are particularly affected, as two trips from the Brocken to the valley will be canceled.
But it's not just the iconic Brockenbahn that is affected. The Harzquerbahn is also struggling with difficulties. On certain days, the morning connection from Wernigerode to Schierke and back will be canceled, as will the evening trip to Eisfelder Talmühle. HSB has already set up replacement rail services with buses for the limited connections in order to offer the affected passengers a solution. The unwanted timetable reduction applies until Friday, August 22nd.
Current travel times
The adjustments to the timetable are not just a local phenomenon. There are similar challenges in other parts of Germany, such as North Rhine-Westphalia. Loud VRR The staff shortage was a big problem in 2024. Measures to combat the bottleneck include programs to train drivers. To counteract the effects, a reduced timetable was introduced to minimize staff absences. The goal is to keep this rate below one percent in 2025.
The issue of staff shortages is also clear in the Harz region. While the summer timetable is generally carried out without further restrictions, the pressure on companies to maintain quality and frequency in the transport network is evident. HSB and other providers now have to find ways to overcome the challenges of staff shortages while guaranteeing reliable transport. Further information about the current timetables and possible changes is available online at www.hsb-wr.de available.