Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn

S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr S-Bahn Rhein-Sieg / S-Bahn Köln
DBAG Class 422 type at Dortmund Hauptbahnhof
Overview
Locale	Rhine-Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Transit type	S-bahn
Number of lines	16
Number of stations	124
Annual ridership	130 million Düsseldorf/Rhine-Ruhr: 98 million Cologne: 32 million
Headquarters	Düsseldorf, Germany
Website	www.s-bahn-rhein-ruhr.de www.s-bahn-koeln.de
Operation
Began operation	1967
Operator(s)	DB Regio NRW, Regiobahn (S28), Vias (S7)
Headway	20 min.
Technical
System length	676 km (420.05 mi)
System map Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn network map including the Cologne S-Bahn

The Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn (German: S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr) is a polycentric and electrically driven S-bahn network covering the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Region in the German federated state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This includes most of the Ruhr (and cities such as Dortmund, Duisburg and Essen), the Berg cities of Wuppertal and Solingen and parts of the Rhineland (with cities such as Cologne and Düsseldorf). The easternmost city within the S-Bahn Rhine-Ruhr network is Unna, the westernmost city served is Mönchengladbach.

The S-Bahn operates in the areas of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr and Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg tariff associations, touching areas of the Aachener Verkehrsverbund (AVV) at Düren and Westfalentarif at Unna. The network was established in 1967 with a line connecting Ratingen Ost to Düsseldorf-Garath.

The system consists of 16 lines. With a system length of 676 km (420.05 mi), it is the second-largest S-Bahn network in Germany, behind S-Bahn Mitteldeutschland. Most of them are operated by DB Regio NRW, while line S28 is operated by Regiobahn and S7 by Vias. The S19 will run 24/7 between Düren and Hennef for 17 stations and not only between Cologne Hbf and Cologne/Bonn Airport.

Rolling stock history

Age of steam

The predecessor of the S-Bahn was the so-called Bezirksschnellverkehr between the cities of Düsseldorf and Essen, which consisted of steam-powered push-pull trains, mainly hauled by Class 78, since 1951 also Class 65 engines.

Early electric years

The first S-Bahn lines were operated using Silberling cars and Class 141 locomotives. However these were not suited for operations on a rapid transit network and were soon replaced by Class 420 electric multiple units.

Originally designed for the Munich S-Bahn, the Class 420 was judged in the mid-1970s to be unsuitable for the network, mainly due to being uncomfortable and lacking on-board toilets.

The x-Wagen era

An X-Wagen control car at Essen Süd in July 2014

Constructing an improved version of the 420 with the tentative designation Class 422 was discussed, but in 1978 the Deutsche Bundesbahn commissioned a batch of coaches from Duewag and MBB. These lightweight and modern coaches were designated as x-Wagen ("x-car") after their classification code Bx. Among the design elements inherited from the recent LHB prototype carriages were the bogies with disc brakes and rubber airbag shock absorbers that also included automated level control, ensuring level boarding from S-Bahn platforms with a standard height of 96 cm regardless of varying passenger loading.

In late 1978, the first prototypes of 2nd class type Bx ^794.0 cars and Bxf ^796.0 control cars were handed over to DB, followed by split first/second class cars type ABx ^791.0 in early 1979. The prototypes were successful, so from 1981 to 1994 several series were commissioned, with some going to the Nuremberg S-Bahn system.

A Class 111 locomotive leads an orange-and-white S-Bahn service across the Hohenzollernbrücke into Köln Hauptbahnhof in 1985

The x-Wagen were mechanically coupled to form fixed sets of typically one ABx car, one or two Bx cars and one Bxf control car. This way a train offered seating for a total of 222 to 302 passengers and standing room for another 429 to 539 passengers. A few five-car sets ran on peak time services. All cars were of a walk-through design with mechanical doors at each end. Initially the ABx car ran on the loco end to keep passengers looking for a seat from disturbing first-class passengers. The orientation of trains was not predictable in practice however, so the ABx car was instead put in the middle of the train. In later years, when insufficient numbers of Bx cars were ready for service, some trains ran with two ABx cars.

Traction was provided by the Class 111 locomotives produced locally by Krupp in Essen. They had been designed for long-haul Intercity and limited-stop commuter train services with a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph) and were not an ideal fit for rapid transit duty. After the German reunification, even before the old Deutsche Bundesbahn was merged with the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany to form the new Deutsche Bahn AG, the Class 143 Reichsbahn engines replaced the Class 111 on the S-Bahn network, limiting the top speed on the network to 120 km/h (75 mph) but with better acceleration and noticeably less jolting.

Rolling stock today

S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr Series 422 at Angermund station

Class 1440 (Alstom Coradia Continental) train at Wuppertal Hauptbahnhof

S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr train pulling out of Düsseldorf Volksgarten station

The Cologne S-Bahn section went into full operation in 2002 in conjunction with the opening of the Cologne-Frankfurt high speed line. It runs with Class 423 EMUs on lines S11, S12 and S13/S19. Due to recent service improvements, there are insufficient numbers of Class 423 EMUs available, so Class 420 electric multiple units can be found on line S12.

Starting in 2008, 84 units of Class 422 were introduced in the Ruhr area section and around Düsseldorf, replacing the x-Wagen loco-hauled trains.

These newer classes of EMUs once again increased the maximum speed on the network to 140 km/h (87 mph) where permitted, which together with the better acceleration of the EMUs did reduce delays that had become entrenched in the latter years of x-Wagen operations.

The S28 is not operated by DB Regio NRW, but by Regiobahn, which uses Bombardier TALENT DMUs. The S7 uses Alstom Coradia LINT DMUs and is operated by Abellio Rail NRW.

New electric rolling stock for the S5 and S8 lines was introduced in December 2014 after having been tested on S68 since October 2014. These Alstom Coradia trains are operated by DB Regio NRW and offer on-board toilet facilities.

All trains of Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn ran with the red DB livery except for the S7 and S28 trainsets which are painted in the colours of their respective operators.

Rolling stock after 2019

Starting in December 2019, there will be major changes in the Ruhr area section of the network: The standard service pattern will be altered from a 20-minute to a 30-minute or 15-minute headway. Services around Düsseldorf and Cologne will not be affected and remain on their 20-minute schedule.

Several services will no longer be operated by DB Regio NRW, but by Abellio Rail NRW. Simultaneously, the livery of all trains will change to green and white to uphold a uniform appearance regardless of operator.

Lines S2, S3 and S9 as well as several Regionalbahn lines that will complement or supplant S-Bahn services will use Stadler FLIRT 3 XL units. Upon eventual electrification, those are also going to run on line S28, sporting Regiobahn's red and white livery.

Lines

The region's lines were mainly built by three major private railway companies of the early industrial era: The Cologne-Minden Railway Company, the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company and the Rhenish Railway Company. After nationalisation and in the post-WW2-era, more lines were built or altered to accommodate S-Bahn services.

A number of tunnel sections were added to extend the S-Bahn to new high-density housing estates (e. g. Cologne-Chorweiler), to suburbs that had historically been villages (e. g. Dortmund-Lütgendortmund station) or the Dortmund university founded in 1968.

Lines before December 2019

Line	Route	Railways used	Length	Opening date of first section	First section
S1	Dortmund – Bochum – Essen – Mülheim (Ruhr) – Duisburg – Düsseldorf Airport – Düsseldorf – Hilden – Solingen	Dortmund–Duisburg, Duisburg–Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf–Solingen	97 km	26.05.1974	Bochum – DU-Großenbaum
S2	Dortmund – Dortmund-Dorstfeld – Dortmund-Mengede – Herne – (Gelsenkirchen – (Oberhausen – Duisburg) or Essen) or Recklinghausen	Dortmund–Dortmund-Dorstfeld, Dortmund-Dorstfeld–Dortmund-Mengede, Dortmund-Mengede–Herne/Gelsenkirchen/Duisburg, and part of Gelsenkirchen–Essen or Herne–Recklinghausen	58 / 42 / 33 km	02.06.1991	Dortmund – Duisburg
S3	Oberhausen – Mülheim (Ruhr) – Essen – Essen-Steele – Hattingen (Ruhr) Mitte	Oberhausen–Essen-Steele Ost, Essen-Steele Ost–Bochum-Dahlhausen, Bochum-Dahlhausen–Hattingen (Ruhr) Mitte	33 km	26.05.1974	Oberhausen – Hattingen (Ruhr)
S4	Dortmund-Lütgendortmund – Dortmund–Dorstfeld – Unna-Königsborn – Unna	Dortmund-Lütgendortmund–Dortmund Süd, Dortmund Süd–Unna-Königsborn, Unna-Königsborn–Unna	30 km	03.06.1984	DO-Germania – Unna
S5	Dortmund – Witten – Wetter (Ruhr) – Hagen (– Mönchengladbach Hbf; as S8, see below)	Dortmund–Hagen	31 km	29.05.1994	Whole length
S6	Essen – Ratingen Ost – Düsseldorf – Langenfeld (Rheinl) – Cologne – Cologne-Nippes	Essen–Essen-Werden, Essen-Werden–Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf–Cologne, Cologne–Köln-Nippes	78 km	28.09.1967	Ratingen Ost – D-Garath
S7	Wuppertal – Remscheid – Solingen	Wuppertal–Wuppertal-Oberbarmen, Wuppertal-Oberbarmen–Solingen	41 km	15.12.2013	Whole length
S8	(As S5, see above; Dortmund Hbf –) Hagen – Wuppertal – Wuppertal-Vohwinkel – Düsseldorf – Neuss – Mönchengladbach	Hagen-Schwelm, Schwelm–Wuppertal, Wuppertal–Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf–Mönchengladbach	82 km	29.05.1988	Whole length
S9	Haltern am See – Gladbeck West – Bottrop – Essen – Essen-Steele – Velbert-Langenberg – Wuppertal-Vohwinkel – Wuppertal	Haltern-Gelsenkirchen-Buer Nord, Gladbeck – Bottrop, Essen-Dellwig Ost, Essen-Dellwig Ost–Essen West, Essen West–Essen-Steele, Essen-Steele–Wuppertal-Vohwinkel, Wuppertal-Vohwinkel–Wupperal	90 km	24.05.1998	Haltern – Essen-Steele
S11	Düsseldorf Airport Terminal – Düsseldorf – Neuss – Cologne-Nippes – Cologne – Bergisch Gladbach	Düsseldorf Airport Terminal–Düsseldorf-Unterrath railway, Düsseldorf-Unterrath–Düsseldorf, Neuss–Cologne, Cologne–Köln-Mülheim, Cologne-Mülheim–Bergisch Gladbach	74 km	01.06.1975	K-Chorweiler – Berg. Gladbach
S12	S-Bahn-Rhein-Sieg Düren – Horrem – Cologne – Troisdorf – Siegburg/Bonn – Au (Sieg)	Düren–Cologne, Cologne–Au Sieg	105 km	02.06.1991	Köln-Nippes – Au (Sieg)
S13	S-Bahn-Rhein-Sieg (One train a day to/ from Aachen – Düren –) Horrem – Cologne – Cologne/Bonn Airport – Troisdorf	Aachen–Cologne, Cologne–Troisdorf incl. Cologne Airport loop	45 km	15.12.2002	Düren – Cologne-Deutz
S19	S-Bahn-Rhein-Sieg Horrem – Köln Hansaring – Köln – Cologne/Bonn Airport – Troisdorf– Siegburg/Bonn – Hennef (Sieg) 6 pairs of services of the S 13 in the morning peak 11 pairs of services of the S 13 in the afternoon peak	Horrem–Köln, Cologne–Hennef incl. Cologne Airport loop		14.12.2014	Whole route
S23	S-Bahn-Rhein-Sieg Euskirchen – Rheinbach – Meckenheim – Bonn Some trains continue from Euskirchen as RB 23 to Bad Münstereifel; all RB 23 services depart from Euskirchen as S 23 to Bonn Hbf	Euskirchen–Bonn	47 km	14.12.2014	Whole route
S28	Mettmann Stadtwald – Düsseldorf – Neuss – Kaarster See	Mettmann Stadtwald–Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf–Neuss, Neuss–Kaarster See	34 km	26.09.1999	Whole route
S68	Wuppertal-Vohwinkel – Düsseldorf – Langenfeld (Rheinl)	Wuppertal–Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf–Langenfeld	39 km	13.12.2009	Whole length

Kursbuchstrecken 450.x (x is equivalent to the number of the line), as of 13 December 2009.

Lines after December 2019

Line	Route	Railways used	Length	Operating company	Opening date of first section	First section
S1	Dortmund – Bochum – Essen – Mülheim (Ruhr) – Duisburg – Düsseldorf Airport – Düsseldorf – Hilden – Solingen	Dortmund–Duisburg, Duisburg–Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf–Solingen	97 km	DB Regio	26.05.1974	Bochum – DU-Großenbaum
S2	Dortmund – Dortmund-Dorstfeld – Dortmund-Mengede – Herne – (Gelsenkirchen – Essen) or – Recklinghausen	Dortmund–Dortmund-Dorstfeld, Dortmund-Dorstfeld–Dortmund-Mengede, Dortmund-Mengede–Herne/Gelsenkirchen/Duisburg, and part of Gelsenkirchen–Essen or Herne–Recklinghausen	58 / 42 / 33 km	DB Regio	02.06.1991	Dortmund – Duisburg
S3	Oberhausen – Mülheim (Ruhr) – Essen – Essen-Steele – Hattingen (Ruhr) Mitte	Oberhausen–Essen-Steele Ost, Essen-Steele Ost–Bochum-Dahlhausen, Bochum-Dahlhausen–Hattingen (Ruhr) Mitte	33 km	DB Regio	26.05.1974	Oberhausen – Hattingen (Ruhr)
S4	Dortmund-Lütgendortmund – Dortmund–Dorstfeld – Unna-Königsborn – Unna	Dortmund-Lütgendortmund–Dortmund Süd, Dortmund Süd–Unna-Königsborn, Unna-Königsborn–Unna	30 km	DB Regio	03.06.1984	DO-Germania – Unna
S5	Dortmund – Witten – Wetter (Ruhr) – Hagen (– Mönchengladbach Hbf; as S8, see below)	Dortmund–Hagen	31 km	DB Regio	29.05.1994	Whole length
S6	Essen – Ratingen Ost – Düsseldorf – Langenfeld (Rheinl) – Cologne – Cologne-Nippes	Essen–Essen-Werden, Essen-Werden–Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf–Cologne, Cologne–Köln-Nippes	78 km	DB Regio	28.09.1967	Ratingen Ost – D-Garath
S7	Wuppertal – Remscheid – Solingen	Wuppertal–Wuppertal-Oberbarmen, Wuppertal-Oberbarmen–Solingen	41 km	Vias Rail	15.12.2013	Whole length
S8	(As S5, see above; Dortmund Hbf –) Hagen – Wuppertal – Wuppertal-Vohwinkel – Düsseldorf – Neuss – Mönchengladbach	Hagen-Schwelm, Schwelm–Wuppertal, Wuppertal–Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf–Mönchengladbach	82 km	DB Regio	29.05.1988	Whole length
S9	Recklinghausen / Haltern am See – Gladbeck West – Bottrop – Essen – Essen-Steele – Velbert-Langenberg – Wuppertal-Vohwinkel – Wuppertal - Hagen	Recklinghausen - Abzwg. Blumenthal, Abzwg. Blumenthal - Herten - (Abzwg. Marl-Lippe-Haltern) - Gladbeck - Bottrop - Essen-Dellwig Ost, Essen-Dellwig Ost–Essen West, Essen West–Essen-Steele, Essen-Steele–Wuppertal-Vohwinkel, Wuppertal-Vohwinkel–Wuppertal	90 km	DB Regio	24.05.1998	Haltern – Essen-Steele
S11	S-Bahn-Rhein-Sieg Düsseldorf Airport Terminal – Düsseldorf – Neuss – Cologne-Nippes – Cologne – Bergisch Gladbach	Düsseldorf Airport Terminal–Düsseldorf-Unterrath railway, Düsseldorf-Unterrath–Düsseldorf, Neuss–Cologne, Cologne–Köln-Mülheim, Cologne-Mülheim–Bergisch Gladbach	74 km	DB Regio	01.06.1975	K-Chorweiler – Berg. Gladbach
S12	S-Bahn-Rhein-Sieg Düren – Horrem – Cologne – Troisdorf – Siegburg/Bonn – Au (Sieg)	Düren–Cologne, Cologne–Au Sieg	105 km	DB Regio	02.06.1991	Köln-Nippes – Au (Sieg)
S13	S-Bahn-Rhein-Sieg (One train a day to/ from Aachen – Düren –) Horrem – Cologne – Cologne/Bonn Airport – Troisdorf	Aachen–Cologne, Cologne–Troisdorf incl. Cologne Airport loop	45 km	DB Regio	15.12.2002	Düren – Cologne-Deutz
S19	S-Bahn-Rhein-Sieg Horrem – Köln Hansaring – Köln – Cologne/Bonn Airport – Troisdorf– Siegburg/Bonn – Hennef (Sieg) 6 pairs of services of the S 13 in the morning peak 11 pairs of services of the S 13 in the afternoon peak	Horrem–Köln, Cologne–Hennef incl. Cologne Airport loop		DB Regio	14.12.2014	Whole route
S23	S-Bahn-Rhein-Sieg Euskirchen – Rheinbach – Meckenheim – Bonn Some trains continue from Euskirchen as RB 23 to Bad Münstereifel; all RB 23 services depart from Euskirchen as S 23 to Bonn Hbf	Euskirchen–Bonn	47 km	DB Regio	14.12.2014	Whole route
S28	Mettmann Stadtwald – Düsseldorf – Neuss – Kaarster See	Mettmann Stadtwald–Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf–Neuss, Neuss–Kaarster See	34 km	Regiobahn	26.09.1999	Whole route
S68	Wuppertal-Vohwinkel – Düsseldorf – Langenfeld (Rheinl)	Wuppertal–Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf–Langenfeld	39 km	DB Regio	13.12.2009	Whole length

See also

• List of rapid transit systems

External links

• Official website
• www.marco-wegener.de – Information and History of Rhine-Ruhr-Sieg S-Bahn (German)