Facts and Figures
The Harz district is predominantly rural. The public transport system aims to provide good connections between the main hubs of Halberstadt, Wernigerode, and the UNESCO World Heritage city of Quedlinburg with the surrounding rural areas. This benefits not only the more than 200,000 residents but also the many visitors. With its numerous historically significant sites and the Harz mountain region, the district is a top tourist destination.
- 9,200,000 timetable kilometers per year in the district
- 1 mobility app for the Harz
- 2,105 km² is the area of the Harz district
- 1,200 bus stops in the district
Responsibility for Public Transport
While the state of Saxony-Anhalt is responsible for regional rail transport, the organization of public road transport falls under the jurisdiction of the Harz district as the responsible authority. In the case of Halberstadt, where there is both bus and tram service, the responsibility is shared between the district and the city of Halberstadt.
Regional bus transport – including the dial-a-ride taxi service (AST) in the evenings and on weekends – is largely provided by Harzer Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH (HVB). In addition, there are bus lines for local and city transport in Wernigerode, Quedlinburg, Schierke, and Blankenburg. The tram and city bus lines in Halberstadt are operated by Halberstädter Verkehrs-GmbH.
Responsibility for the Environment
Sustainability is an important aspect of the daily operations of the transport companies, starting with low-emission buses and extending to the use of green electricity.
Sustainability at Harzer Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH (HVB)
- The buses meet the Euro 6 emission standard (currently the highest level of emission standards).
- The natural gas buses run exclusively on biogas, reducing CO2 emissions by 90%.
- There is also an emission-free bus. It is the first electric bus in Saxony-Anhalt to operate on regional routes in regular service. It is charged at a fast-charging station provided by the Stadtwerke Wernigerode at the HVB depot, using 100% green electricity.