Abellio will continue to operate the Ruhr-Sieg network

Abellio Rail Nordrhein Westfalen will continue to operate the Ruhr-Sieg network in the future. The PTA Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NWL) announced that Abellio would be awarded the contract to operate the network between Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Iserlohn and Siegen from 2019. The decision is subject to the statutory period of opposition of ten days. After this period it will be legally binding.

Abellio has been operating the Ruhr-Sieg network since 2007. This makes it the first time in Abellio Germany's history that a network has been defended.

Stephan Krenz, Managing Director of Abellio Germany: "NWL's announcement regarding the Ruhr-Sieg network is proof that our company cannot only win but also successfully defend networks. The Ruhr-Sieg network is a valuable part of our services in passenger transport. This shows that we are on the right track to be one of the leading railway companies in Germany following the strategy of our controlled growth

Ronald Lünser, Managing Director of Abellio Rail NRW, emphasises: "We have successfully operated the Ruhr-Sieg network since 2007 and have contributed to higher quality and service on the railway. The fact that we have been awarded to continue operation of the network is proof that we are on the right track with our quality targets and our service philosophy. The multiple awards for our quality of service, which we received from NWL for the Ruhr-Sieg network, are the incentive for us to become event better and not only keep the quality level for our customers, but to go above and beyond. We are looking forward to the challenge of delivering our passengers reliable performance and bringing them to their destination on time, comfortably and safely."

Changes in the network

From December 2019, the RB 46 from Bochum to Gelsenkirchen, which has already been operated by Abellio Rail NRW since December 2005, will be integrated into the Ruhr-Sieg network. In return, the RB 40 from Hagen to Essen will no longer be part of the Ruhr-Sieg network. The RB 40 was newly awarded within the S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr tender, which has been awarded to Abellio.

Abellio will continue to use the fleet of 17 FLIRT vehicles from Stadler on the Ruhr-Sieg network. Additionally, a Coradia LINT multiple-unit train from Alstom will be used on RB 46, making the fleet for Ruhr-Sieg network consist out of a total of 18 vehicles. Maintenance will continue to be carried out by Abellio in Hagen.

Abellio Rail Nordrhein Westfalen currently operates lines RE 16, RB 40, Rb 46 and RB 91 as well as the S7 via Müngstener bridge. From 11 December 2016, Abellio will also operate the Niederrhein network between Bocholt, Düsseldorf, Mönchengladbach and Emmerich. This line will be expanded cross the border to Arnhem, the Netherlands from April 2017. From 2016, Abellio will also start operations on two lines of the Rhine-Ruhr-Express and six lined of the S-Bahn Rhine-Ruhr from 2019.

About Abellio

175 years of experience has embedded in Abellio a social duty to passengers which extends beyond the journey on one of our trains, trams or buses. The passenger is at the heart of everything we do. The delivery of safe, reliable and comfortable services is the starting point for every transport provider, but that is not enough for Abellio. Our services must play an integrated role in the socio-economic development of the societies we serve.