Eurobahn

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German train operating company

title: "Eurobahn" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["keolis", "railway-companies-of-germany", "railway-companies-established-in-1998", "1998-establishments-in-germany"] description: "German train operating company" topic_path: "geography/germany" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurobahn" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary German train operating company ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

FieldValue
logoLogo Eurobahn.svg
former_nameEurobahn Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH & Co KG (1998–2001)
typeGmbH & Co. KG
foundation1998
location_cityDüsseldorf
location_countryGermany
area_servedNorth Rhine-Westphalia
key_people
industryRail transport
parentZweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NWL)
homepagewww.eurobahn.de
::

| name = | logo = Logo Eurobahn.svg | former_name = Eurobahn Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH & Co KG (1998–2001) Rhenus Keolis (2001–2007) Keolis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG (2007–2021) | type = GmbH & Co. KG | traded_as = | foundation = 1998 | founder = | defunct = | location_city = Düsseldorf | location_country = Germany | locations = | area_served = North Rhine-Westphalia | key_people = | industry = Rail transport | products = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = | parent = Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NWL) | homepage = www.eurobahn.de

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

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Eurobahn_Flirt_3_2017.jpg" caption="[[Stadler Flirt]] in January 2018"] ::

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.

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.

In October 2021, Keolis announced its intention to sell the business and exit the German market. The business was sold to Team Treuhand, a subsidiary of Noerr law firm, effective 31 December 2021, while renaming it to its present name.

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: ::data[format=table title=""]

ContractContract commencedContract finishesRail authoritiesLinesRolling stockVolume
Ostwestfalen-Lippe-NetzMay 2000, renewed December 2013December 2028NWLRB71, RB73 (since 2000), RB67, RE82 (since 2013)24× Bombardier Talent (3-car)2.2 million train-km/year
Hellweg-NetzDecember 2008, renewed December 2018December 2030NWL, VRRRB50, RB59, RB69, RB8925× Stadler Flirt 1 (4-car)5.9 million train-km/year
Maas-Rhein-Lippe-NetzDecember 2009December 2026VRR, NWLRE3, RE1314× Stadler Flirt 1 (5-car)3.3 million train-km/year
Teutoburger-Wald-NetzDecember 2017December 2032NWL, LNVG, OverijsselRB61, RB65, RB66, RB72, RE7814× Stadler Flirt 1 (3-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. In 2013 the OWL contract was renewed until December 2028 with an additional two routes added.

From December 2003 until December 2011, Eurobahn operated the Weser-/Lammetalbahn contract.

On 14 December 2008, Eurobahn commenced operating the Hellweg Net services.

In December 2009, Eurobahn commenced operating the Maas-Rhine-Lippe network until December 2026.

In December 2017, Eurobahn commenced operating the Teutoburger Wald network until December 2032.

Eurobahn was scheduled to commence operating Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn routes S1 and S4 under contract to Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) in December 2019. 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.

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:

Current

::data[format=table]

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 2030
Eurostar(Paris – Brussels –) Aachen – Cologne – Düsseldorf – Essen – Dortmund–December 2016–
::

Former

Eurobahn formerly operated the following services: ::data[format=table]

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.

References

References

  1. French Win Bielefeld Contract ''[[Today's Railways Europe]]'' issue 40 April 1999 page 13
  2. [http://www.eurailpress.de/news/wirtschaft-unternehmen/single-view/news/rhenus-keolis-zum-1-dezember-aufgeteilt-1.html Rhenus Keolis split on 1 December] {{Webarchive. link. (2018-10-26 ''Eurail'' 4 December 2007 (German))
  3. [http://www.omnibusrevue.de/rhenus-und-keolis-jetzt-auch-formal-getrennt-597941.html Rhenus and Keolis now formally separated] ''Omnibus Review'' 6 December 2007 (German)
  4. [https://web.archive.org/web/20211006213730/https://www.railjournal.com/financial/keolis-to-sell-eurobahn-and-exit-german-rail-market/ Keolis to sell Eurobahn and exit German market] ''International Railway Journal'' 6 October 2021
  5. Keolis to exit German rail market ''Modern Railways'' issue 879 December 2021 pages 61/62
  6. [https://web.archive.org/web/20211223150138/https://www.railjournal.com/news/keolis-confirms-buyer-for-german-rail-activities/ Keolis confirms buyer for German rail activities] ''International Railway Journal'' 23 December 2021
  7. [http://www.eurobahn.de/en/company/history/ Keolis Germany: yesterday, today & tomorrow] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-10-29 Eurobahn)
  8. Eurobahn Takes Over ''Today's Railways Europe'' issue 54 June 2000 page 7
  9. Keolis wins Bielfeld tender''Today's Railways Europe'' issue 189 September 2011 page 52
  10. (2002-10-29). "Zuschlag für Weser-/Lammetalbahn an Bietergemeinschaft "eurobahn"". [[Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen]] (LNVG).
  11. (2011-12-11). "NordWestBahn fährt jetzt Weser- und Lammetalbahn". [[Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen]] (LNVG).
  12. In 2015, the contract was extended until 2030.[http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/main-line/eurobahn-retains-germanys-hellweg-regional-network.html Eurobahn retains Germany's Hellweg regional network] ''[[International Railway Journal]]'' 6 October 2015
  13. [http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/eurobahn-retains-hellweg-netz-contract.html Eurobahn retains Hellweg-Netz contract] ''[[Railway Gazette International]]'' 7 October 2015
  14. [http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/eurobahn-signs-operating-contract.html Eurobahn signs operating contract] ''Railway Gazette International'' 25 August 2009
  15. Rhenus-Keolis wins in Dusseldorf ''Today's Railways Europe'' issue 138 June 2007 page 49
  16. [http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/keolis-to-operate-teutoburger-wald-network.html Keolis to operate Teutoburger Wald network] ''International Railway Journal'' 7 November 2014
  17. [http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/keolis-wins-teutoburger-wald-operating-contract.html Keolis wins Teutoburger-Wald operating contract] ''Railway Gazette International'' 7 November 2014
  18. [http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/main-line/teutoburger-wald-regional-contract-finally-signed.html?channel=000 Teutoburger Wald regional contract finally signed] ''International Railway Journal'' 7 July 2015
  19. [http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/keolis-wins-battle-of-teutoburger-wald.html Keolis wins battle of Teutoburger Wald] ''Railway Gazette International'' 10 July 2016
  20. [http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/commuter-rail/abellio-and-keolis-chosen-for-rhine-ruhr-s-bahn-contracts.html Abellio and Keolis chosen for Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn contracts] ''International Railway Journal'' 7 July 2016
  21. [http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/keolis-and-abellio-selected-for-rhein-ruhr-s-bahn-contracts.html Keolis and Abellio selected for Rhein-Ruhr S-Bahn contracts] ''Railway Gazette International'' 7 July 2016
  22. [http://www.keolis.com/sites/default/files/atoms/files/keolis_press_release_-_new_contract_in_germany_0.pdf Keolis wins a new commuter rail contract in Germany and strengthens its position in mass transit] Keolis 11 July 2016
  23. Contract Lost Due to Driver Shortage ''[[Modern Railways]]'' issue 855 December 2019 page 79
  24. Peter Kirnich. (2000-12-02). "Eurobahn fährt für 40 Mark von Bielefeld nach Köln: Konkurrenz für Deutsche Bahn im Fernverkehr".
  25. (2001-01-26). "Mangelnde Auslastung: Fernzug nach Köln wird eingestellt".
  26. "Über uns".
  27. [http://www.eurobahn.de/en/network-timetables/hellweg-network/ Hellweg network] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-09-20 Eurobahn)
  28. [http://www.eurobahn.de/en/network-timetables/maas-rhine-lippe-network/ Mass-Rhine-Lippe network] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-09-20 Eurobahn)
  29. [http://www.eurobahn.de/en/network-timetables/owl-network/ OWL network] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-09-20 Eurobahn)
  30. "Linieninformationen".
  31. [http://www.eurobahn.de/en/company/our-trains/ Our trains] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-10-29 Eurobahn)

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keolisrailway-companies-of-germanyrailway-companies-established-in-19981998-establishments-in-germany