Wupper-Express

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title: "Wupper-Express" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rail-transport-in-north-rhine-westphalia", "named-db-regio-services"] description: "Regional train service in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wupper-Express" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Regional train service in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox rail line"]

Field	Value
name	Wupper-Express
color	121cc1
routenumber	*485 (Aachen–Hagen)
operator	National Express Germany
linelength_km	171
gauge
electrification	Overhead line,
speed	160 km/h (maximum)
image	NRW-RE4.svg
image_width	200px
system	Rhein-Ruhr-Express (RRX)
locale	North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
map	{{routemap
inline	1
map-title	Operating points and lines
::

| name = Wupper-Express | color = 121cc1 | routenumber = *485 (Aachen–Hagen)

• 427 (Hagen–Dortmund) | operator = National Express Germany | linelength_km = 171 | gauge = | electrification = Overhead line, | speed = 160 km/h (maximum) | image = NRW-RE4.svg | image_width = 200px | system = Rhein-Ruhr-Express (RRX) | locale = North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany | map_state = | map = {{routemap |inline = 1 |map-title = Operating points and lines |map = KS+BHFa0Dortmund Hbf~~ Eurostar, ICE, IC S+BHF16Witten Hbf S+BHF23Wetter (Ruhr) S+BHF31Hagen Hbf ICE, IC BHF42Ennepetal (Gevelsberg) S+BHF47Schwelm S+BHF52Wuppertal-Oberbarmen S+BHF54Wuppertal-Barmen S+BHF57Wuppertal Hbf ICE, IC S+BHF64Wuppertal-Vohwinkel S+BHF84Düsseldorf Hbf Eurostar, ICE, IC S+BHF87Düsseldorf-Bilk S+BHF92Neuss Hbf ICE, IC S+BHF109Mönchengladbach Hbf ICE, IC BHF113Rheydt Hbf IC BHF126Erkelenz BHF132Hückelhoven-Baal BHF138Lindern BHF145Geilenkirchen BHF150Übach-Palenberg BHF157Herzogenrath IC BHF168Aachen West BHF169Aachen Schanz KS+BHFe171Aachen Hbf ~~Eurostar, ICE, IC The Wupper-Express (RE 4) is a Regional-Express service in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) running between and via , , and . It is the third most widely used Regional-Express line in the area administered by the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) with approximately 24,000 passengers a day. The line is part of the Rhein-Ruhr-Express (RRX) network and is operated by National Express Germany.

History

Today's RE 4 is the successor to the former StädteExpress line SE from Aachen to Hagen and Iserlohn. Later, the end point was moved to Hamm and after the abolition of InterRegio services it was extended to Munster. Under the second stage of North Rhine-Westphalia's integrated timetable (ITF 2), introduced in December 2002, it was replaced by the Maas-Wupper-Express (RE 13) and the Ems-Börde-Bahn (RB 89) services between Hagen and Munster and the Wupper-Express has since then run to Dortmund with a stop in Witten.

A reorganisation of services between Cologne and Dortmund is being undertaken in a program known as the Rhine-Ruhr Express (RRX). Since 18 March 2022, the Wupper-Express has also stopped in with the completion of the new regional platform.

Route

The Wupper-Express runs successively over the Aachen–Mönchengladbach, the Mönchengladbach–Düsseldorf and the Düsseldorf–Elberfeld lines. The service then follows the Elberfeld–Dortmund railway as far as Witten station, from where it uses the tracks of the Witten/Dortmund–Oberhausen/Duisburg railway and the Oberstraße Tunnel on its way to Dortmund station. At night, the RE 4 operates to Düsseldorf Airport Terminal station.

The Wupper-Express runs parallel to Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn lines on large sections of track and it has some of the character of a fast S-Bahn service and is perceived by passengers accordingly.

Rollingstock

The Wupper-Express formerly used class 111 locomotives and non-air conditioned double-deck coaches. Additional peak hour services operated between Düsseldorf and Aachen with class 110 and 111 locomotives, operated exclusively with refurbished Silberling carriages.

Since December 2020, the line has been operated by National Express with new Siemens Desiro HC EMU's in coupled sets, which serve as a reserve for possible expansions of the Rhein-Ruhr-Express lines. File:RE4.jpg|Wupper-Express near Baal File:BereitstellungRE4-2.JPG|Preparation of the train in Aachen File:Wupper-Expresszugschild.jpg|Train running label File:RE4 Aachen 3337.jpg|Leaving Aachen Hbf File:RE4 in Aachen Hbf KA.jpg|Wupper-Express on track 3 in Aachen Hbf File:BR 462 (Siemens Desiro HC) on Wuppertal Hbf.jpg|Wupper-Express with Siemens Desiro HC in Wuppertal Hbf

Notes

References

1. (2009). "Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland (German railway atlas)". Schweers + Wall.
2. (February 2011). "Qualitätsbericht SPNV Im Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr für 2010". Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr.
3. (11 April 2014). "RRX-Interimsvergabe geht an DB Regio NRW".
4. (March 2016). "Nahverkehrsplan 2016". Zweckverband Nahverkehr Rheinland.

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