Wupper-Express

The Wupper-Express (RE 4) is a Regional-Express service in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) running between Aachen and Dortmund via Mönchengladbach, Düsseldorf, Wuppertal and Hagen. It is the third most widely used Regional-Express line in the area administered by the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) with approximately 24,000 passengers a day.^[2] The line is part of the Rhein-Ruhr-Express (RRX) network and is operated by National Express Germany.

RE 4 Wupper-Express
Overview
Locale	North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Service
System	Rhein-Ruhr-Express (RRX)
Route number	485 (Aachen–Hagen) 427 (Hagen–Dortmund)
Operator(s)	National Express Germany
Technical
Line length	171 km (106 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead line, 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
Operating speed	160 km/h (99 mph) (maximum)
Route map Legend Operating points and lines[1] 0 Dortmund Hbf Eurostar, ICE, IC 16 Witten Hbf 23 Wetter (Ruhr) 31 Hagen Hbf ICE, IC 42 Ennepetal (Gevelsberg) 47 Schwelm 52 Wuppertal-Oberbarmen 54 Wuppertal-Barmen 57 Wuppertal Hbf ICE, IC 64 Wuppertal-Vohwinkel 84 Düsseldorf Hbf Eurostar, ICE, IC 87 Düsseldorf-Bilk 92 Neuss Hbf ICE, IC 109 Mönchengladbach Hbf ICE, IC 113 Rheydt Hbf IC 126 Erkelenz 132 Hückelhoven-Baal 138 Lindern 145 Geilenkirchen 150 Übach-Palenberg 157 Herzogenrath IC 168 Aachen West 169 Aachen Schanz 171 Aachen Hbf Eurostar, ICE, IC

History

Today's RE 4 is the successor to the former StädteExpress line SE from Aachen to Hagen and Iserlohn. Later, the end point was moved to Hamm and after the abolition of InterRegio services it was extended to Munster. Under the second stage of North Rhine-Westphalia's integrated timetable (ITF 2), introduced in December 2002, it was replaced by the Maas-Wupper-Express (RE 13) and the Ems-Börde-Bahn (RB 89) services between Hagen and Munster and the Wupper-Express has since then run to Dortmund with a stop in Witten.

A reorganisation of services between Cologne and Dortmund is being undertaken in a program known as the Rhine-Ruhr Express (RRX).^[3] Since 18 March 2022, the Wupper-Express has also stopped in Düsseldorf-Bilk with the completion of the new regional platform.

Route

The Wupper-Express runs successively over the Aachen–Mönchengladbach, the Mönchengladbach–Düsseldorf and the Düsseldorf–Elberfeld lines. The service then follows the Elberfeld–Dortmund railway as far as Witten station, from where it uses the tracks of the Witten/Dortmund–Oberhausen/Duisburg railway and the Oberstraße Tunnel on its way to Dortmund station. At night, the RE 4 operates to Düsseldorf Airport Terminal station.

The Wupper-Express runs parallel to Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn lines on large sections of track and it has some of the character of a fast S-Bahn service and is perceived by passengers accordingly.

Rollingstock

The Wupper-Express formerly used class 111 locomotives and non-air conditioned double-deck coaches. Additional peak hour services operated between Düsseldorf and Aachen with class 110 and 111 locomotives, operated exclusively with refurbished Silberling carriages.

Since December 2020, the line has been operated by National Express with new Siemens Desiro HC EMU's in coupled sets, which serve as a reserve for possible expansions of the Rhein-Ruhr-Express lines.^[4]

• 
  Wupper-Express near Baal
• 
  Preparation of the train in Aachen
• 
  Train running label
• 
  Leaving Aachen Hbf
• 
  Wupper-Express on track 3 in Aachen Hbf
• 
  Wupper-Express with Siemens Desiro HC in Wuppertal Hbf

See also

• List of regional rail lines in North Rhine-Westphalia
• List of scheduled railway routes in Germany

Notes

1. Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland (German railway atlas). Schweers + Wall. 2009. ISBN 978-3-89494-139-0.
2. "Qualitätsbericht SPNV Im Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr für 2010" (PDF) (in German). Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr. February 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
3. NVR, ed. (11 April 2014). "RRX-Interimsvergabe geht an DB Regio NRW" (Press release) (in German).
4. "Nahverkehrsplan 2016" (PDF) (Press release) (in German). Zweckverband Nahverkehr Rheinland. March 2016. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.

External links

• "Wupper-Express". NRW rail archive (in German). André Joost. Retrieved 7 September 2011.