Stock and staff shortage affects Selketal steam

Germany’s Harzer Schmalspurbahnen does not have enough operational vehicles to cover the summer timetable, which starts on April 28. This is the first time this has occurred in the history of the communally owned organisation, which took over Harz metre-gauge operations in 1993. As a result, the railway has announced that the second steam diagram that ran Thursdays-Saturdays on the Selketal line will instead be a railcar, as on other days of the week. Gernrode shed will therefore have a single steam diagram, week-round. Continuing staff shortages mean this will initially remain the case even after outstanding work on vehicles is carried out, the HSB has said; however no plans have been announced for a repeat of last year’s ‘bustitution’ on the Selketal line (SR471). The adult return fare to Brocken now costs 43 euros, but a reduced-price afternoon ticket has been introduced at 37 euros. From Wernigerode, this is valid from the 2.55pm departure.