Trams in Bochum/Gelsenkirchen

The Bochum/Gelsenkirchen tramway network (German: Straßenbahnnetz Bochum/Gelsenkirchen) is a network of tramways focused on Bochum and Gelsenkirchen, two cities in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Trams in Bochum/Gelsenkirchen
A BOGESTRA tram at Bochum Hbf.
Operation
Locale	Bochum / Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Open	23 November 1894 (1894-11-23)
Status	Operational
Lines	9 (+ 1 Ruhrbahn line: 107)
Operator(s)	Bochum-Gelsenkirchener Straßenbahnen AG (BOGESTRA)
Infrastructure
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
Propulsion system(s)	Electricity
Electrification	600 (750) V DC
Depot(s)	2
Statistics
Route length	84 km (52 mi)
Overview The network in 2023.
Website	https://www.bogestra.de/ BOGESTRA (in German)

Opened in 1894 in Bochum and in 1895 in Gelsenkirchen, the network is operated by the Bochum-Gelsenkirchener Straßenbahnen AG (BOGESTRA), and integrated in the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR). It also serves the neighbouring towns of Hattingen, Herne and Witten.

Lines

As of December 2019^[update], the following nine tram lines are operated exclusively by BOGESTRA:^[1]

Line	Route	Stations[1] (underground)	Comments
301	Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Bismarck – Buer – Horst	34 (7)
302	Gelsenkirchen-Buer Rathaus – Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Bochum Hbf – Laer Mitte (– O-Werk) – Langendreer Bf	44 (7)	Normally every second train terminates via the new connection to O-Werk, the others continue to Langendreer
305	Bochum-Höntrop Kirche – Bochum Hbf – Laer Mitte – Langendreer Bf	25 (4)
306	Wanne-Eickel Hbf – Bochum Hbf	21 (1)	Also operates as a Night Express.
308	Bochum-Gerthe Schürbankstraße – Bochum Hbf – Weitmar – Linden – Hattingen Mitte	38 (4)
309	Langendreer Bf – Witten Papenholz – Witten Rathaus – Heven Dorf	14 (0)
310	Bochum-Höntrop Kirche – Bochum Hbf – Langendreer Markt – Witten Papenholz – Witten Rathaus – Heven Dorf	39 (4)
316	Wanne-Eickel Hbf – Bochum Hbf – Bochum-Gerthe Heinrichstraße	31 (2)
318	Bochum-Gerthe Schürbankstraße – Bochum Hbf – Weitmar – Linden – Dahlhausen Bf.	32 (4)	Also operates as a Night Express.

In addition, a tenth tram line serves the BOGESTRA region:^[1]

Line	Route	Stations	Comments
107	Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Feldmark – Trabrennbahn – Essen-Katernberg – Zeche Zollverein – Essen Hbf – Bredeney	34	Operated by Ruhrbahn for most of the week. Only 11 stations in BOGESTRA area.

This line, which is operated by the Ruhrbahn for most of the week, has its northernmost 11 stations in the BOGESTRA transit area. Early on Saturday mornings, it is operated by BOGESTRA, and runs between Gelsenkirchen Hbf and Trabrennbahn only.

Rolling stock

The tram network currently operates a fleet of 95 Variobahn trams (by Stadler Rail). The type NF6D (made by DÜWAG and similar to the R1.1 cars of Bonn tramway's system) and type M high-floor articulated trams (also from DÜWAG) have been retired by 2021 and were replaced by the Variobahns.

The Stadtbahn line uses a separate fleet of high-floor Stadtbahnwagen B and Tango trains. It is not connected to the low-floor network and therefore trams on one system cannot operate on the other.

See also

• Bochum Stadtbahn
• Trams in Germany
• List of town tramway systems in Germany
• Rhine-Ruhr Stadtbahn
• Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr