The system consists of 11 lines. Most of them are operated by DBRegio NRW, while line S28 is operated by Regiobahn and S7 by RheinRuhrBahn. S28 and S7 are two non-electrified lines of the network. The S1 runs 24/7 between Dortmund and Dusseldorf, while the S2 has a 24/7 service between Dortmund and Essen.
The first S-Bahn lines were operated using Silberling cars and Class 141 locomotives. However these were not suited for operations on a rapid transit network and were soon replaced by Class 420electric multiple units.
Constructing an improved version of the 420 with the tentative designation Class 422 was discussed, but in 1978 the Deutsche Bundesbahn commissioned a batch of coaches from Duewag and MBB. These lightweight and modern coaches were designated as x-Wagen ("x-car") after their classification code Bx. Among the design elements inherited from the recent LHB prototype carriages were the bogies with disc brakes and rubber airbag shock absorbers that also included automated level control, ensuring level boarding from S-Bahn platforms with a standard height of 96 cm regardless of varying passenger loading.
In late 1978, the first prototypes of 2nd class type Bx 794.0 cars and Bxf 796.0control cars were handed over to DB, followed by split first/second class cars type ABx 791.0 in early 1979. The prototypes were successful, so from 1981 to 1994 several series were commissioned, with some going to the Nuremberg S-Bahn system.
A Class 111 locomotive leads an orange-and-white S-Bahn service across the Hohenzollernbrücke into Köln Hauptbahnhof in 1985
The x-Wagen were mechanically coupled to form fixed sets of typically one ABx car, one or two Bx cars and one Bxf control car. This way a train offered seating for a total of 222 to 302 passengers and standing room for another 429 to 539 passengers. A few five-car sets ran on peak time services. All cars were of a walk-through design with mechanical doors at each end. Initially the ABx car ran on the loco end to keep passengers looking for a seat from disturbing first-class passengers. The orientation of trains was not predictable in practice however, so the ABx car was instead put in the middle of the train. In later years, when insufficient numbers of Bx cars were ready for service, some trains ran with two ABx cars.
Traction was provided by the Class 111 locomotives produced locally by Krupp in Essen. They had been designed for long-haul Intercity and limited-stop commuter train services with a maximum speed of 160km/h (99mph) and were not an ideal fit for rapid transit duty. After the German reunification, even before the old Deutsche Bundesbahn was merged with the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany to form the new Deutsche Bahn, the Class 143 Reichsbahn engines replaced the Class 111 on the S-Bahn network, limiting the top speed on the network to 120km/h (75mph) but with better acceleration and noticeably less jolting.
The Cologne S-Bahn section went into full operation in 2002 in conjunction with the opening of the Cologne-Frankfurt high speed line. It runs with Class 423 EMUs on lines S11, S12 and S13/S19. Due to recent service improvements, there are insufficient numbers of Class 423 EMUs available, so Class 420 electric multiple units can be found on line S12.
Starting in 2008, 84 units of Class 422 were introduced in the Ruhr area section and around Düsseldorf, replacing the x-Wagen loco-hauled trains.
These newer classes of EMUs once again increased the maximum speed on the network to 140km/h (87mph) where permitted, which together with the better acceleration of the EMUs did reduce delays that had become entrenched in the latter years of x-Wagen operations.
New electric rolling stock for the S5 and S8 lines was introduced in December 2014 after having been tested on S68 since October 2014. These Alstom Coradiatrains are operated by DB Regio NRW and offer on-board toilet facilities.
All trains of Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn ran with the red DB livery except for the S7 and S28 trainsets which are painted in the colours of their respective operators.
Rolling stock after 2019
Starting in December 2019, there will be major changes in the Ruhr area section of the network: The standard service pattern will be altered from a 20-minute to a 30-minute or 15-minute headway. Services around Düsseldorf and Cologne will not be affected and remain on their 20-minute schedule.
Several services will no longer be operated by DB Regio NRW, but by Abellio Rail NRW.[3] Simultaneously, the livery of all trains will change to green and white to uphold a uniform appearance regardless of operator.[4]
Lines S2, S3 and S9 as well as several Regionalbahn lines that will complement or supplant S-Bahn services will use Stadler FLIRT 3 XL units. Upon eventual electrification, those are also going to run on line S28, sporting Regiobahn's red and white livery.
Rolling Stock 2025
ELECTRO
2000: 63x ET423 class
lines: S11, S12, S19
DB / Deutsche Bahn livery,
2007: 36x ET422 class
lines: S6, S68
DB / Deutsche Bahn livery,
2014: 28x ET(1)440 class
lines: S5, S8
DB / Deutsche Bahn livery,
2018: 48x ET422 class
lines: S1, S4
DB / S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr livery,
2019: 21x ET(3)427/(3)429 class
lines: S2, S3, S9
DB / S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr livery,
2024: 24x ET424 class
lines: S12, S19
DB / S-Bahn Köln livery.
TOTAL: 220 electric trains.
DIESEL
1998: 10x VT609 class
line: S28
Regiobahn / Regiobahn livery,
2013: 9x VT(1)648 class
line: S7
Rhein-Ruhr-Bahn / Abellio livery,
2014: 11x VT620/622 class
line: S23
DB / Deutsche Bahn livery.
TOTAL: 30 diesel trains.
After Abellio became insolvent in 2022, other companys got new contracts to keep the lines S2, S3, S7 and S9 in service.
In 2024 class ET424 got new in service to give up the old trains class ET 420. These trains have been originally in service for S-Bahn Hannover since 2000 and got a redesign for the S-Bahn Köln.
Sometimes there are also classes running on others lines, like the S5 is operated often by various trains.
Future
Until the end of 2026 all 99 trains of the ET 423 class (2000) and ET 422 class (2007) will get a redesign, the new S-Bahn Köln livery.
In 2027 line S28 will be operated by 10 trains class ET (3)427. Six trains of these will have the S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr livery, while the other four trains show the Regiobahn livery.
Furthermore line S23 will be operated by trains class ET 442 (Bombardier Talent 2) starting 2028. These trains are already in service by Deutsche Bahn on other lines and will switch to the S-Bahn Köln 2028.
For 2029 there are up to 90 new trains ordered from Alstom for the lines S6, S11, S12, S19, S68 and some new lines. These trains will have 7 or 11 cars and will made it unnecessary to build coupled trains on the lines.
Vias Rail will operate line S5 and S8 starting 2030 with 33 new trains class ET (3)427 in the S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr livery.
S-Bahn Köln will be renamed to S-Bahn Rheinland and will overtake some lines of the S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr in future.
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DB Regio NRW, Regiobahn (S28), RheinRuhrBahn (S7)
