Rhein Ruhr Express

Rhein Ruhr Express
Two RRX Siemens Desiro HC trainsets operate in the morning near Haldern as RE5 to Koblenz.
Two RRX Siemens Desiro HC trainsets operate in the morning near Haldern as RE5 to Koblenz.
Overview
Area servedRhine-Ruhr metropolitan region
Transit typeRegional rail
Number of lines5
Websiterrx.de
Operation
Began operation9 December 2018; 5 years ago (2018-12-09)
Operator(s)National Express Germany
Number of vehicles84 Siemens Desiro HC
HeadwayEvery 15 minutes on the main section
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Top speed160 km/h (99 mph)

Rhein Ruhr Express (branded as Rhein Ruhr Xpress or RRX) is a regional rail system in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region of Germany connecting the Ruhr Valley and the central Rhineland. The primary goal is to provide a fast connection on the main trunk line between Dortmund and Cologne, located along the Ruhr Valley, with trains every quarter of an hour. This main line has been expanded, improved or reconfigured to enable more trains to operate and at higher speeds. Like the previous Regional-Express lines they replaced, RRX routes branch off from the main trunk line to serve other cities and states at lower frequencies.

For the project, 84 Siemens Desiro HC trainsets were purchased, which have higher capacity and acceleration, enabling increased punctuality.[1][2] Operation of the first RRX line started in December of 2018, while five lines operate as of 2023. The construction is planned to be finished by 2030[1] and the project is expected to replace 24,000 automobile trips per day when finished.[3]

  1. ^ a b "Probleme zum Start des RRX erwartet" [Problems during the start of the RRX expected]. Rheinische Post (in German). 14 April 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  2. ^ "RRX-Flotte komplett: Siemens Mobility liefert 84. und finalen Zug fristgerecht aus" [RRX-Fleet complete: Siemens Mobility delivers 84th and final train on time]. Siemens (in German). 18 December 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Düsseldorf: 25 Jahre bis zum RRX" [Düsseldorf: 25 years until the RRX operates]. Rheinische Post (in German). 31 October 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2023.