The Rhine-Ruhr region covers the Ruhr area plus Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, Mönchengladbach, Krefeld etc. It's the biggest agglomeration of Germany.
Public transport consists of buses, trams, Stadtbahn, S-Bahn, monorail and regional trains.
I will begin with Stadtbahn.

Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Dortmund – car type B80C:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Dortmund/B80C/301_180806_Kirchderne.jpg

Type B80C8:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Dortmund/B80C8/DM0076.jpg


Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Bochum – car type B80D:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Bochum/B/Bochum6008-U35-051005-NZA.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Bochum/B/6007_6005_Bochum_Deutsches_Bergbaumuseum_29_07_2005.jpg


Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Essen – car type B80C former B100S:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Essen/B/080709-122.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Essen/B/Essen5104-U17-030830-NZA.jpg

Type P89:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Essen/P89/essen5223_bk0603110149.jpg


Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Mülheim – car type B100S – photo taken in Essen Hbf.:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Muelheim/B/muelheim5012_bk0603110163.jpg


Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Duisburg – car type B80C – photo taken in Düsseldorf-Wittlaer:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Duisburg/B80C/Duisburg_DVG_4708_4712_U79_20080926.jpg


Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Düsseldorf – car type B80D:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Duesseldorf/B/4002-4012/DuesseldorfArenaMesse2.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Duesseldorf/B/4002-4012/du4005_e0002509.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Duesseldorf/B/4101-4104/Dusseldorf_Rheinbahn_4103_U76_20050727.jpg
railfaneurope.net

Besides the Stadtbahn network many cities in the Rhine-Ruhr agglomeration have tram networks too. I shall post some pictures later.

Stadtbahn and monorail: Dortmund.

Tram and Stadtbahn: Bochum, Essen, Mülheim, Duisburg.

Tram, Stadtbahn and monorail: Düsseldorf.

Tram only: Oberhausen, Gelsenkirchen, Krefeld.

Monorail only: Wuppertal.

All mentioned cities but Krefeld are connected to the network of S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr.

All cities are connected by regional trains.

As I mentioned before, besides the Stadtbahn networks in the Rhine-Ruhr agglomeration exist several tram networks, here some photos:

Tram Bochum and Gelsenkirchen:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Bochum/MGT6D/BC0010.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Bochum/MGT6D/Bochum425-302-051006-NZA.jpg


Tram Essen:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Essen/M8D-NF/E-AbzwAkt1519-105.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Essen/M8D-NF/EVAG_1521.jpg


Tram Mülheim:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Muelheim/NF6D/MH0012.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Muelheim/NF6D/MVG_202_112_Rathausmarkt_20040918.jpg


Tram Oberhausen:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Oberhausen/NF6D/205-207/oberhausen207_bk0603120050.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Oberhausen/NF6D/205-207/oberhausen205_bk0603120065.jpg


Tram Duisburg:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Duisburg/GT10NC/080412-015.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Duisburg/GT10NC/1041-1.jpg


Tram Düsseldorf:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Duesseldorf/NF6/2101-2131/070609-097.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Duesseldorf/NF8/080412-118.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Duesseldorf/NF10/080412-123.jpg


Tram Krefeld:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Krefeld/M8C/831-839/krefeld833_bk0603140140.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Krefeld/M8C/831-839/swk831kz1.jpg
railfaneurope.net

Monorails of Rhein-Ruhr.

H-Bahn Dortmund:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Dortmund_H-Bahn_TZ_Aussen.jpg/450px-Dortmund_H-Bahn_TZ_Aussen.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/TU-Dortmund-Sued-86-.JPG/800px-TU-Dortmund-Sued-86-.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Dortmund-H-Bahn_Trasse1.jpg/397px-Dortmund-H-Bahn_Trasse1.jpg

Station Eichlinghofen:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Dortmund_Eichlinghofen_H_Bahn_06-06-02.jpg/429px-Dortmund_Eichlinghofen_H_Bahn_06-06-02.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Dortmund-Eichlinghofen_H-Bahn.jpg/800px-Dortmund-Eichlinghofen_H-Bahn.jpg
wiki

Skytrain Düsseldorf:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Skytrain-Flughafenbahnhof.JPG/800px-Skytrain-Flughafenbahnhof.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/H_bahn_duesseldorf1.jpg
wiki

Schwebebahn Wuppertal:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Wuppertal_Boettingerweg_0043.jpg/800px-Wuppertal_Boettingerweg_0043.jpg

Sonnborner Str.:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Wuppertal_Sonnborner_Str_0031.jpg/800px-Wuppertal_Sonnborner_Str_0031.jpg

Beer-Sheva-Ufer:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Wuppertal_Beer-Sheva-Ufer_0001.jpg/800px-Wuppertal_Beer-Sheva-Ufer_0001.jpg

Station Ohligsmühle:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Taw_schwebe1.jpg/800px-Taw_schwebe1.jpg
wiki

I love the Schwebebahn, it's so unique! It would certainly be one of the reasons I went to visit Wuppertal.

I love the Schwebebahn, it's so unique! It would certainly be one of the reasons I went to visit Wuppertal.

I use it almost every day. ;)

S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr is the biggest german S-Bahn network, it's length is nearly 500 km. The network is polycentric, so there is no centre like in monocentric networks as Cologne, Stuttgart or Munich.
S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr uses class 143 locos and x-wagons or the new class 422 EMUs. Here some photos.

Class 143 and x-wagons Düsseldorf Hbf.:

http://img3.abload.de/img/xii-x-wagen_innovationdh3d.jpg
abload.de

Düsseldorf-Rath Mitte:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/BxF_D%C3%BCsseldorf-Rath_Mitte.JPG

Approaching Düsseldorf-Unterrath:

http://www.**********************/kd/090301_143578.jpg
**********************

Class 422 in Düsseldorf Hbf.:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/thumb/1/1d/IMG_0129.jpg/800px-IMG_0129.jpg

Dortmund-Westerfilde:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/422_027-3_S2_Dortmund-Westerfilde.jpg/799px-422_027-3_S2_Dortmund-Westerfilde.jpg

Approaching Essen-Altenessen:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/422_538-9_S-Bahn_Rhein-Ruhr.jpg/387px-422_538-9_S-Bahn_Rhein-Ruhr.jpg
wiki

Here's a map I made some time ago:

http://i40.tinypic.com/2qjiom0.png
It shows all Tram, Stadtbahn and S-Bahn lines in the Ruhr Area, and it also indicates whether they have their own right-of-way or if they run in mixed traffic.

Unfortunately, I don't know how I can host the entire image, because it is so huge. I tried Tinypic, but as you can see it scales the image down.

Some S-Bahn stations.

Essen-West:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/BF_Essen_West.jpg/800px-BF_Essen_West.jpg

Bottrop Hbf.:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/BF_Bottrop_HBF_02.jpg/800px-BF_Bottrop_HBF_02.jpg

Dortmund-Dorstfeld:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/BF_Dortmund-Dorstfeld.jpg/800px-BF_Dortmund-Dorstfeld.jpg

Dortmund-Körne West:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/BF_Dortmund-K%C3%B6rne_West.jpg/800px-BF_Dortmund-K%C3%B6rne_West.jpg

Hagen-Vorhalle:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Bahnhof_Vorhalle.jpg/800px-Bahnhof_Vorhalle.jpg

Velbert-Rosenhügel:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Bahnhof_Velbert-Rosenh%C3%BCgel.jpg/800px-Bahnhof_Velbert-Rosenh%C3%BCgel.jpg

Düsseldorf-Flughafen Terminal with old class 420 train:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Bf-d-flughafenterm.jpg/800px-Bf-d-flughafenterm.jpg

Ratingen-Ost:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Bahnhof_Ratingen_Ost.jpg/800px-Bahnhof_Ratingen_Ost.jpg

Witten Hbf.:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Witten-hbf.jpg/800px-Witten-hbf.jpg

Wuppertal-Zoologischer Garten:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Bf-w-zoo.jpg/800px-Bf-w-zoo.jpg

Mettmann-Stadtwald (station of S-Bahn line which is not operated by DB):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Bahnhof_Mettmann_Stadtwald.jpg/800px-Bahnhof_Mettmann_Stadtwald.jpg
wiki

One of the S-Bahn lines is not operated by Deutsche Bahn. It's the S28, a tiny Diesel-S-Bahn between Kaarst and Mettmann via Neuss and Düsseldorf, there are plans to extend it to Wuppertal.
S28 is operated by RegioBahn.

Mettmann-Stadtwald:

http://www.mytrainsim.de/images/reg_mestadtwald.jpg

http://www.mytrainsim.de/images/reg_mestadtwald2.jpg

http://www.mytrainsim.de/images/reg_mestadtwald4.jpg

http://www.mytrainsim.de/images/reg_mestadtwald3.jpg
mytrainsim.de

Typical S28-Talent DMUs:

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/big/329d-ia.jpg
bilder-hochladen.net

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2279/2172823572_58d5f5d148.jpg?v=0
flickr.com

Here's a map I made some time ago:

[…]

It shows all Tram, Stadtbahn and S-Bahn lines in the Ruhr Area, and it also indicates whether they have their own right-of-way or if they run in mixed traffic.

Unfortunately, I don't know how I can host the entire image, because it is so huge. I tried Tinypic, but as you can see it scales the image down.

What's about picasa or abload.de?

I love the Schwebebahn, it's so unique! It would certainly be one of the reasons I went to visit Wuppertal.

Yea, it is pretty sweet.

What's about picasa or abload.de?
Thanks, that worked!

So here's the full size map:
http://www.abload.de/thumb/schienenvtsf.png (http://www.abload.de/image.php?img=schienenvtsf.png)

I guess here would be as good a place to ask this question as anywhere, but what are they going to do with Kampstrasse now that U43/U44 have been built? Are they going to make more car lanes on the road (please no) or are they going to simply remove the tram tracks and convert it into green space and a walkway in the centre of the road like a lot of other boulevard-type roads have?

Long NF10 tram in Düsseldorf:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Duesseldorf/NF10/Dusseldorf_Rheinbahn_2033_712_20030816_730.jpg
railfaneurope.net

This stretch will be substituted by a Stadtbahn stretch in a few years.

Schwebebahn in Wuppertal, Alter Markt station:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/misc/Wuppertal_Schwebebahn/10-19/Wuppertal_WSW_15_20070430_11053.jpg
railfaneurope.net

I guess here would be as good a place to ask this question as anywhere, but what are they going to do with Kampstrasse now that U43/U44 have been built? Are they going to make more car lanes on the road (please no) or are they going to simply remove the tram tracks and convert it into green space and a walkway in the centre of the road like a lot of other boulevard-type roads have?

They rebuild the street to a boulevard. Broad pavements and lanes for the cars in the middle. A section will be closed for cars.

Some photos of last year. After the tram line had been closed, they began with the works.

27.4.2008 had been the last day of service:

http://www.tramtracks.de/dortmund/dortmund_kampstrasse_01.jpg

Seven days later the works began:

http://www.tramtracks.de/dortmund/dortmund_kampstrasse_03.jpg

No tram anymore, now Stadtbahn runs in the underground:

http://www.tramtracks.de/dortmund/dortmund_kampstrasse_04.jpg

Stretch is orphaned:

http://www.tramtracks.de/dortmund/dortmund_kampstrasse_05.jpg

In the background you can see the entrance to the Stadtbahn station, watch the blue sign!

http://www.tramtracks.de/dortmund/dortmund_kampstrasse_11.jpg

Bye, bye tram!

http://www.tramtracks.de/dortmund/dortmund_kampstrasse_17.jpg

http://www.tramtracks.de/dortmund/dortmund_kampstrasse_20.jpg
tramtracks.de

Thank you for the pictures! As long as the car lanes don't dominate the road (as has happened on Bergwall/Königswall/Schwanenwall/Ostwall/Südwall/etc etc) then that's okay. A shame they didn't do a Kurfüstendamm style greenspace in the middle though - I've always loved that road arrangement.

Here's a map I made some time ago:

http://i40.tinypic.com/2qjiom0.png
It shows all Tram, Stadtbahn and S-Bahn lines in the Ruhr Area, and it also indicates whether they have their own right-of-way or if they run in mixed traffic.

Unfortunately, I don't know how I can host the entire image, because it is so huge. I tried Tinypic, but as you can see it scales the image down.


:eek2: AMAZING map. do you have it in a bigger size?

^^ Yes:

Click here (6500x1600 699 kB) (http://img2.abload.de/img/schienenvtsf.png)

Thank you for the pictures! As long as the car lanes don't dominate the road (as has happened on Bergwall/Königswall/Schwanenwall/Ostwall/Südwall/etc etc) then that's okay. A shame they didn't do a Kurfüstendamm style greenspace in the middle though - I've always loved that road arrangement.

As far as I read, the pedestrains should dominate the new boulevard.

Here two additional photos, tram one week before the end of service:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Dortmund/N8/cream-brown/Dortmund_DSW_115_404_20080419_13609.jpg

And here the first day of the new low floor Ost-West-Stadtbahn, which substituted the tram:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Dortmund/NGT8/1_westentor_m.jpg
railfaneurope.net

Now Dortmund has got a high floor and a low floor Stadtbahn network.

What is the Vmax of the low floor vehicles?

I love the Schwebebahn, it's so unique! It would certainly be one of the reasons I went to visit Wuppertal.

I went to Wuppertal last year just to ride Schwebebahn. :)

paF4uko : If you're referring to post #3, 70 km/h max for all low-floor models shown there.

Shown in those pics in post #3 are Duewag NF6D/MGT6D, Bombardier Flexity Classic and Siemens Combino (all 70 km/h max), plus two high-floor Duewag M8C (70 km/h) and two GT10NC-DU with one low-floor compartment (60 km/h).
Not shown is the new low-floor Stadler Variobahn (Bogestra version also limited to 70 km/h, there's faster versions of the same model).

What is the Vmax of the low floor vehicles?

If you mean Dortmund's low floor Stadtbahn in post 23, the Vmax of the NGT8 trains is 70 km/h.

Thank you both! :)

[…]
Not shown is the new low-floor Stadler Variobahn (Bogestra version also limited to 70 km/h, there's faster versions of the same model).

Here it is – Variobahn for the tram Bochum and Gelsenkirchen:

http://www.fachportal.nahverkehr.nrw.de/technik_fzg/variobahn/img/Variobahn.jpg
fachportal.nahverkehr.nrw.de

At the beginning of this thread I have forgotten two types of Stadtbahn cars of the Rhine-Ruhr region, the P86 of Stadtbahn Essen and the Tango of Stadtbahn Bochum/Gelsenkirchen.

Here they are.

Essen P86 (ex London) at Essen Hbf.:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Essen/P86/Essen5207-U11-030830-NZA.jpg

Station Saalbau – watch the three rail tracks, they are needed because Stadtbahn and tram use this tunnel:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Essen/P86/Essen-DLR-U11-Saalbau-300803.jpg
railfaneurope.net


Bochum/Gelsenkirchen, the new Tango in use in Bochum:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Stadler_Tango_Variante_BoGeStra.jpg
wiki

In cities like Düsseldorf or Amsterdam, subway stations look very similar so you have to read the signs very carefully, or else you get off the train at the wrong station very easily.

But not so in the Ruhr Area, all stations are designed differently, so you can immediately recognise where you are when you look through the window. I really like that. :)

http://i40.tinypic.com/20pwps8.jpg
BO - Bochumer Verein / Jahrhunderthalle

http://i44.tinypic.com/21jx5ky.jpg
BO - Deutsches Bergbaumuseum

http://i43.tinypic.com/2wpkmqp.jpg
E - Berliner Platz

http://i41.tinypic.com/oivfbk.jpg
BO - Engelbertbrunnen / Bermudadreieck

http://i43.tinypic.com/dcs94.jpg
GE - König Heinrich Platz

http://i43.tinypic.com/mk9f6t.jpg
BO - Lohring

Source: self-made pictures

A couple of photos from metrobits.org (http://metrobits.org):

DORTMUND

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/6191/dortmundpolizeipraesidixm2.jpg
Polizeipräsidium station, City of Dortmund, line U46.


BOCHUM

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4671/bochumlohringconcoursena9.jpg
Lohring station, City of Bochum, lines 302, 310.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/4377/bochumlohringgg7.jpg
Lohring station, City of Bochum, lines 302, 310.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8143/bochumlohringtrainqj6.jpg
Lohring station, City of Bochum, lines 302, 310.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/259/bochumrathaussuedredkx1.jpg
Rathaus (Süd) station, City of Bochum, lines 302, 310.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5981/bochumrathaussuedob5.jpg
Rathaus (Süd) station, City of Bochum, lines 302, 310. The illuminated walls change light through all the colours of the rainbow almost unnoticable.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9725/bochumrathaussuedwallnt1.jpg
Rathaus (Süd) station, City of Bochum, lines 302, 310. Walls are made of pieces of glass.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4527/bochumbochumervereinconsq9.jpg
Bochumer Verein station, City of Bochum, lines 302, 310. Concourse.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8596/bochumbochumervereinplaif4.jpg
Bochumer Verein station, City of Bochum, lines 302, 310. The walls change their colours here intelligently: Normally blue, red when a train approaches, white whilst a train is in the station.

http://img437.imageshack.us/img437/7743/bodtbergbaumuseum4qb.jpg
Deutsches Bergbaumuseum station, City of Bochum, line U35.


GELSENKIRCHEN

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/3325/bochumbergwerkconsolidamm8.jpg
Bergwerk Consolidation station, City of Gelsenkirchen, line 301.


ESSEN

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9522/emesseostgrugaoben6mc.jpg
Messe-Ost/Gruga station, City of Essen, line U11. Concourse level.

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/2718/essenmesseogruga4007zp.jpg
Messe-Ost/Gruga station, City of Essen, line U11.

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/4853/essenhbf4007la.jpg
Essen Hbf. station, City of Essen.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/755/ekaiserwilhpark9zb.jpg
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Park station, City of Essen, lines U11, U17.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/6623/ekaiserwilhparkdetail1pf.jpg
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Park station, City of Essen, lines U11, U17. Wall detail.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8023/ealtenessenmitte0un.jpg
Altenessen Mitte station, City of Essen, lines U11, U17.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/7841/ealtenessenmittedetailgv7.jpg
Altenessen Mitte station, City of Essen, lines U11, U17. Wall detail.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7740/ekarlsplatz5nx.jpg
Karlsplatz station, City of Essen, lines U11, U17.


MUELHEIM

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8547/muelheimstadtmitteconcourseev0.jpg
Mülheim Stadtmitte station, City of Mülheim, lines 102, 901.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/6923/muelheimstadtmitteplatformgc1.jpg
Mülheim Stadtmitte station, City of Mülheim, line 102, 901.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1193/muelheimschlossbroichentrancend0.jpg
Schloß Broich station, City of Mülheim, lines 102, 901. Entrance.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5056/muelheimschlossbroichescalatorsgq9.jpg
Schloß Broich station, City of Mülheim, lines 102, 901. Escalators.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1205/muelheimschlossbroichelevatorshaftxv1.jpg
Schloß Broich station, City of Mülheim, lines 102, 901. Elevator shaft.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5056/muelheimschlossbroichsm1.jpg
Schloß Broich station, City of Mülheim, lines 102, 901.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2065/muelheimschlossbroichtubeaj6.jpg
Schloß Broich station, City of Mülheim, lines 102, 901.


OBERHAUSEN
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2649/oberhausenneuemitte24002rt.jpg
Neue Mitte Oberhausen station, City of Oberhausen. Combined tram and bus station.


DUISBURG

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/7295/dumeiderichse9.jpg
Meiderich station, City of Duisburg, line U79.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4972/duaufdemdamm5ri.jpg
Auf dem Damm station, City of Duisburg, line U79.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3209/duduissernoben7nr.jpg
Duissern station, City of Duisburg, line U79. Concourse level.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3896/duduissern7se.jpg
Duissern station, City of Duisburg, line U79.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9387/duhbf1sh.jpg
Duisburg Hbf. station, City of Duisburg.


DUESSELDORF

http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/9021/dusflughhbahn4wl.jpg
Düsseldorf International Airport station, Between the cities of Duisburg and Düsseldorf. Suspended people mover connects several airport terminals with two S-Bahn stations.

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8088/duesseldfoststr4000mv.jpg
Oststraße station, City of Düsseldorf, lines U74-U79. Several older underground stations in Düsseldorf look like this.

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/6986/u79train6qe.jpg
Type B Train Interior station, This train running on line U79.

http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/7660/doberbilkermarkt6di.jpg
Oberbilker Markt station, City of Düsseldorf, lines U74, U77, U79. Several newer underground stations in Düsseldorf look like this.

http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/5436/dkaiserslauternerstr1ue.jpg
Kaiserslauterner Straße station, City of Düsseldorf, lines U74, U77, U79.


WUPPERTAL

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2452/wuppertalzoostadiondc8.jpg
Zoo/Stadion station, City of Wuppertal, line 60 (suspended monorail).

http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/7456/wuppertalohligsmuehlees9.jpg
Ohligsmühle station, City of Wuppertal, line 60 (suspended monorail).

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6651/wuppertalohligsmhleeinghp7.jpg
Ohligsmühle station, City of Wuppertal, line 60 (suspended monorail).

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1236/wuppertalohligsmhleinnenpz4.jpg
Ohligsmühle station, City of Wuppertal, line 60 (suspended monorail).

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/5215/wuppertalklusewe2.jpg
Kluse station, City of Wuppertal, line 60 (suspended monorail).

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/8290/wuppertallandgerichtgb0.jpg
Landgericht station, City of Wuppertal, line 60 (suspended monorail).

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4043/wuppertalovertheriveran9.jpg
Train over the River station, City of Wuppertal, line 60 (suspended monorail). Opposite Loher Brücke station.

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1498/wuppertalloherbrdy9.jpg
Loher Brücke station, City of Wuppertal, line 60 (suspended monorail).

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/4880/wuppertalwertherbrfi8.jpg
Werther Brücke station, City of Wuppertal, line 60 (suspended monorail).

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/4058/wuppertaltrainpp7.jpg
Werther Brücke station, City of Wuppertal, line 60 (suspended monorail).

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/4238/wuppertaloberbarmenxb5.jpg
Oberbarmen station, City of Wuppertal, line 60 (suspended monorail).

Source: metrobits.org (http://metrobits.org)

I always hate when they put trams into tunnels, they look a lot better on a "road" setting. :)

I always hate when they put trams into tunnels, they look a lot better on a "road" setting. :)
Me too, can somebody put here, also photos of classical trams, buses. Is it possible to put here photos of system that do not exist now, like trolleys etc.

Yeah great pics!

I always hate when they put trams into tunnels, they look a lot better on a "road" setting. :)
I agree. Fortunately the Rhine-Ruhr system is very diverse and has wide metro-like lightrails as well as narrow little trams. What makes the few small trams somewhat dominant among the photos is the fact that they recently got a handful of architecturally very interesting stations in Bochum. But there are also many metro-like lines (U11, U18, U35, U45-U49, U79) with long, 2.65 m wide trains running mostly in tunnel sections, stopping at high platforms and only sometimes straying on roads. U35 has been a full underground metro line until a short road section was added:
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/trams/Bochum/B/6007_6005_Bochum_Deutsches_Bergbaumuseum_29_07_2005.jpg

Spectacular station, but only served by narrow-gauge tram lines 302, 310 (line numbers without a U):
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8143/bochumlohringtrainqj6.jpg

I always hate when they put trams into tunnels, they look a lot better on a "road" setting. :)

I actually quite like them underground - gives more space for pedestrians in the crowded inner city. It also allows them to preserve the streetscape better. There are of course other advantages such as the average speed of the vehicles. Even with traffic priority or partial segregation, the street sections are invariably slower than the tunnel sections.

The Stadtbahn systems in Germany tend to have quite long rolling stock sometimes making street running a little difficult - think of the systems as more of a "light metro" than a traditional tram.

yep the best thing about the Rhein-Ruhr is the very extensive public transport network, u can go almost everywhere by train or tram, which is just amazing for someone like me who comes from a city with only 1million people and we've only got; 1 tram line and a few diesel rail lines with track hasnt been replaced for over 40 years.

and with some of those underground stations, i wouldnt be surprised if the public transport network itself is considered a tourist attraction.

I agree. Fortunately the Rhine-Ruhr system is very diverse and has wide metro-like lightrails as well as narrow little trams. What makes the few small trams somewhat dominant among the photos is the fact that they recently got a handful of architecturally very interesting stations in Bochum.

[…]

And these stations are future Stadtbahn stations. Stadtbahn is not completed yet that's the reason why these stations are used by tram at the moment.

^^ But I doubt the Stadtbahn will every be completed.

It's quite funny how out-of-date city maps can be in this respect. The most recent ADAC map of Gelsenkirchen still shows the tunnel from Hauptbahnhof to Ückendorfer Platz as "under construction", just like the tunnel from Trinenkamp to Erle Forsthaus. :lol:

^^ But I doubt the Stadtbahn will every be completed.

[…]

Future will tell.

Now I will show you photos of some regional trains. First in Essen Hbf.

RB40 operated by Abellio to Hagen Hbf. (train: Flirt):

http://www.**************/bilder/abellio-rail-nrw-143471.jpg

RE14 to Borken operated by NordWestBahn (train: Talent):

http://www.**************/bilder/nordwestbahn-nwb-90281.jpg

http://www.**************/bilder/br-643-talent-248975.jpg

RE2 to Münster operated by Deutsche Bahn (loco: class 146):

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-89725.jpg

http://www.**************/bilder/br-146-lokportaits-149551.jpg

Regional train at platform 4:

http://www.**************/bilder/doppelstock-steuerwagen-3-gattung-53706.jpg

Essen Hbf. from above:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-36420.jpg
**************

More regional trains, now: Dortmund Hbf.

Flirt of Eurobahn:

http://www.**************/bilder/dortmund-hbf-294468.jpg

http://www.**************/bilder/dortmund-hbf-294200.jpg

Talent of Prignitzer Eisenbahn:

http://www.**************/bilder/br-643-talent-294198.jpg

Class 146 of DB:

http://www.**************/bilder/dortmund-hbf-294197.jpg

Talent of NordWestBahn:

http://www.**************/bilder/br-643-talent-287328.jpg

LINT 27 of DB:

http://www.**************/bilder/dortmund-hbf-287327.jpg

LINT 41 of DB:

http://www.**************/bilder/br-648-lint-41-db-180586.jpg

EMU class 425 and loco class 111 of DB:

http://www.**************/bilder/dortmund-hbf-274521.jpg

DMU class 624 and loco class 141 of DB:

http://www.**************/bilder/dortmund-hbf-266898.jpg
**************

Me too, can somebody put here, also photos of classical trams, buses. Is it possible to put here photos of system that do not exist now, like trolleys etc.


http://www.kieback-peter.de/typo3temp/pics/79995242d8.jpg
http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/big/2se3-2qe.jpg
http://www.bogestra.de/cipp/bogestra_online/lib/all/lob/return_download,ticket,g_u_e_s_t/bid,165/check_table,it_chap_downl_embed/~/Kulturhaupt_bahn.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/BOGESTRABetriebshof.jpg

http://auswaertssieg.schalkewelt.info/wp-content/mberghoefer/books/bk_19970523_BILD2.jpg


Tram crash after a football match at Schalke (1997)

Regional trains in Duisburg Hbf.

Class 146 with double deckers:

http://www.**************/bilder/duisburg-114675.jpg

Double deck steering car, in the background Talent DMU and double deck regional train:

http://www.**************/bilder/duisburg-72311.jpg
**************

Regional trains in Düsseldorf.

Class 146 at the airport:

http://www.**************/bilder/duesseldorf-alle-bahnhoefe-293268.jpg

Class 111 at Düsseldorf Hbf.:

http://www.**************/bilder/br-111-lokportraits-258574.jpg

N-wagon in Düsseldorf Hbf.:

http://www.**************/bilder/duesseldorf-alle-bahnhoefe-247676.jpg

Class 628 and class 111 in Düsseldorf Hbf.:

http://www.**************/bilder/br-628---928--629-239836.jpg

Class 110 approaches Düsseldorf Hbf.:

http://www.**************/bilder/br-110-buegelfalte-212268.jpg

Class 643 in Düsseldorf Hbf.:

http://www.**************/bilder/br-643-talent-210965.jpg
**************

Thanks, I love those Conurbations like Silesia or Danzig and Gdynia, but in the difference to Rhine-Ruhr they were unificated by the communst goverment, and there don't have such variety of diffrent systems.

Some Buses of the Rhine-Ruhr agglomeration.

Remscheid:

http://www.wupper-sieg-bus.de/newsbilder/sr_6_werbung1.jpg
wupper-sieg-bus.de

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/SG_RS51Name.JPG

Solingen, trolley bus:

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/SG_SWS-Berkhof2Name.JPG

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/SG_SWSO33Name.JPG

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/SG_SWSBerkhof1Name.JPG

Solingen, bus:

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/SG_SWS603NeoName.JPG

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/SG_SWS601NeoName.JPG

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/SG_SWS502O405NName.JPG

City express bus of Wuppertal in Solingen:

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/SG_WSW0116Name.JPG

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/SG_WSW0115Name.JPG

Wuppertal, city bus at Wuppertal Hbf.:

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/Sonderfahrt_VhAG-WSW_2008-02-23/WSW_0761_2008-02-23_01.jpg

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/Sonderfahrt_VhAG-WSW_2008-02-23/WSW_9678_2008-02-23_01.jpg

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/Sonderfahrt_VhAG-WSW_2008-02-23/WSW_0574_2008-02-23_01.jpg

Wuppertal, regional bus at Wuppertal Hbf.:

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/Sonderfahrt_VhAG-WSW_2008-02-23/BVR_1118_2008-02-23_01.jpg

Regional express bus of Ennepe-Ruhr at Wuppertal Hbf.:

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/Sonderfahrt_VhAG-WSW_2008-02-23/VER_327_2008-02-23_04.jpg

http://www.busbilder.de/Bilder/Sonderfahrt_VhAG-WSW_2008-02-23/VER_327_2008-02-23_03.jpg
busbilder.de

Let me ask one more thing, that bothers me. Is there any kind of joined transit ticket? You know that allows You to travel along many cities?

More buses of Rhein-Ruhr.

Düsseldorf city bus:

http://www.lightrailnow.org/images/ddf-bus-stop-realtime-display-aug2002_s-baguette.jpg
lightrailnow.org

Düsseldorf International (Rhein-Ruhr-Airport), city bus:

http://www.duesseldorf-international.de/_uploads/activ/bild_3_g/bus3.jpg
duesseldorf-international.de

Düsseldorf, Jan-Wellem-Platz, regional bus:

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/big/329d-r5.jpg

Düsseldorf, Jan-Wellem-Platz, city bus:

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/big/329d-re.jpg

Düsseldorf, Jan-Wellem-Platz, city bus, driving school:

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/big/329d-rb.jpg
bilder-hochladen.net

Let me ask one more thing, that bothers me. Is there any kind of joined transit ticket? You know that allows You to travel along many cities?
Yes and no. Luckily, not every city has its own transit tickets. However, in the Rhine-Ruhr region there are still five different tickets:

First, there is the VRR tariff. It covers most of the Ruhr Area, plus Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, Mönchengladbach and their surroundings.

Then, there is the VRS tariff. It covers Cologne, Bonn and their surroundings.

Then, there is VGN tariff. It covers the area from suburbs of Duisburg (Dinslaken, Moers) until the border with the Netherlands

Then, there is the ZRL tariff. It covers the easternmost portion of the Ruhr Area, with Kamen, Unna and Hamm.

And finally, for trips between these regions, there is the NRW tariff.

All of these tickets, by the way, are valid on all kinds of public transport (except IC/ICE trains) and generally allow unlimited transfers.

Yes and no. Luckily, not every city has its own transit tickets. However, in the Rhine-Ruhr region there are still five different tickets:
[…]

Sorry, I have to correct that: The Rhein-Ruhr agglomeration is the region between Düsseldorf and Hamm and this region is covered by the same ticket network (VRR = Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr).
Köln and Bonn for example are not part of the Rhein-Ruhr agglomeration, they are part of the Köln/Bonn agglomeration (other designation: Rhein-Sieg agglomeration). That's the reason why they have another ticket network in Rhein-Sieg, that's the reason why they are not members of VRR but of VRS; and that's the reason why there operates S-Bahn Köln and not S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr and why they have Stadtbahn Rhein-Sieg and not Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr.
We have Rhein-Ruhr on the one hand and Köln/Bonn (Rhein-Sieg) on the other, they have not much in common.
So it makes sense to have different ticket networks.

You can compare Rhein-Ruhr and Rhein-Sieg to Rhein-Main and Rhein-Neckar, these are different agglomerations with no big distance between them too.

Rhine-Ruhr buses.

Essen, city bus:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1430/1463858192_d15a851a36.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2200/2123443370_f94466cbb0.jpg?v=0

Essen, city express bus:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/2122662251_6887a1fbbf.jpg?v=0

Essen, Spurbus (guided bus):

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/50/150563539_3a368fc72b.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1214/1463857278_e7fe38d313.jpg?v=0
flickr.com

Essen-Kettwig S, city night bus:

http://www.************************/bilder/34er/3402.jpg

Essen-Werden S, city bus:

http://www.************************/bilder/34er/3408.jpg

Essen Hbf., city bus:

http://www.************************/bilder/35er/3510.jpg

Essen, Burgaltendorf Burgruine, regional express bus:

http://www.************************/bilder/35er/3502.jpg

Essen-Steele S, city bus:

http://www.************************/bilder/38er/3814.jpg

Test bus from Hanover in Essen:

http://www.************************/bilder/leihwagen/7924.jpg
************************

Hi!

Can you tell me what is that small number on display near the front door of the Citaro?

06, 12, etc etc..

thank you!

You can compare Rhein-Ruhr and Rhein-Sieg to Rhein-Main and Rhein-Neckar, these are different agglomerations with no big distance between them too.
Umm, it's still some 40 km of less-developed area between those two (at least if one doesn't use the all-encompassing Metropolitan Region definitions), and rather not that much transport interlinks. The relevant public transport area agencies, VRN and RMV, only have three railroad lines (with 3 trains/hour average) and about five bus routes going across the border between them, and especially the bus routes will end right across the border in the next town in each case.

Can you tell me what is that small number on display near the front door of the Citaro?

Circuit number within a route. That is, bus 06 will be the bus running on internal route timetable number 06. Next bus on the same route say e.g. 10 or 20 minutes later will likely be 07, next will be 08 and so on during regular operation, until the route is filled with busses (since at some point, the next one will be 01 again, having passed through the full circuit of the route). Internally, this bus will then run on a timetable saying e.g. "155-12" for the 12th bus on line 155, which combined with the right form for "155-12" gives the necessary information on when to turn up where. Including when to switch drivers, when to turn in the bus at the depot or to which line and circuit the bus changes at a certain terminus.

So all Rhein-Ruhr needs is high speed rail and they will have every transit option!!

So all Rhein-Ruhr needs is high speed rail and they will have every transit option!!

Weeeeeelllllllll....

They do have ICE-3 connections and the Köln-Frankfurt am Main section is 300km/h.

[…]

especially the bus routes will end right across the border in the next town in each case.

[…]

Same is between Rhein-Ruhr and Rhein-Sieg.

Sorry, I have to correct that: The Rhein-Ruhr agglomeration is the region between Düsseldorf and Hamm and this region is covered by the same ticket network (VRR = Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr).
Köln and Bonn for example are not part of the Rhein-Ruhr agglomeration, they are part of the Köln/Bonn agglomeration (other designation: Rhein-Sieg agglomeration). That's the reason why they have another ticket network in Rhein-Sieg, that's the reason why they are not members of VRR but of VRS; and that's the reason why there operates S-Bahn Köln and not S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr and why they have Stadtbahn Rhein-Sieg and not Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr.
We have Rhein-Ruhr on the one hand and Köln/Bonn (Rhein-Sieg) on the other, they have not much in common.
So it makes sense to have different ticket networks.
Why are you so irritated? The Metropolregion Rhein-Ruhr does cover Cologne and Bonn. Look, for example, here (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhein-Ruhr) or here (http://www.duisburg.de/micro/europa/Archiv/102010100000178343.php) or here (PDF; page 7) (http://www.region-koeln-bonn.de/uploads/sbs_dl_list/IKM-Monitoring2008_lite.pdf) or here (http://www.geographischerundschau.de/aktuell_inhalt-aktuelles-heft.php?bestellnr=51060100). Does that annoy you or so?

Circuit number within a route. That is, bus 06 will be the bus running on internal route timetable number 06. Next bus on the same route say e.g. 10 or 20 minutes later will likely be 07, next will be 08 and so on during regular operation, until the route is filled with busses (since at some point, the next one will be 01 again, having passed through the full circuit of the route). Internally, this bus will then run on a timetable saying e.g. "155-12" for the 12th bus on line 155, which combined with the right form for "155-12" gives the necessary information on when to turn up where. Including when to switch drivers, when to turn in the bus at the depot or to which line and circuit the bus changes at a certain terminus.


Thank you, that was very clear! :okay:

We also use that around here, but without the digital display.
The details of the service are all in a paper sheet in small sleeve inside the bus, that the driver picks up in the depot. The sistem is almost the same.
;)


"28-2"
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/392/85766702.jpg

Why are you so irritated? The Metropolregion Rhein-Ruhr does cover Cologne and Bonn. Look, for example, here (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhein-Ruhr) or here (http://www.duisburg.de/micro/europa/Archiv/102010100000178343.php) or here (PDF; page 7) (http://www.region-koeln-bonn.de/uploads/sbs_dl_list/IKM-Monitoring2008_lite.pdf) or here (http://www.geographischerundschau.de/aktuell_inhalt-aktuelles-heft.php?bestellnr=51060100). Does that annoy you or so?

Metropolregion is not the same as agglomeration. Metropolregion is a political definition. Because of that it is possible to leave a Metropolregion like Cologne and Bonn want to, they shall create their own one. They want to do it, because so they can get more incentives.

Agglomeration (Ballungraum/Großraum) is a geographical and historical definition. Historical and geographical Rhein-Sieg has not much to do with Rhein-Ruhr.
It is no hap that there are two ticket networks, two S-Bahn systems and two Stadtbahn systems (Rhein-Sieg and Rhein-Ruhr), there is a reason why they have launched two and not one.

I know also about the difference because of my own experience, I live today in the Rhein-Ruhr region, but lived some years before in the Rhein-Sieg region, so I know it first hand and no, it's not localism or something like that, because originally I'm from Berlin.

^^ Are you sure that it isn't just you feeling a mental border between both area's, because having a season ticket you can travel for free until the border, and have to pay to get past it?

Because historically, the most important border was between Rheinland and Westfalen, with Cologne, Düsseldorf and Duisburg on one side, and Dortmund on the other side.

And I've practical experience too, as I've studied and lived in the region for a few years. :)

We also use that around here, but without the digital display.

Frankfurt for example uses the same system even with trams (with small digital displays in the window corner like those Citaros) - only city i've seen it with trams yet.

Most places do use such a system of course - but most companies do not publicize the circuit number on the bus itself like that.

^^ Are you sure that it isn't just you feeling a mental border between both area's, because having a season ticket you can travel for free until the border, and have to pay to get past it?

Because historically, the most important border was between Rheinland and Westfalen, with Cologne, Düsseldorf and Duisburg on one side, and Dortmund on the other side.

And I've practical experience too, as I've studied and lived in the region for a few years. :)

The existence of Rhein-Ruhr and Rhein-Sieg is a fact that's not my feeling but reality. What's about S-Bahn Köln and S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr for example, is it only a feeling? What's about VRS and VRR? What's about Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr and Stadtbahn Rhein-Sieg? Are these only feelings? They founded these different organisations because of feelings? Come on!

The existence of Rhein-Ruhr and Rhein-Sieg is a fact that's not my feeling but reality. What's about S-Bahn Köln and S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr for example, is it only a feeling?
Hmm... Back in 2008, there was no "S-Bahn Köln". The S-Bahn was just part of DB Regio. S-Bahn trains (the ones with a locomotive in front of them) were used interchangably. The trains on the S5 and S8 lines often had both a VRR and a VRS map inside, even though these lines are VRR-only lines.

But indeed, it seems that DB now starts to change this, with Baureihe 423 "S-Bahn Köln" around Cologne, and Baureihe 422 in the Ruhr Area.

What's about VRS and VRR?
What about VRR and VGN and ZRL? Does that mean that Kamen, Dinslaken and Moers aren't part of the Ruhr Area? Or that Mönchengladbach is?

What's about Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr and Stadtbahn Rhein-Sieg?
That's a technical thing: Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr was created as a big Landesweit subvention plan. At that time, Cologne had already started building tram tunnels on their own, without subsidies, so it didn't participate.

But what about Bielefeld? Their tunnels were also built under the Rhein-Ruhr subvention scheme. Does that make Bielefeld part of the Ruhr Area?

Edit: I know that people from Düsseldorf and from Cologne don't like eachother. It is obvious that Krefeld belongs to Düsseldorf, and that Bergisch Gladbach belongs to Cologne. But still, they all belong to one big metropolitan region.

It's actually very similar to the situation here in the Netherlands. Amsterdam and Rotterdam both belong to one big conurbation, the "Randstad". But both cities don't like eachoter, both have their own identity and both have their own agglomeration.

Both ways of thinking are possible, they don't exclude eachother.

Hmm... Back in 2008, there was no "S-Bahn Köln". The S-Bahn was just part of DB Regio. S-Bahn trains (the ones with a locomotive in front of them) were used interchangably. The trains on the S5 and S8 lines often had both a VRR and a VRS map inside, even though these lines are VRR-only lines.

Right, but since the 70ies it existed a distinction between the S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr area and the area of S-Bahn Rhein-Sieg. Today the label "S-Bahn Rhein-Sieg" is not used anymore, it is now called "S-Bahn Köln".


But indeed, it seems that DB now starts to change this, with Baureihe 423 "S-Bahn Köln" around Cologne, and Baureihe 422 in the Ruhr Area.

The gap between the two networks gets bigger by using different rolling stocks, right!


What about VRR and VGN and ZRL? Does that mean that Kamen, Dinslaken and Moers aren't part of the Ruhr Area? Or that Mönchengladbach is?

Dinslaken and Moers are borderline cases. Between VRR and VGN a close collaboration is on the way, perhaps in future there will be only one VRR/VGN ticket network.
I don't know much about ZRL.
Mönchengladbach is not part of the Ruhr area, but of the Rhein-Ruhr agglomeration.


That's a technical thing: Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr was created as a big Landesweit subvention plan. At that time, Cologne had already started building tram tunnels on their own, without subsidies, so it didn't participate.

Cologne did participate, there are tunnels according to the standard of Stadtbahn Rhein-Sieg in Cologne, which are very similar to the standard of Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr.
Only the old tunnels did not participate.


But what about Bielefeld? Their tunnels were also built under the Rhein-Ruhr subvention scheme. Does that make Bielefeld part of the Ruhr Area?

Their tunnels were built under the NRW subvention scheme. Stadtbahn Bielefeld has nothing to do with Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr.

There are three Stadtbahn areas in NRW:

Stadtbahn Bielefeld
Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr (Ruhr area and Düsseldorf)
Stadtbahn Rhein-Sieg (Bonn, Köln)


Edit: I know that people from Düsseldorf and from Cologne don't like eachother.

The borders between Rhein-Ruhr and Rhein-Sieg have been created by the country NRW not by Düsseldorf or Cologne.


It is obvious that Krefeld belongs to Düsseldorf, and that Bergisch Gladbach belongs to Cologne. But still, they all belong to one big metropolitan region.

It's actually very similar to the situation here in the Netherlands. Amsterdam and Rotterdam both belong to one big conurbation, the "Randstad". But both cities don't like eachoter, both have their own identity and both have their own agglomeration.

Both ways of thinking are possible, they don't exclude eachother.

As I have told above, at the moment Cologne and Bonn are part of the Metropolregion Rhein-Ruhr but they want to leave and create an own. The process has been started already.
But, and that's important, they are not part of the agglomeration (Großraum) Rhein-Ruhr. They are part of the Großraum Köln/Bonn or Rhein-Sieg.
Whereas Düsseldorf and Mönchengladabach are part of the Großraum Rhein-Ruhr, no question about that.

Metropolregionen are very big (too big) areas and I doubt the sense of such an area and I'm not alone. ;)
Look at Rhein-Main, almost the whole country of Hessen is part of that Metropolregion, such a definition is simply not useful!

^^ OK, that makes sense. :)

Actually quite interesting - I'm now studying planning, and already before I began I knew for sure that I didn't want to specialise in agglomerations and metropolitan regions. The definitions are very vague and one gets lost in endless discussions very easily. I think the discussion above makes a perfect example of that. :lol:

Now where did we start? With the different tickets. So okay, the VRS does not count. That leaves four different tariff systems in Rhein-Ruhr.

To get back to the topic, a little puzzle:
http://i39.tinypic.com/fxcljc.jpg
Somewhere in the VRR.
- Where?
- What type of train?
- What is the destionation of the train?

^^ OK, that makes sense. :)

Actually quite interesting - I'm now studying planning, and already before I began I knew for sure that I didn't want to specialise in agglomerations and metropolitan regions. The definitions are very vague and one gets lost in endless discussions very easily. I think the discussion above makes a perfect example of that. :lol:

Now where did we start? With the different tickets. So okay, the VRS does not count. That leaves four different tariff systems in Rhein-Ruhr.

To get back to the topic, a little puzzle:

[…]

Somewhere in the VRR.
- Where?
- What type of train?
- What is the destionation of the train?

Could be a regional train (n-waggons?) in Hagen.

Look at Rhein-Main, almost the whole country of Hessen is part of that Metropolregion, such a definition is simply not useful!
There is no official definition of which districts belong to the Metropolregion Frankfurt-Rhein/Main. The widest definition divides all of Hessen state by three local regions, Metropolregion Rhein/Neckar in the South, Region Kassel in the North, and Metropolregion Frankfurt-Rhein/Main for everything else (80%, and a good part beyond the borders too). The tightest definition pretty much stops 30-40 km from Frankfurt proper in every direction roughly, and thus includes about a third of Hessen.

Could be a regional train (n-waggons?) in Hagen.
Correct! :)

RE13 to Venlo shortly after leaving Hagen Hbf.

At the end of this year, a new operator will take over this line (and RE3) and introduce new trains. That also means the end of n-waggons in Rhein-Ruhr, right?

[…]

That also means the end of n-waggons in Rhein-Ruhr, right?

Could be, I am not sure.

Photos of Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr in Düsseldorf.

B80D carriages at Freiligrathplatz. First carriage is newer than the second one, it has a different pantograph and different door steps and it is built of aluminium:

http://www.**************/bilder/stadtbahn-duesseldorf-duisburg-288014.jpg

At Froschenteich, two different carriages too:

http://www.**************/bilder/stadtbahn-duesseldorf-duisburg-287307.jpg

Between Freiligrathplatz and Messe-Ost, special grass track, three carriage train:

http://www.**************/bilder/stadtbahn-duesseldorf-duisburg-283436.jpg

Between Froschenteich and Wittlaer:

http://www.**************/bilder/stadtbahn-duesseldorf-duisburg-271946.jpg

GT8SU carriages leaving Lörick terminus. In the middle of the rails in the foreground you can see the LZB train control cable:

http://www.**************/bilder/stadtbahn-duesseldorf-duisburg-270963.jpg
**************

Wunderbar Bilden!...(sorry for eventual mistake).

Admirable systems!

I'll be in the Rhein-Ruhr area from June to July, so if anyone is willing to show me interesting buildings and anything related to trains, drop me a PM!

Cheers!

Photos from the heart of the Ruhr area – photos of Essen's tram.

M8D-NF trains at Hollestraße:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-149135.jpg

Hollestraße:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-149134.jpg

Steele S:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-135348.jpg

M8 train at Gutenbergstraße:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-99371.jpg

Zollverein Süd:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-92998.jpg

M8D-NF train at Heißener Straße:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-87815.jpg

Some tunnels which are built for the Stadtbahn are used by the tram till the Stadtbahn will start it's service on this branch – M8 train leaving a tunnel at Rüttenscheider Straße:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-31108.jpg

Tram in tunnel at Berliner Platz, it's a transfer station between tram and Stadtbahn:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-30545.jpg
**************

More photos of the tram in Essen.

Helenenstraße:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-280123.jpg

Between stations "Krupp Hauptverwaltung" and "Helenenstraße":

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-280115.jpg

Krupp Hauptverwaltung:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-279910.jpg

Leaving the tunnel at Essen Hauptbahnhof approaching Aalto Theater:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-279896.jpg

Loop in Bredeney:

http://www.**************/bilder/essen-271442.jpg
**************

Some photos of the tram of Duisburg.

Station Zoo/Uni:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/491/mini-Wagen_1023_Duisburg_Zoo_Uni_06.04.2009.jpg

Dinslaken terminus:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/491/1010_Dinslaken.jpg

Duisburg's tram at Mülheim's Königstraße:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/491/mini-Wagen_1043_Mlheim_Knigstr._06.04.2009.jpg

Mülheim Hbf. terminus:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/491/mini-Wagen_1008_Mlheim_Hbf_06.04.2009.jpg

Duisburg-Hamborn, Rathaus:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/491/mini-Wagen_1027_Duisburg_Hamborn_Rathaus_01.04.2009.jpg
mm-trains.de

Is there in Rhine-Ruhr any trolleybus system, that still is operating?

Is there in Rhine-Ruhr any trolleybus system, that still is operating?

Yes, in Solingen, some photos are in post #49 of this thread.

OK, I missed them, so can You anwser me something important. How they are doing? Are they planned to be developed, or it is wanted to "extint" naturally?

OK, I missed them, so can You anwser me something important. How they are doing? Are they planned to be developed, or it is wanted to "extint" naturally?

Years ago there had been a discussion about closing the trolley lines, but then they decides to continue.

Photos.

Solingen Hauptbahnhof:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/261/PICT0297_edited_Medium_2.jpg

Graf-Wilhelm-Platz:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/261/SWS_267_Graf-Wilhelm-Platz.jpg

Mummstraße:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/260/SWS_64_Mummstrae.jpg

Turntable at Burg:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/260/SWS_35_Drehscheibe_Burg_Einholen_der_Stromabnehmer.jpg
mm-trains.de

turntable for a trolley? how much did that cost compared to a path to turn around?

turntable for a trolley? how much did that cost compared to a path to turn around?

It's a matter of space, there is not enough space for a loop.
For more explanation watch the video if you like to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boQlAvPmX-8

Some interesting photos of a tunnel section built for Stadtbahn but now used by tram because the Stadtbahn line is not completed till today.
This tunnel is used by the tram of Mülheim (1000 mm gauge) and the tram of Duisburg (1435 mm gauge). It is located in Mülheim.

Station Schloß Broich – you can see the different train control systems, Duisburg's tram uses LZB (continuous train protection), between the rails the LZB cable can be seen. Mülheim's tram uses Indusi (point-wise, inductive train protection). At the end of the platform, between the rails, the Indusi inductor (trackside magnet) can be seen:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/312/mini-Mlheim_Schlo_Broich_3_06.04.2009.jpg

Same stretch, station Mülheim-Stadtmitte:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/312/mini-Mlheim_Stadtmitte_1_06.04.2009.jpg

Mülheim-Stadtmitte with tram (1000 mm gauge) – Mülheim's 1000 mm gauge trams are broader than Duisburg's 1435 mm gauge, 2,3 m vs. 2,2 m:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/312/280_MHSt.jpg
mm-trains.de

Tram Düsseldorf, Poststraße, carriage NF10:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/239/2028_Postrae.jpg

NF6, Poststraße:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/240/2137_Poststrae.jpg

NF8, Poststraße:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/239/2203_Poststrae.jpg
mm-trains.de

Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Düsseldorf, station Oberbilker Markt:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/187/Oberbilker_Markt_U.jpg
mm-trains.de

Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Düsseldorf, Oberkasseler Brücke:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/238/3216.jpg

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/238/DSC00065a.jpg
mm-trains.de

Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Bochum-Hauptbahnhof:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/2092/6002_BO.jpg

Bochum-Hustadt:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/2092/6006_Hustadt.jpg
mm-trains.de

The new Tango Stadtbahn carriage in Bochum, station Zeche Constantin:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/2095/6026.jpg
mm-trains.de

Stadtbahnwagen B, Bochum Rathaus:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/2092/PICT1790.jpg
mm-trains.de

S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr.

Photos of the new class 422 S-Bahn trains.

Wuppertal Hbf:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1392/422_511-6_Profil.jpg

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1392/422_043-0_Wuppertal_Hbf.jpg

Wuppertal Hbf, left – S-Bahn ET422, right – regional train ET425:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1392/422_543-8_Wuppertal_Hbf.jpg

Within the train:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1392/P08-04-09_10.521.jpg

Wuppertal-Vohwinkel:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1392/DSCI0140.jpg

Düsseldorf-Derendorf:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1392/P1080412.jpg
mm-trains.de

The new S-Bahn seems like a facelift only to me. Is there a significant difference to the older ET425?

The new S-Bahn seems like a facelift only to me. Is there a significant difference to the older ET425?

ET425 is no S-Bahn carriage.

New S-Bahn train is leaving Duisburg Hbf.:

http://www.**************/bilder/s-bahn-rhein-ruhr-315237.jpg
**************

ET425 is no S-Bahn carriage.
But it looks exactly like the S-Bahn carriages in Munich.

But it looks exactly like the S-Bahn carriages in Munich.

Ok, then you mean ET423 the S-Bahn carriages used in Munich, Stuttgart, Rhein-Main (Frankfurt) and Cologne.

ET422 at Gladbeck-West:

http://www.**************/bilder/br-423-314720.jpg

http://www.**************/bilder/s-bahn-rhein-ruhr-314123.jpg

Bochum-Ehrenfeld:

http://www.**************/bilder/s-bahn-rhein-ruhr-313676.jpg
**************

ET425 is no S-Bahn carriage.
ET 425.2 and 425.15 are S-Bahn variants, technically.
Ok, then you mean ET423 the S-Bahn carriages used in Munich, Stuttgart, Rhein-Main (Frankfurt) and Cologne.
The ET422 is basically just a redesigned ET423. Changes include the modified fronts, redesign of brakes, new electronics outfit, somewhat modified safety equipment.

ET423 and ET425 are not related, even if they look near-identical at a cursory glance.

ET422 at Solingen Hbf.:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1392/422_508.jpg

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1392/422_509_1.jpg
mm-trains.de

Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, low floor Stadtbahn in Dortmund.

Station Ostentor:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1950/mini-Wagen_5_Dortmund_Ostentor_15.07.2008.jpg

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1950/mini-Wagen_8_Dortmund_Ostentor_15.07.2008.jpg

Station Lippestraße:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1950/2_lippestrasse_l.jpg

Station Kampstraße:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1950/11_kampstrasse_l.jpg

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1950/10_kampstrasse_l.jpg

Station Westentor:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1950/10_Westentor.jpg

Wittener Straße:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1950/11.jpg

Station Reinoldikirche:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1950/5_reinoldikirche2_m.jpg

Within the NGT8 train:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/1950/6_Innenraum.jpg
mm-trains.de

Mülheim/Ruhr Hbf. On the right – tram of Duisburg to Duisburg, in the middle – tram of Mülheim and on the left – Stadtbahn to Essen:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/312/mini-Mlheim_Hbf_1_06.04.2009.jpg

Aktienstraße in Mülheim/Ruhr. Typical station of the 70ies:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/312/mini-Mlhiem_Aktienstr._1_06.04.2009.jpg
mm-trains.de

Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Dortmund.

B80C series 2 at station Stadion:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/273/343_stadion_l_2.jpg

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/273/301_stadion_l.jpg

Station Am Beilstück:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/273/323_am-beilstueck_l.jpg
mm-trains.de

Theodor-Fliedner-Heim:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/273/308_th-fliedner-heim_l.jpg

Dortmund Hbf.:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/273/327_dortmund-hbf_l.jpg
mm-trains.de

Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Dortmund, Schützenstraße:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/273/mini-Wagen_332_Dortmund_Schtzenstr._15.07.2008.jpg

Stadtgarten:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/273/317_Stadtgarten.jpg

Long B80C at station Polizeipräsidium:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/768/mini-Wagen_354_Dortmund_Polizeiprsidium_15.07.2008.jpg
mm-trains.de

Stadtbahn depot in Dortmund:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/768/Luftaufnahme1.jpg
mm-trains.de

Wuppertal's Schwebebahn:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/misc/Wuppertal_Schwebebahn/misc/wup-9-jp.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/misc/Wuppertal_Schwebebahn/misc/wup-6-jp.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/misc/Wuppertal_Schwebebahn/misc/wup-5-jp.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/misc/Wuppertal_Schwebebahn/misc/wup-4-jp.jpg

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/misc/Wuppertal_Schwebebahn/misc/wup-3-jp.jpg
railfaneurope.net

Schwebebahn in Wuppertal is probably the coolest metro-line in the whole Europe!

The town mulheim am main,near ofenbach,has trams or not?

Mühlheim near Offenbach? Of course not, that's a town of less than 30,000 ppl. And that's about 200 km from the Rhine-Ruhr area...

Mülheim on the Ruhr, which you might mean, has a tram system. Two internal lines plus another three lines across the city borders (to Oberhausen, Essen and Duisburg), as well as the U18 Stadtbahn to Essen.

I know three Mülheims in Germany:

1) Mülheim am Main near Frankfurt/Main.

2) Mülheim an der Ruhr in the Ruhr area.

3) Köln-Mülheim, a district of Cologne.

Tram in Mülheim/Ruhr.

Between Westbahnhof and Marienplatz:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/312/272.jpg

Stadtmitte:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/312/P1090741.jpg

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/312/MH0024.jpg
mm-trains.de

- edited

S-Bahn station Düsseldorf-Zoo:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/306/mini-S6_Dsseldorf_Zoo_19.09.2009.jpg
mm-trains.de

nice to see those trains again from duisburg. i've used them everyday in the 90's. it seems until now they are using the same trains.

"Jägermeister-tram" in Essen:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/177/IMG_1743.jpg
mm-trains.de

^^ Yes:

Click here (6500x1600 699 kB) (http://img2.abload.de/img/schienenvtsf.png)

I like it. Good work. Thanks. :cheers:

The Rhine-Ruhr region covers the Ruhr area plus Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, Mönchengladbach, Krefeld etc. It's the biggest agglomeration of Germany.
Public transport consists of buses, trams, Stadtbahn, S-Bahn, monorail and regional trains.
I will begin with Stadtbahn....

Very interesting thread. I visited Rhine-Ruhr region several times and I also travelled by some of these trams, trains and U-bahns.

BTW Your pictures are amazing, too.

Tram stop Düsseldorf Hbf.:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/187/Dsseldorf_Hbf.jpg

New and old tram side by side:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/232/160808235539_sonstige_altz_und_neu_am_hbf.jpg

These will be the new low floor Stadtbahn trains, today they are in service on some tram lines, because the Stadtbahn stretch for which they are built for is under construction:

Jan-Wellem-Platz:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/232/3302_715_Jan-Wellem-Platz.jpg

Gerresheim:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/232/3301.jpg

Uhlandstraße:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/232/CIMG3508.jpg

Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Düsseldorf, station Freiligrathplatz:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/187/mini-Duesseldorf_Freiligrathplatz_2_22.09.2007.jpg
mm-trains.de

i love the skytrain, would love to ride them, the view must be great when riding as a passenger

Tram Düsseldorf.

GT8S at Landtag, Kniebrücke:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/238/3056_Landtag_Kniebrcke.jpg

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/238/3056_Landtag_Kniebrcke2.jpg

Düsseldorf Hbf.:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/238/mini-Wagen_3043_Dsseldorf_Hbf_12.09.2009.jpg
mm-trains.de

Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr.

Duisburg-Platanenhof:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/491/mini-Wagen_4711_Duisburg_Platanenhof_05.01.2009.jpg

Stadtbahn carriage typ B of Duisburg's DVG, within the train:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/491/Duisburger_B-Wagen_Innenansicht.1.jpg
mm-trains.de

Hi! I'm from polish. I live in Częstochowa near Katowice. My english isn;t too good, but I'd like now the most about public transport in Rhein- Ruhr, Can you give me however scheme with trams and Stadtbahn, and write some information about this system. I'm thanks you.

Hi! I'm from polish. I live in Częstochowa near Katowice. My english isn;t too good, but I'd like now the most about public transport in Rhein- Ruhr, Can you give me however scheme with trams and Stadtbahn, and write some information about this system. I'm thanks you.

Look at pages number one and two of this thread, please! There is a line scheme including S-Bahn, Stadtbahn and Straßenbahn (tram). Though it covers only the Ruhr area, not the whole Rhine-Ruhr agglomeration.

Tram Krefeld.

Krefeld Hauptbahnhof

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/513/815_Krefeld_Hbf.jpg

Kölner Straße:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/513/819_Klner_Strae.jpg

Oldenburger Weg:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/513/846_Oldenurger_Weg.jpg
mm-trains.de

Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Bochum. Station Bochumer Verein/Jahrhunderthalle:

http://img.******************/Bus-Nahverkehr/U-Bahn/U-Bahn-Bochum-1-a19287668.jpg
******************

Essen's tram at Gelsenkirchen's main station – it's a tram which can serve high and low platforms:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/381/EVAG_1166_Linie_107_Bredeney_GE_Hbf.jpg
mm-trains.de

Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr, Bochum – within the new Tango trains:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/2095/Innenraum_Stadler_Tango_BOGESTRA.jpg
mm-trains.de

I found this picture on the web, S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr vs. S-Bahn Köln in Ratingen Ost near Düsseldorf:

http://www.************/archiv/s_bahn_rhein_ruhr_koeln.jpg
************

Stadtbahn Rhein-Ruhr in the snow, Dortmund, B80C B8 series 2 at Remydamm:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/768/349_remydamm_l.jpg
mm-trains.de

Do You have any archive from the 90-ties? Especially O-Bahn and Duewag GT trams, M/N8 generation trams. Now retired MB O405 and MAN SL202/SL200/SG... Something in that climate :)

My shots of the Dortmund U-bahn:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/01/787401/6237373537353939.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/01/787401/6566356565376338.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/01/787401/6162366538396332.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/01/787401/6166633036626636.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/01/787401/6166626164313763.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/01/787401/3031353162386662.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/01/787401/6265383138653564.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/01/787401/3666633534313966.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/01/787401/3164616636656433.jpg

Nice photos, thanks!

Neuss Hbf.:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/187/Foto0082_9.jpg
mm-trains.de

New low floor trams in Krefeld.

Krefeld Hbf.:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/513/SWK_606_Krefeld_Hbf_27.02.2010_002.jpg

Dreiköniginnenstraße:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/513/SWB_606_Dreiknigenstrae_27.02.2010_002.jpg

Westwall/Rathaus:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/513/SWK_606_Westwall_-_Rathaus_27.02.2010.jpg
mm-trains.de

Krefeld Hbf.:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/513/SWK_606_Krefeld_Hbf_27.02.2010.jpg

The new Bombardier Flexity Outlook, Dreikönigenstraße:

http://www.mm-trains.de/data/media/513/SWK_606_Dreiknigenstrae_27.02.2010.jpg
mm-trains.de

^^
Hello JoKo65, I really enjoyed reading this topic, just as the topic about Cologne. Thank you for posting all these pictures and information! In the city where I live (Groningen, NL) there are plans to reintroduce the tram. The first line should be built by 2014. That's why I like to see how the tram is embedded in the streets. Moreover, the tram planned to introduce in Groningen (and surroundings) is a regiotram (Karlsruher Modell).

Something else: I was wondering, are there any kinds of electronic tickets? Are there plans to introduce a system like Oyster in London, Octopus in Hongkong or OV-Chipkaart in The Netherlands?

^^ In the Ruhrgebiet they have electronic tickets for season cards, normal tickets are still paper tickets. The reading devices for the electronic tickets are quite slow, they take about 5 seconds to read the chip.

As for the embedding into the streets: it really differs. Most lines have been put underground in the busier city centres. The only exception is Krefeld. The last picture that JoKo65 posted is in the city centre of Krefeld, It is a four-track tram line, because it is used by both narrow-gauge normal trams and by normal-gauge 2,65m wide regiotrams.

For the rest, these are some examples:

(Own photo's unless noted)

http://i36.tinypic.com/j7cape.jpg
Little narrow-gauge tram in the main shopping street of Witten

http://i35.tinypic.com/jqrg47.jpg
Double-traction Stadtbahn (regiotram / almost full metro) on the middle strip of a motorway

http://i44.tinypic.com/2iawtuf.jpg
The same 2,65m wide double-traction Stadtbahn trains, but now as a tram on a normal road. It is on a tram stop now, so the cars have to stop if passengers want to leave or board the train.

http://i40.tinypic.com/2nrq2on.jpg
Typical tram street in the Ruhrgebiet: roads with at least four lanes, the tram uses the lanes in the middle. (However, on this particular street, the tram was replaced by a premetro)

http://i42.tinypic.com/a4tmol.jpg
Narrow-gauge tram track in a suburb of Witten

Examples of trams running in narrow streets in the city centre are rare in the Ruhrgebiet. The only good one I can think of is the Hunsrückenstr. in Düsseldorf:

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/8971170.jpg
Source: Panoramio (http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8971170)

Other examples, like the Hauptstr. in Herne-Eickel, are not really comparable to the situation in Groningen, I think.

Oh, wait, how could I forget Neuss?

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/26908061.jpg
Bi-directional single track running through the main street of Neuss (source (http://www.panoramio.com/photo/26908061))

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/30066644.jpg
Double track portion during winter (source (http://www.panoramio.com/photo/30066644))

As for the Groningen ideas for the suburbs, you won't find many examples of that in Germany. In Germany, the tram generally only gets an own right-of-way if at least two car lanes remain on either side. Only in Bielefeld (near the Rathaus stop) I have seen tram tracks in grass with only one lane of asphalt on either side.

^^
Haha, funny to see my questions answered by a Groninger ;) But thanks anyway! I like the pictures of Düsseldorf and Neuss especially. What do the shopkeepers think about the tram in their street? Because in Groningen some shopkeepers think the tram will ruin their businesses ("trams are dangerous, noisy, ...").

^^ In Neuss the tram has been very controversial during the last few years. The city council wanted to remove it from the shopping street, but in a referendum the citizens voted to keep the tram. It was then decided to renew the entire street and reduce the tram from double-track to single-track.

However, another factor in play is that the tramway leads directly to the Düsseldorf city centre, so a natural thought for Neuss shopkeepers is that the tramway makes Düsseldorf take customers away from Neuss. The Neuss city council already augmented the tariff* to discourage this. :ohno:

(* Stichwort: Zwischenwabe -> Preisstufe B)

Btw. It's indeed very funny that we meet in this thread. As you probably know I've closely followed the Groningen tram developments during the last years, but it is very much a coincidence that I lived in the Ruhrgebiet for a few years and therefore also check this thread, and that you as fellow Groninger also came to look here. :)

nhHGiGydDoc
^^ http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

zBGs0UtnYmI
^^ :)

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^^ http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

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^^ Even its swaying is graceful http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

Stadler Variobahn in Gelsenkirchen:

http://www.abload.de/img/img_0235p7bq.jpg

http://www.bogestra.de/fileadmin/dam/Variobahn_Doppeltraktion_1_netz.jpg

http://www.ruhrnachrichten.de/storage/scl/mdhl/artikelbilder/lokales/rn/bolo/249155_m3t1w564h376q75v48551_Vario-Bahn_innen_2.jpg

http://www.imgbox.de/users/trambahn/DoBoGeE/DoBoGeE_20.jpg

^^ In the first picture the driver's wearing a Schalke shirt :lol:

^^ In the first picture the driver's wearing a Schalke shirt :lol:


:) At matchdays many drivers are wearing Schalke shirts on the "stadium line" 302.
This picture was taken close to the stadium's tram station:

http://www.staedtefoto.de/data/media/164/20080522_0947.jpg

31 Jan 2012 http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/icons/icon1.gif:Weight challenge for Wuppertal monorail car designer

http://www.railwaygazette.com/typo3temp/pics/c80af3d48f.jpg
^^ clickable... (http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/weight-challenge-for-wuppertal-monorail-car-designer.html)

Wuppertal Schwebebahn

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/DSC29185.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/DSC29179.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/DSC29305.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/DSC29309.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/DSC29626.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/DSC29313.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/DSC29360.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/DSC29444.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/DSC29461.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/DSC29613.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d107/Vincentthomas/Album%203/DSC29625.jpg

Hmmm, I wonder what observing the operations of the depot appearing in the last photograph must be like :?

^^ Nice wideo but the Rhine-Main (Frankfurt/Wiesbaden) is not the Rhine-Ruhr (Dusseldorf/Essen/Dortmund).
There are over 150km between both areas.

Video now deleted, and placed in the generic 'Germany - Railways' thread. I had a vague feeling it wasn't right, but I did know that the Ruhr region was one of those 'mega'-regions

^^ Nice wideo but the Rhine-Main (Frankfurt/Wiesbaden) is not the Rhine-Ruhr (Dusseldorf/Essen/Dortmund).
There are over 150km between both areas.

Uazb0yvQrlg

Now, at just after the 15th minute, the tram we are on follows behind another just before Luegplatz. Now, going by the Düsseldorf Stadtbahn Map (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/5/54/20120101163654%21StadtbahnD.png) where 2 lines meet, Is this therefore a regular occurrence?

Was it the other tram or the traffic signals themselves that demoted our clear signal to danger (15'30")? Wasn't our tram thrown a clear signal too early (15'53"), for that other one hadn't yet finished merging onto the track?

Now, at just after the 15th minute, the tram we are on follows behind another just before Luegplatz. Now, going by the Düsseldorf Stadtbahn Map (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/5/54/20120101163654%21StadtbahnD.png) where 2 lines meet, Is this therefore a regular occurrence?
I don't think so. The stations aren't prepared to serve two trams at once. Situations like these are therefore to be avoided.

Not much of one to add but a picture taken from the entrance to Dusseldorf Messe of the U-Bahn station D-ESPRIT arena/Messe Nord on Sunday 06-05-12

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8019/7006278256_1dfefba438_b.jpg