Harz-Heide Network ditches diesel for €750M battery-electric train revolution

The Greater Braunschweig Regional Association is switching the Harz-Heide Network to climate-neutral battery-electric trains. A total of €750 million will be invested by the federal government, the state of Lower Saxony, and the regional association to fund the transition. The move aims to phase out diesel trains across the 200-kilometre network, which stretches from the southern Harz region to Uelzen.

The regional association has already approved an immediate €32 million investment to plan the electrification of key sections. Overhead lines will be installed on parts of the network to charge the new battery-electric trains, as full electrification is not feasible everywhere. By 2030, 30 new battery-electric trains are expected to be operational, replacing older diesel models.

No new diesel trains will be introduced, as manufacturers have stopped producing them. The shift follows a decision that battery-electric operation is the most efficient propulsion system for this network. Currently, around 12 kilometres of the Harz-Heide-Bahnstrecke—between Grauhof–Goslar and Bad Harzburg–Oker—remain unelectrified. These sections are scheduled for electrification by December 2033 under the *Teilnetz-Elektrifizierung Nordharz* initiative. The transition requires upgrades to vehicles, infrastructure, and charging systems. The goal is to ensure all routes in the region can support either electric or battery-electric trains in the coming years.

The project marks a major step toward climate-neutral rail transport in the region. With €750 million in funding and a clear timeline, the Harz-Heide Network will phase out diesel trains entirely. The first battery-electric services are set to begin by the end of this decade.