Sauerland Net

The Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (local transport association of Westphalia-Lippe, NWL) published a call for tenders for the operation of passenger services on the Sauerland Network from December 2016 in the Official Journal of the European Union on 9 October 2012.{{cite web|url=http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:319330-2012:TEXT:EN:HTML&tabId=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217221207/http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:319330-2012:TEXT:DE:HTML |archive-date=17 December 2013|date=9 October 2012 |title=Service contract - 319330-2012 |publisher=Tenders Electronic Daily|language=de|accessdate=29 February 2024}} As a result, Regional-Express services RE 17 and 57 and Regionalbahn services RB 52, 53 and 54 might have had a new operator. Some improvements were to be made on trains for the carriage of the disabled and there would be more space for bicycles, more guards, ticket machines on the trains rather than on the platforms, as well as improved connections in Menden (to Dortmund) and Schwerte (to Münster). It would involve about 5.6 million train-kilometres a year, at a cost of €9–10 per train-km, a total cost of about €50 to 55 million. Because the operation of the network was to be contracted for a period of 12 years, it will be worth more than €600 million.

Competition was considered necessary in order to maintain fares. The NWL offered financing for the rollingstock through the municipal budget and to reimburse the top three losing tenderers tender costs of up to €100,000. Passengers would benefit from the competition in the Sauerland as the trains would be accessible to the disabled with entrance heights of 1.2 metres as was already the case with the Sauerland-Express. Due to the great success of the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route, RE 17 would have additional space for bicycles (which already existed on RE 57 services). In addition, the NWL specified that future trains on the Upper Ruhr Valley Railway (RE 17/57) would have a top speed of 140 km/h. Thus, the journey time to Schwerte would be cut, which would allow a connection to Münster. The timetable would be changed to ensure a quick connection at Fröndenberg from Neuenrade and at Menden to Dortmund. The previous level of service would be maintained. The same applied to the sale of tickets at DB ticket offices and DB agencies. However, ticket machines would be available in trains from the end of 2016 and no longer on the platforms, as this would prevent damage from vandalism. After 7 PM all trains will be staffed with on-board staff, this would increase total staff on the trains.{{cite news |url=https://www.derwesten.de/staedte/menden/schoene-neue-eisenbahnwelt-id7189560.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018063318/https://www.derwesten.de/staedte/menden/schoene-neue-eisenbahnwelt-id7189560.html|archive-date=18 October 2012|newspaper= Westfälischen Rundschau |date=12 October 2012 |title= Bahn - Schöne neue Eisenbahnwelt |language=de|accessdate=29 February 2024 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.derwesten.de/staedte/menden/in-35-minuten-mit-zug-in-dortmund-id7189870.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018064832/https://www.derwesten.de/staedte/menden/in-35-minuten-mit-zug-in-dortmund-id7189870.html |archive-date=18 October 2012|newspaper= Westfälischen Rundschau |date=12 October 2012 |title= Fahrplanänderung - In 35 Minuten mit Zug in Dortmund |language=de|accessdate=29 February 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.derwesten.de/staedte/neuenrade/hoennetalbahn-aendert-ende-2016-den-fahrplan-id7185578.html |newspaper= Westfälischen Rundschau |date=11 October 2012 |title= SauerlandNetz - Hönnetalbahn ändert Ende 2016 den Fahrplan |language=German|accessdate=5 November 2013 }}

The contract was awarded to DB Regio, which would use LINK (II or III) DMUs made by the Polish manufacturer PESA.{{cite press release|url=http://www.zrl.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/aktuelle/05.09.2013-rb-regio-ag-verteidigt-sauerland-netz.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209141840/http://www.deutschebahn.com/presse/duesseldorf/de/aktuell/presseinformationen/14785038/170727_PESA.html|archive-date=9 December 2017 |date=5 September 2013 |title=DB Regio AG verteidigt Sauerland-Netz: Ausschreibung von Regionalbahn-Linien im Sauerland-Netz ist entschieden |publisher=Zweckverband Ruhr-Lippe |language=German|accessdate=29 February 2024 }}

The DB Regio NRW procured 21 new LINT 41 railcars for operation on the Sauerland network, which were manufactured by Alstom. These replaced older vehicles such as the class VT 628 or Bombardier Talent railcars. Vehicles from the class 612 were also used. Since 2018, most of the Sauerland network has been equipped with the Pesa Link (class 632 and 633) multiple units planned at the letting of the new tender in 2013, and since the 2021/2022 timetable change, only the Pesa Link multiple units have run. The old Talent railcars are only kept as reserve vehicles.

{{main|Sauerland-Express}}

{{Infobox rail line

| name = {{rcb|DB Regio NRW|RE 17|inline=croute}}: Sauerland Express|color=121cc1

| routenumber = 430, 435

| locale= North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

}}

The Sauerland-Express {{rcb|DB Regio NRW|RE 17|inline=croute}} is a regional express line in local rail passenger transport in North Rhine-Westphalia and North Hesse, which runs from Hagen to Warburg and every two hours to {{stn|Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe}}. The service is contracted by VRR, Zweckverband_Nahverkehr_Westfalen-Lippe (NWL) and NVV and operated by DB Regio NRW.

With the award of operations from December 2016, the line is part of the Sauerland Net.

{{cite press release|access-date=29 February 2024|date=11 October 2012 |publisher=Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NWL) |title=Ausschreibung Sauerland-Netz gestartet |url=http://www.zrl.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2013/11.10.2012-ausschreibung-sauerland-netz-gestartet.php|language=de}} The line was previously contracted from DB Regio as part of directly awarded large transport contracts.

{{Infobox rail line

| name = {{rcb|DB Regio NRW|RB 43|inline=croute}}: Emschertal-Bahn|color=121cc1

| routenumber = 426

| locale= North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

|map_state=

|map =

{{Routemap|inline=1|title =no |footnote=Source: German railway atlas{{cite book|title=Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland (German railway atlas) |publisher= Schweers + Wall |edition=10|date= 2017 |isbn= 978-3-89494-146-8|pages=139–43}}

|map =

KS+BHFa~~ ~~Dortmund~~ ~~THA, ICE, IC, RE, RB, S+U

BHF~~ ~~{{stn|Dortmund-Huckarde Nord}}~~ ~~(near U47 Huckarde Bushof)

BHF~~ ~~Dortmund-Rahm

BHF~~ ~~{{stn|Dortmund-Marten}}

BHF~~ ~~{{stn|Dortmund-Lütgendortmund Nord}}

BHF~~ ~~{{stn|Dortmund-Bövinghausen}}

BHF~~ ~~Castrop-Rauxel-Merklinde

BHF~~ ~~Castrop-Rauxel Süd

BHF~~ ~~Herne-Börnig

BHF~~ ~~{{stn|Herne}}~~ ~~RE, RB, U

BHF~~ ~~Wanne-Eickel~~ ~~ICE, IC, RE, RB, tram

BHF~~ ~~Gelsenkirchen Zoo

BHF~~ ~~Gelsenkirchen-Buer Süd

BHF~~ ~~Gladbeck Ost

BHF~~ ~~Gladbeck-Zweckel

BHF~~ ~~Feldhausen~~ ~~Movie Park Germany, RE, RB

KBHFe~~ ~~{{stn|Dorsten}}~~ ~~RE, RB

}}

}}

The Emschertal-Bahn {{rcb|DB Regio NRW|RB 43|inline=croute}} service connects Dortmund with {{stn|Dorsten}} via Gladbeck Ost. From 2006 to December 2015 it was operated by NordWestBahn, then operations were taken over by DB Regio after a tender.{{cite press release|access-date=29 February 2024|date=8 December 2015 |publisher=NordWestBahn |title=Fahrplanwechsel 2015: NordWestBahn gibt RB 43 "Emschertal-Bahn" an DB Regio NRW ab |url=http://www.nordwestbahn.de/unternehmen/presse/presseinformationen/pressenachricht/article/fahrplanwechsel-2015-nordwestbahn-gibt-rb-43-emschertal-bahn-an-db-regio-nrw-ab.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221052908/http://www.nordwestbahn.de/unternehmen/presse/presseinformationen/pressenachricht/article/fahrplanwechsel-2015-nordwestbahn-gibt-rb-43-emschertal-bahn-an-db-regio-nrw-ab.html |archive-date=21 December 2015|language=de}}

The RB 43 was integrated into the new timetable at the timetable change in December 2015 and an additional train was offered in the evenings.{{cite press release|access-date=29 February 2024|archive-date=25 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925180552/http://www.zrl.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2013/05.09.2013-rb-regio-ag-verteidigt-sauerland-netz.php |date=5 September 2013 |publisher=Zweckverband Ruhr-Lippe |title=DB Regio AG verteidigt Sauerland-Netz: Ausschreibung von Regionalbahn-Linien im Sauerland-Netz ist entschieden |url=http://www.zrl.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2013/05.09.2013-rb-regio-ag-verteidigt-sauerland-netz.php|language=de}}

Initially, class 628 sets were used,{{cite web |access-date=29 February 2024 |archive-date=24 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224052605/https://community.bahn.de/questions/1004220-welchen-fahrzeugen-db-regio-nrw-ab-13-dezember-2015-regionalbahn-rb-43-emschertalbahn-bedienen#answer_2249805 |type=response from DB social media team |title=Mit welchen Fahrzeugen wird DB Regio NRW ab dem 13. Dezember 2015 die Regionalbahn RB 43 (Emschertalbahn) bedienen? |url=https://community.bahn.de/questions/1004220-welchen-fahrzeugen-db-regio-nrw-ab-13-dezember-2015-regionalbahn-rb-43-emschertalbahn-bedienen#answer_2249805 |website=DB Bahn Service-Community}} but Alstom Coradia LINT 27 (class 640) sets were used from June 2016.{{cite press release|access-date=29 February 2024 |archive-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211014923/http://www.deutschebahn.com/presse/duesseldorf/de/aktuell/presseinformationen/12874664 |date=6 December 2016 |publisher=Deutsche Bahn |title=Ab 11. Dezember: Optimierte Anschlüsse und erweiterte Angebote im "Neuen Sauerland-Netz" |url=http://www.deutschebahn.com/presse/duesseldorf/de/aktuell/presseinformationen/12874664}}{{cite journal|first=Stefan |last=Hennigfeld |url=http://www.zughalt.de/2016/02/probleme-im-dortmund-sauerland-netz/ |title=Probleme im Dortmund-Sauerland-Netz |journal=Eisenbahnjournal Zughalt |date=11 February 2016 |access-date=29 February 2024}} Pesa Link railcars are currently running.

On working days an average of 3,500 passengers use the RB 43.{{cite web |access-date= |publisher=Stadt Dortmund |title=Regionalbahn RB 43 Dortmund |url=http://www.dortmund.de/de/leben_in_dortmund/planen_bauen_wohnen/stadtplanungs_und_bauordnungsamt/stadtplanung/verkehrsplanung/nahverkehr_oepnv/projekte_5/regionalbahn_rb_43.html}}

{{Infobox rail line

| name = {{rcb|DB Regio NRW|RB 52|inline=croute}}: Volmetalbahn|color=121cc1

| routenumber = 434

| locale= North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

|map_state=

|map =

{{Routemap|inline=1|title =no |footnote=Source: German railway atlas{{cite book|title=Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland (German railway atlas) |publisher= Schweers + Wall |edition=10|date= 2017 |isbn= 978-3-89494-146-8|pages=139–43}}

|map =

KS+BHFa~~ ~~Dortmund~~ ~~THA, ICE, IC, RE, RB, S+U

BHF~~ ~~Dortmund Signal-Iduna-Park~~ ~~RB

BHF~~Dortmund Tierpark

BHF~~Dortmund-Kirchhörde

BHF~~Dortmund-Löttringhausen

BHF~~Herdecke-Wittbräucke

BHF~~Herdecke

S+BHF~~ ~~Hagen~~ ~~ICE, IC, RE, RB, S

BHF~~Hagen-Oberhagen

BHF~~Dahl

BHF~~Rummenohl

BHF~~Dahlerbrück

BHF~~Schalksmühle

BHF~~Lüdenscheid-Brügge

KBHFe~~Lüdenscheid

}}

}}

The Volmetal-Bahn {{rcb|DB Regio NRW|RB 52|inline=croute}} service connects Dortmund, Hagen and Lüdenscheid.

On its way from Dortmund Hauptbahnhof to Lüdenscheid station, the service first runs over a section of the Dortmund–Soest railway and then over a section of the Düsseldorf-Derendorf–Dortmund Süd railway. It runs over the Hagen–Dieringhausen railway (also known as the Volmetalbahn, meaning Volme Valley Railway) from Hagen Hauptbahnhof to Lüdenscheid-Brügge station. Finally, it reverses direction and runs over the Brügge–Lüdenscheid railway from Brügge station to the higher Lüdenscheid station.

The service runs every hour, seven days a week,{{cite web| url= http://nrwbahnarchiv.bplaced.net/linien/RB52.htm | title= RB52: Volmetal-Bahn |work=NRW Rail Archive |publisher= André Joost |accessdate=16 November 2013 |language=German}} except that services run every two hours on Sunday mornings.

The Volmetal-Bahn will in future run an hour earlier from Lüdenscheid to Hagen on Saturdays and Sundays. In addition, the Märkischer Kreis is campaigning for a 30-minute cycle of the Volmetal-Bahn from Lüdenscheid via Hagen to Dortmund, since Lüdenscheid station would support higher demand.{{cite web|url=http://www.come-on.de/nachrichten/maerkischer-kreis/kreis-mk/bahn-soll-hagen-mehr-geben-1083949.html |newspaper= Lüdenscheider Nachrichten |date=16 January 2011 |title=Bahn soll bis Hagen mehr Gas geben |language=German|accessdate=5 November 2013 }}

{{clear}}

{{Infobox rail line

| name = {{rcb|DB Regio NRW|RB 53|inline=croute}}: Hellweg-Bahn|color=121cc1

| routenumber = 433

| locale= North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

|map_state=

|map =

{{Routemap|inline=1|title =no |footnote=Source: German railway atlas{{cite book|title=Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland (German railway atlas) |publisher= Schweers + Wall |edition=10|date= 2017 |isbn= 978-3-89494-146-8|pages=139–43}}

|map =

KS+BHFa~~ ~~Dortmund~~ ~~THA, ICE, IC, RE, RB, S+U

BHF~~ ~~Dortmund Signal-Iduna-Park~~ ~~RB

BHF~~ ~~Dortmund-Hörde~~ ~~RE, RB, U

BHF~~Dortmund-Aplerbeck Süd

BHF~~ ~~{{stn|Schwerte (Ruhr)}}~~ ~~RE, RB

BHF~~Schwerte-Ergste

BHF~~Hennen

BHF~~Kalthof (Kr Iserlohn)

BHF~~Iserlohnerheide

KBHFe~~ ~~Iserlohn~~ ~~RE, RB

}}

}}

The Ardey-Bahn {{rcb|DB Regio NRW|RB 53|inline=croute}} service connects Dortmund, Schwerte and Iserlohn. It follows the Ardey Railway (Ardeybahn in German).

The service runs every half hour during the week and every hour on the weekend.{{cite web| url= http://nrwbahnarchiv.bplaced.net/linien/RB53.htm | title= RB53: Ardey-Bahn |work=NRW Rail Archive |publisher= André Joost |accessdate=16 November 2013 |language=German}}

{{clear}}

{{Infobox rail line

| name = {{rcb|DB Regio NRW|RB 54|inline=croute}}: Hönnetal-Bahn|color=121cc1

| routenumber = 437

| locale= North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

|map_state=

|map =

{{Routemap|inline=1|title =no |footnote=Source: German railway atlas{{cite book|title=Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland (German railway atlas) |publisher= Schweers + Wall |edition=10|date= 2017 |isbn= 978-3-89494-146-8|pages=52, 139}}

|map =

KS+BHFa~~ ~~Unna~~ ~~RE, RB, S

BHF~~Fröndenberg-Frömern

BHF~~Ardey

BHF~~ ~~Fröndenberg~~ ~~RE

BHF~~Bösperde

BHF~~{{stn|Menden (Sauerland)}}

BHF~~Menden (Sauerland) Süd

BHF~~Lendringsen

BHF~~Binols

BHF~~Volkringhausen

BHF~~Sanssouci

BHF~~Balve

BHF~~Garbeck

BHF~~Küntrop

KBHFe~~Neuenrade

}}

}}

The Hönnetal-Bahn {{rcb|DB Regio NRW|RB 54|inline=croute}} service connects Unna, Fröndenberg and Neuenrade. The service follows the Fröndenberg–Kamen railway, the Letmathe–Fröndenberg railway and the Hönne Valley Railway (Hönnetalnbahn in German).

The service runs hourly during the week.{{cite web| url= http://nrwbahnarchiv.bplaced.net/linien/RB54.htm | title= RB54: Hönnetal-Bahn |work=NRW Rail Archive |publisher= André Joost |accessdate=16 November 2013 |language=German}} On Sundays services run every two hours between Menden and Neuenrade.

The Unna–Fröndenberg section has been closed since summer 2022 and a rail replacement bus service has operated due to damage to the railway embankment caused by badgers.{{cite press release|access-date=28 February 2024 |date=26 September 2022 |publisher=Deutsche Bahn |title=Frömern: Dachsbauten erfordern weiterhin Gleissperrung zwischen Unna und Fröndenberg bis vsl. Dezember |url=https://www.deutschebahn.com/de/presse/presse-regional/pr-duesseldorf-de/presseinformationen-regional/Froemern-Dachsbauten-erfordern-weiterhin-Gleissperrung-zwischen-Unna-und-Froendenberg-bis-vsl-Dezember--8961778|language=de}}

{{clear}}

{{Infobox rail line

| name = {{rcb|DB Regio NRW|RE 57|inline=croute}}: Dortmund-Sauerland-Express|color=121cc1

| routenumber = 435, 438

| locale= North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

|map_state=

|map =

{{Routemap|inline=1|title =no |footnote=Source: German railway atlas{{cite book|title=Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland (German railway atlas) |publisher= Schweers + Wall |edition=10|date= 2017 |isbn= 978-3-89494-146-8|pages=52–3, 139}}

|map =

KS+BHFa~~ ~~Dortmund~~ ~~THA, ICE, IC, RE, RB, S+U

BHF~~ ~~Dortmund-Hörde~~ ~~RB, RE, U

BHF~~ ~~Fröndenberg~~ ~~RE, RB

BHF~~ ~~Wickede~~ ~~RE

BHF~~ ~~Arnsberg-Neheim/Hüsten~~ ~~RE

BHF~~ ~~{{stn|Arnsberg (Westf)}}~~ ~~RE

BHF~~ ~~Oeventrop~~ ~~RE

BHF~~ ~~Freienohl~~ ~~RE

BHF~~ ~~Meschede~~ ~~RE

BHF~~ ~~Bestwig (Westf)~~ ~~RE

BS2+l\BS2+r

STR\BHF~~Bigge

STR\BHF~~Siedlinghausen

STR\BHF~~Silbach

STR\KBHFe~~Winterberg (Westf)

BS2l\BS2c3

BHF~~ ~~Olsberg~~ ~~RE

BHF~~ ~~{{stn|Brilon Wald}}~~ ~~RB, RE

KBHFe~~{{stn|Brilon Stadt}}

}}

}}

The Dortmund-Sauerland-Express {{rcb|DB Regio NRW|RE 57|inline=croute}} connects Dortmund and Fröndenberg with Winterberg and Brilon Stadt. It runs along the Ardey Railway, the Upper Ruhr Valley Railway and then on either the Nuttlar–Frankenberg railway or the Alme Valley Railway.

The service runs hourly during the week. It runs alternately to Winterberg or Brilon Stadt.{{cite web| url= http://nrwbahnarchiv.bplaced.net/linien/RE57.htm | title= RE57: Dortmund-Sauerland-Express |work=NRW Rail Archive |publisher= André Joost |accessdate=16 November 2013 |language=German}}

The following fares apply to the Sauerland Net: the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (Rhine-Ruhr transport association) fares in the Dortmund and Hagen areas, the Verkehrsgemeinschaft Ruhr-Lippe (Ruhr-Lippe transport community) fares in the Sauerland/Ruhr-Lippe fare zone and the NRW statewide fares.

• List of regional railway lines in North Rhine-Westphalia

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web|url= http://www.zrl.de/fahrplan/streckennetze/sauerland-netz.php |title= Sauerland-Netz |publisher= Zweckverband Ruhr-Lippe |accessdate= 5 November 2013 |language=German}}

Category:Rail services in North Rhine-Westphalia

Category:Named DB Regio services