Aufgabenträger · Nordrhein-Westfalen
Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr AöR
- Abbreviation
- VRR
- Land / remit
- Nordrhein-Westfalen
- Legal form
- Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts (AöR)
- Seat
- Gelsenkirchen
Augustastraße 1, 45879 Gelsenkirchen
- Website
- www.vrr.de
- Management
- Oliver Wittke, Vorstandssprecher (as of 6 July 2026)
Background
Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr — largest transport association in Germany by population, covering the Ruhr area, Düsseldorf/Niederrhein and adjacent territory. Public-law Zweckverband; SPNV-Aufgabenträger for the Verbundraum. Jointly participates with NWL and go.Rheinland in NRW-wide fleet-financing structures.
Schiene.NRW transition: From
1 January 2027 SPNV Aufgabenträgerschaft passes to the statewide Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts
Schiene.NRW (§ 6 ÖPNVG NRW, as amended by the Gesetz of 12 May 2026). The VRR continues as one of the three carriers (Träger) of the new Anstalt with regional tasks; existing Verkehrsverträge migrate to Schiene.NRW in stages from 2027, and awards in pending procurement procedures will be issued by Schiene.NRW. See the
development note.
Remit and mandate
SPNV-Aufgabenträger for the Rhine-Ruhr cooperation area; Germany's largest PTA by passenger volume.
Tender pipeline — Wettbewerbsfahrplan 2025
The following lots are listed in the 2025 Wettbewerbsfahrplan (BSN) with this authority as the lead or as a participating authority. Leadership counts: 14 lot(s) as lead authority, 5 lot(s) as participating authority.
As lead authority
No. 59
S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr, Teilnetz D
Gross · Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
- Contract term
- 09.12.2029 — 10.12.2044
- Services
- S-Bahn · Electric · 3,50 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: no · New-build: yes · ETCS: yes
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- S 5 Hagen – Dortmand S 8 Hagen – Mönchengladbach RE 41 Bochum – Haltern am See
- Remarks
- Tender procedure completed Betriebsaufnahme S5/S8: 12/2029; Betriebsaufnahme RE41: 12/2030
No. 62
Erft-Schwalm-Netz
Gross · Other / TBD
- Contract term
- 09.12.2029 — TBD
- Services
- RB · Diesel · 1,00 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: yes · New-build: no · ETCS: TBD
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- RB 34 Mönchengladbach – Dalheim RB 39 Bedburg – Düsseldorf
- Remarks
- VRR-Fahrzeugfinanzierungsmodell
No. 159
Sonderverkehr SPNV NRW
Gross · Other / TBD
- Contract term
- 09.12.2035 — TBD
- Services
- other · Electric · 0,04 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: TBD · New-build: TBD · ETCS: TBD
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- diverse
No. 31
Niederrhein-Münsterland-Netz; Teilnetz 1
Gross · Other / TBD
- Contract term
- 10.12.2028 — 12.12.2038
- Services
- RB + RE · Battery · 2,40 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: yes · New-build: yes · ETCS: pre-equipped
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- RE 10 Düsseldorf – Kleve RB 37 Neuss – Geldern
- Remarks
- NRW RRX model Service start phased from 12/2028
No. 35
S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr, Teilnetz B
Gross · Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
- Contract term
- 10.12.2028 — TBD
- Services
- RB + RE + S- Bahn · Electric · 7,06 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: yes · New-build: no · ETCS: pre-equipped
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- S 2 Dortmand – Essen / Recklinghausen S 3 Oberhausen – Hattingen S 9 Hagen – Haltern am See / Recklinghausen RB 32 Dortmand – Duisburg RB 40 Hagen – Essen RE 49 Wesel – Wuppertal
- Remarks
- NRW RRX model
No. 128
Rhein-Ruhr-Express
TBD · Other / TBD
- Contract term
- 11.12.2033 — TBD
- Services
- RE · Electric · 14,69 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: yes · New-build: no · ETCS: pre-equipped
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- RE 1 (RRX) Hamm – Aachen RE 4 Aachen – Dortmand RE 5 (RRX) Koblenz – Wesel RE 6 (RRX) Minden – Köln/Bonn Flughafen RE 11 (RRX) Düsseldorf – Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe
- Remarks
- NRW RRX model
No. 18
Niederrhein-Münsterland-Netz; Teilnetz 2
Gross · Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
- Contract term
- 12.12.2027 — TBD
- Services
- RB + RE · Battery · 4,00 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: yes · New-build: yes · ETCS: pre-equipped
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- RE 14 Essen-Steele – Borken / Coesfeld RE 44 Bottrop – Kamp-Lintfort RB 31 Xanten – Duisburg RB 36 Oberhausen – Duisburg-Ruhrort RB 43 Dortmand – Dorsten
- Remarks
- NRW RRX model Service start phased from 12/2027 Tender procedure completed
No. 11
Maas-Wupper-Express
Gross · Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
- Contract term
- 13.12.2026 — 08.12.2040
- Services
- RE · Electric · 2,60 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: no · New-build: yes · ETCS: retrofit
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- RE 13 Hamm – Eindhoven
- Remarks
- optionales VRR-Fahrzeugfinanzierungsmodell; Mehrsystemfahrzeuge (Deutschland / Niederlande) erforderlich; Tender procedure completed
No. 13
Express Netz Emscher
Gross · Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
- Contract term
- 13.12.2026 — 14.12.2030
- Services
- RE · Electric · 2,01 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: no · New-build: no · ETCS: no
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- RE 3 Düsseldorf – Hamm RE 41 Bochum - Haltern am See
- Remarks
- Tender procedure completed
No. 14
S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr, Teilnetz S28
Gross · Other / TBD
- Contract term
- 13.12.2026 — 14.12.2031
- Services
- S-Bahn · Electric · 1,71 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: yes · New-build: no · ETCS: pre-equipped
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- S 28 Kaarst – Wuppertal
- Remarks
- In-house award completed
No. 97
S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr, Teilnetz C
TBD · Other / TBD
- Contract term
- 14.12.2031 — TBD
- Services
- other · TBD · 1,98 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: TBD · New-build: TBD · ETCS: TBD
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- S 7 Wuppertal – Solingen RE 47 Düsseldorf – Remscheid-Lennep
No. 99
S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr, Teilnetz A
TBD · Other / TBD
- Contract term
- 14.12.2031 — TBD
- Services
- S-Bahn · Electric · 4,89 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: yes · New-build: no · ETCS: no
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- S 1 Dortmand – Solingen S 4 Unna – Dortmand-Lütgendortmand
- Remarks
- NRW RRX model
No. 105
S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr, Teilnetz S28
TBD · Other / TBD
- Contract term
- 14.12.2031 — TBD
- Services
- S-Bahn · Electric · 1,71 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: yes · New-build: no · ETCS: pre-equipped
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- S 28 Kaarst – Wuppertal
- Remarks
- NRW RRX model
No. 69
Rhein-Ruhr-Express, Teilnetz B
Gross · Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
- Contract term
- 15.12.2030 — 09.12.2045
- Services
- RE · Electric · 10,95 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: no · New-build: yes · ETCS: yes
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- RE 2/RRX 7 Düsseldorf – Osnabrück RE 3/RRX 3 Hamm – Düsseldorf RE 7 Krefeld – Rheine RE 42 Mönchengladbach – Münster RE 45 Essen - Münster
- Remarks
- Service start phased from 12/2030 Prequalification stage completed
As participating authority
No. 38
Sauerlandnetz
Gross · Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
- Contract term
- 10.12.2028 — TBD
- Services
- RB + RE · other · 5,80 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: no · New-build: no · ETCS: no
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- RE 17 Hagen – Warburg – Kassel RE 57 Dortmand – Winterberg / Brilon Stadt RB 54 Unna – Neuenrade RB 53 Dortmand – Iserlohn RB 52 Dortmand – Lüdenscheid
- Remarks
- Traction: diesel + battery; Lot 1 (RB 52 + RB 53) already ends December 2034.
No. 50
Rhein-Erft-Bahn (RB 27)
Gross · Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
- Contract term
- 10.12.2028 — 09.12.2034
- Services
- RB · Electric · 2,50 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: no · New-build: no · ETCS: TBD
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- Mönchengladbach Hbf – Rommerskirchen – Köln Hbf – Troisdorf – Bonn-Beuel – Linz (Rhein) – Neuwied – Koblenz Hbf
- Remarks
- Options: two one-year extension option up to a maximum of 13.12.2036
No. 3
Netz westliches Münsterland
Gross · Open procedure
- Contract term
- 12.12.2026 — 12.12.2032
- Services
- RB · Diesel · 3,30 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: no · New-build: no · ETCS: TBD
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- RB 51 Dortmand – Coesfeld – Enschede RB 63 Münster – Coesfeld RB 64 Münster – Enschede
- Remarks
- RB 51: Contract term to 2032 RB 63: Contract term to 2030 RB 64: Contract term to 2032
No. 4
RE 34 Dortmund-Siegerland- Express
Gross · Open procedure
- Contract term
- 12.12.2026 — 08.12.2040
- Services
- RE · Electric · 1,70 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: no · New-build: no · ETCS: TBD
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- RE 34 Dortmand – Hagen – Iserlohn – Siegen
- Remarks
- Procedure completed
No. 80
Hellweg-Netz
Gross · Other / TBD
- Contract term
- 15.12.2030 — TBD
- Services
- RB · Electric · 5,60 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Pool: TBD · New-build: TBD · ETCS: TBD
- Operator
- Not yet awarded / see authority
- Lines
- RB 50 Dortmand – Münster RB 59 Dortmand – Soest RB 69 Münster – Hamm – Bielefeld RB 89 Münster – Hamm – Warburg
Source: Bundesverband SchienenNahverkehr (BSN), Wettbewerbsfahrplan 2025. Data are as published in the Wettbewerbsfahrplan and have not been independently verified against the underlying tender documentation.
Recent tender activity (TED, 2026)
Recent notices in the Supplement to the Official Journal (TED) with this authority as a lead or participating authority. This complements the Wettbewerbsfahrplan 2025 pipeline above; for the cross-cutting read see the development note SPNV procurement wave, mid-2026.
TED 429364-2026
Niederrhein-Münsterland network, sub-net 1
Competition · Negotiated procedure
- Contract term
- RE 10 from Dec 2028, RB 37 from Jun 2029 — Dec 2038 (10 yr)
- Services
- SPNV · Battery-electric (BEMU) · ~2,7 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Authority-provided (BEMU); operator maintains
- Key date
- Requests to participate due 07.08.2026, 12:00 (extended by change notice 471467-2026)
- Lines
- RE 10 Düsseldorf – Kleve; RB 37 Neuss – Geldern
- Note
- Per change notice 471467-2026, the award will be issued by Schiene.NRW (statewide SPNV authority from 1 Jan 2027)
TED 425070-2026
Erft-Schwalm network (RB 34 / RB 39)
Competition · Negotiated procedure
- Contract term
- Dec 2029 — Dec 2038 (9 yr) + up to 2 extensions
- Services
- SPNV · ~1,0 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Authority-provided by ZV VRR FaIn-EB under a lease; operator maintains
- Key date
- Requests to participate due 22.07.2026 (with go.Rheinland)
- Lines
- RB 34 Mönchengladbach – Dalheim; RB 39 Düsseldorf – Bedburg
TED 408743-2026
Rhein-Erft-Bahn (RB 27)
Competition · Standard regime
- Contract term
- 10.12.2028 — 09.12.2034 (6 yr) + 2×1 yr
- Services
- SPNV · Electric · ~2,5 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- Electric new and/or used admitted
- Key date
- Requests to participate due 15.07.2026 (with go.Rheinland, SPNV-Nord)
- Lines
- RB 27 Rhein-Erft-Bahn
TED 341173-2026
Rhein-Emscher-Express (RE 3)
Competition · Open procedure (amendment)
- Contract term
- Dec 2030 — Dec 2032 (2 yr interim)
- Services
- SPNV · ~1,6 M train-km/yr
- Rolling stock
- See tender documentation
- Key date
- Tenders due 03.09.2026 (amended)
- Lines
- RE 3 Düsseldorf – Gelsenkirchen – Dortmund – Hamm (with NWL)
Source: TED notices as cited (publication numbers). Facts are as published in the notices and have not been independently verified against the full tender documentation.
Further reading
Last reviewed: 8 July 2026.