WestfalenBahn explained

WestfalenBahn
Founded:	2005
Location City:	Bielefeld
Location Country:	Germany
Industry:	Public transport
Owner:	Abellio Deutschland
Homepage:	www.westfalenbahn.de

WestfalenBahn is a railway company operating regional train service in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, Northern Germany. It was founded in 2005 by Essener Versorgungs & Verkehrsgesellschaft, Minden Museum Railway, moBiel and Verkehrsbetriebe Extertal, each having a 25% share. In 2008 Essener Versorgungs & Verkehrsgesellschaft's share was sold to Abellio Deutschland. In July 2017 Abellio bought out the other shareholders.^[1]

Services

WestfalenBahn has operated routes RB61, RB65, RB66 and RB72 since 9 December 2007.^{[2] [3]} These will pass to Eurobahn in December 2017.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]} These are operated by a fleet of fourteen 3-car and five 5-car Stadler Flirts.^[8]

• Local services Wiehengebirgs-Bahn: Bad Bentheim – Rheine – Osnabrück – Bünde – Herford – Bielefeld
• Local services Ems-Bahn: Rheine – Münster
• Local services Teuto-Bahn: Osnabrück – Münster
• Local services Ostwestfalen-Bahn: Herford – Lage – Detmold – Altenbeken – Paderborn

On 13 December 2015 WestfalenBahn commenced a 15-year contract to operate the RE15, RE60 and RE70 services.^{[7] [9] [10]} To operate these services, 15 Stadler Flirt and 13 Stadler Kisses were leased from Alpha Trains.^{[11] [12] [13]}

• Regional services Emsland-Express: Emden – Leer – Lingen – Rheine – Münster
• Regional services Ems-Leine-Express: Rheine – Osnabrück – Löhne – Minden – Hanover – Braunschweig
• Regional services Weser-Leine-Express: Bielefeld – Herford – Löhne – Minden – Hanover – Braunschweig

Fleet

Class	Image	Cars per set	Type	Top speed		Number	Builder	Built
				km/h	mph
ET.000		3 or 5	Electric multiple unit	160km/h	14	Stadler Flirt	2007
ET.400		4	Electric multiple unit	160km/h	15	Stadler Flirt 3	2015
ET.600		6	Electric multiple unit	160km/h	13	Stadler Kiss	2015

Notes and References

1. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/abellio-takes-full-ownership-of-westfalenbahn-as-market-gets-more-competitive.html Abellio takes full ownership of WestfalenBahn as market gets more competitive
2. "Westfalenbahn wins Teutoburger Wald Netz" Today's Railways Europe issue 111 March 2005 page 52
3. "A who's who of German passenger operations" Today's Railways Europe issue 152 August 2008 page 24
4. http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/keolis-to-operate-teutoburger-wald-network.html Keolis to operate Teutoburger Wald network
5. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/keolis-wins-teutoburger-wald-operating-contract.html Keolis wins Teutoburger Wald operating contract
6. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/keolis-wins-battle-of-teutoburger-wald.html Keolis wins battle of Teutoburger Wald
7. https://www.abellio.de/sites/default/files/downloads/rz.abellio_imagebroschuere_englisch._lowres.pdf Welcome to Abellio
8. "Flirts for Westfalenbahn" Today's Railways Europe issue 116 August 2005 page 12
9. http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/westfalenbahn-wins-emsland-regional-concession.html WestfalenBahn wins Emsland regional concession
10. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/stadler-trains-ordered-for-westfalenbahn-services.html Stadler trains ordered for WestfalenBahn services
11. http://www.alphatrains.eu/infocenter-infos-news--en-press=27-Official+signing+for+EMIL+tender.html Official signing for EMIL tender
12. http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/alpha-trains-orders-stadler-emus-for-westfalenbahn.html Alpha Trains orders Stadler EMUs for WestfalenBahn
13. "Westfalenbahn Kisses enter service" Today's Railways Europe issue 243 March 2016 page 53