Eurobahn GmbH & Co. KG is a railway operator in Germany, established in 1998. It operates 15 regional train services in 4 contracts in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with cross-border services including Lower Saxony and the Netherlands.
It is temporarily owned by Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe, the rail authority for eastern North Rhine-Westphalia, where the majority of Eurobahn's services operate.
Initially a joint venture between Keolis and Rhenus operating bus and rail services, it became a 100% Keolis subsidiary operating rail services in 2007. From 1 January 2022 until May 2025, it was owned by the law firm Noerr.
History Company history
Eurobahn was founded as Eurobahn Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH & Co KG, later Rhenus Keolis, in 1998 as a 60/40 joint venture between Keolis (then VIA-GTI) and Rhenus.French Win Bielefeld Contract Today's Railways Europe issue 40 April 1999 page 13
In December 2007, the joint venture was dissolved; Rhenus taking ownership of the bus operations and two railway contracts under the name Rhenus Veniro, Keolis taking full ownership of Eurobahn, renaming the company as Keolis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG.Rhenus Keolis split on 1 December Eurail 4 December 2007 (German)Rhenus and Keolis now formally separated Omnibus Review 6 December 2007 (German)
In October 2021, Keolis announced its intention to sell the business and exit the German market.Keolis to sell Eurobahn and exit German market International Railway Journal 6 October 2021Keolis to exit German rail market Modern Railways issue 879 December 2021 pages 61/62 The business was sold to Team Treuhand, a subsidiary of Noerr law firm, effective 31 December 2021, while renaming it to its present name.Keolis confirms buyer for German rail activities International Railway Journal 23 December 2021
In May 2025, Eurobahn was taken over for one symbolic Euro by Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe, the rail authority for eastern North Rhine-Westphalia, where the majority of Eurobahn's services operate.
Regional rail services Overview: +ContractContract commencedContract finishesRail authoritiesLinesRolling stockVolumeOstwestfalen-Lippe-NetzMay 2000, renewed December 2013December 2028NWLRB71, RB73 (since 2000), RB67, RE82 (since 2013)24× Bombardier Talent (3-car)2.2 million train-km/yearHellweg-NetzDecember 2008, renewed December 2018December 2030NWL, VRRRB50, RB59, RB69, RB8925× Stadler Flirt 1 (4-car) 5× Stadler Flirt 3 (5-car)5.9 million train-km/yearMaas-Rhein-Lippe-NetzDecember 2009December 2026VRR, NWLRE3, RE1314× Stadler Flirt 1 (5-car) 4× Stadler Flirt 1 (4-car)3.3 million train-km/yearTeutoburger-Wald-NetzDecember 2017December 2032NWL, LNVG, OverijsselRB61, RB65, RB66, RB72, RE7814× Stadler Flirt 1 (3-car) 5× Stadler Flirt 1 (5-car) 8× Stadler Flirt 3 (5-car)5.3 million train-km/year In May 2000, Eurobahn commenced operating two rail services in the East Westphalia-Lippe region (OWL) in North Rhine-Westphalia.Keolis Germany: yesterday, today & tomorrow EurobahnEurobahn Takes Over Today's Railways Europe issue 54 June 2000 page 7 In 2013 the OWL contract was renewed until December 2028 with an additional two routes added.Keolis wins Bielfeld tenderToday's Railways Europe issue 189 September 2011 page 52
From December 2003 until December 2011, Eurobahn operated the Weser-/Lammetalbahn contract.
On 14 December 2008, Eurobahn commenced operating the Hellweg Net services. In 2015, the contract was extended until 2030.Eurobahn retains Germany's Hellweg regional network International Railway Journal 6 October 2015Eurobahn retains Hellweg-Netz contract Railway Gazette International 7 October 2015
In December 2009, Eurobahn commenced operating the Maas-Rhine-Lippe network until December 2026.Eurobahn signs operating contract Railway Gazette International 25 August 2009Rhenus-Keolis wins in Dusseldorf Today's Railways Europe issue 138 June 2007 page 49
In December 2017, Eurobahn commenced operating the Teutoburger Wald network until December 2032.Keolis to operate Teutoburger Wald network International Railway Journal 7 November 2014Keolis wins Teutoburger-Wald operating contract Railway Gazette International 7 November 2014Teutoburger Wald regional contract finally signed International Railway Journal 7 July 2015Keolis wins battle of Teutoburger Wald Railway Gazette International 10 July 2016
Eurobahn was scheduled to commence operating Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn routes S1 and S4 under contract to Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) in December 2019.Abellio and Keolis chosen for Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn contracts International Railway Journal 7 July 2016Keolis and Abellio selected for Rhein-Ruhr S-Bahn contracts Railway Gazette International 7 July 2016Keolis wins a new commuter rail contract in Germany and strengthens its position in mass transit Keolis 11 July 2016 However with Eurobahn unable to recruit enough drivers before the contract commenced, VRR cancelled the contract with incumbent DB Regio awarded a short-term contract instead.Contract Lost Due to Driver Shortage Modern Railways issue 855 December 2019 page 79
Long-distance rail services From December 2000, Eurobahn operated an open-access long-distance rail service between Cologne and Bielefeld, using its Bombardier Talent rail cars offering fares as low as 40 DM, a third less than its competitor DB Reise & Touristik. Due to insufficient patronage, the service was withdrawn in January 2001.
Since December 2016, Eurobahn is providing the train drivers for the Eurostar high-speed rail service (originally Thalys) for its German section between Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund.
Services Eurobahn operate services on the following lines:Hellweg network EurobahnMass-Rhine-Lippe network EurobahnOWL network Eurobahn
Current Line no.Line nameRouteContractContract commencedContract finishes Rhein-Emscher-ExpressDüsseldorf – Düsseldorf Flughafen – Duisburg – Oberhausen – Gelsenkirchen – Herne – Dortmund – HammMaas-Rhein-Lippe-NetzDecember 2009December 2026 Maas-Wupper-ExpressVenlo – Viersen – Mönchengladbach – Düsseldorf – Wuppertal – Hagen – HammMaas-Rhein-Lippe-NetzDecember 2009December 2026 Der LünerDortmund – Lünen – MünsterHellweg-NetzDecember 2008December 2030 Hellweg-BahnDortmund – Unna – SoestHellweg-NetzDecember 2008December 2030 WiehengebirgsbahnBielefeld – Osnabrück – Rheine – Bad Bentheim – HengeloTeutoburger Wald-NetzDecember 2017December 2032 Ems-BahnMünster – RheineTeutoburger Wald-NetzDecember 2017December 2032 Teuto-BahnMünster – OsnabrückTeutoburger Wald-NetzDecember 2017December 2032 Der WarendorferMünster – Warendorf – Gütersloh – BielefeldOstwestfalen-Lippe-NetzDecember 2013December 2028 Ems-Börde-BahnMünster – Hamm – BielefeldHellweg-NetzDecember 2008December 2030 Ravensberger BahnBielefeld – Herford – Bünde – RahdenOstwestfalen-Lippe-NetzDecember 2000December 2028 Ostwestfalen-BahnHerford – Detmold – Altenbeken – PaderbornTeutoburger Wald-NetzDecember 2017December 2032 Der LipperländerBielefeld – Lage – LemgoOstwestfalen-Lippe-NetzDecember 2000December 2028 Porta-ExpressNienburg – Minden – BielefeldTeutoburger Wald-NetzDecember 2017December 2032 Der LeineweberBielefeld – Lage – Detmold – AltenbekenOstwestfalen-Lippe-NetzDecember 2013December 2028 Ems-Börde-BahnMünster – Hamm – Paderborn – WarburgHellweg-NetzDecember 2008December 2030Eurostar(Paris – Brussels –) Aachen – Cologne – Düsseldorf – Essen – Dortmund–December 2016–
Former Eurobahn formerly operated the following services: LineRouteNetworkContract commencedContract finishedSuccessor operator Hildesheim – Hameln – Löhne – BündeWeser-/LammetalbahnDecember 2003December 2011NordWestBahn Hildesheim – BodenburgWeser-/LammetalbahnDecember 2003December 2011NordWestBahn
Rolling stock The Eurobahn fleet consists of Bombardier Talents and Stadler Flirts.Our trains Eurobahn
References
External links