erixx to run Salzexpress between Lüneburg and Soltau from Dec 2028

Following a Europe-wide tender, the LNVG awards operation of the RB 39 to erixx; the contract runs from December 2028 to December 2033 with an option for two more years. Plans call for 13 to 18 trips per direction, a journey time of about 50 minutes and roughly 690,000 train-kilometres a year; the LNVG expects around 3,000 passengers a day. New stops include Lüneburg Universität, Rettmer, Melbeck-Embsen, Amelinghausen, Soderstorf and Bispingen. Diesel units will run at first and battery trains are expected from 2033, for which an overhead-wire section is to be built at Soltau; the line belongs to SInON and currently carries freight and heritage trains. Announced on 20 August 2026; the date is a placeholder: only December 2028 is given, so the end of the month is used. (LOK Report, 21 Aug 2026)