WestfalenBahn
WestfalenBahn GmbH is a German regional railway operator (Bielefeld, founded 2005) running three Regional Express lines (RE 15, RE 60, RE 70) across 600 km in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony for 20 million passengers annually, paid via 15-year gross-cost contracts with four regional transport authorities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersBielefeld, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WestfalenBahn does
WestfalenBahn GmbH is a German regional railway operator (private limited company, headquartered in Bielefeld, founded 2005) that runs three Regional Express lines — RE 15 (Münster–Emden), RE 60 (Rheine–Braunschweig) and RE 70 (Bielefeld–Braunschweig) — across approximately 600 km of network in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. Its core technology asset is a fleet of 28 electric multiple units from Stadler (15 four-part FLIRT³ units on the Emsland RE 15, and 13 six-part KISS double-decker units on the Mittelland RE 60/RE 70), maintained at two proprietary workshops in Rheine (Windhoff site) and Minden (€10M, 2015). All 28 trains carry free LTE-grade WiFi, TSI PRM accessibility features and EN 15227 crash compliance.
The business model is gross-cost public service contracting, not farebox. Revenue flows from long-term 15-year contracts with four regional authorities — Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NWL), Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen (LNVG), Regionalverband Großraum Braunschweig and Region Hannover — paid on the basis of train-kilometers operated rather than passenger ticket revenue. Fares are set externally (WestfalenTarif, NRW-Tarif, Eemsland-Tarif and the €49 Deutschlandticket). The company serves commuters, students, leisure travelers and cyclists across 20 million passenger journeys per year, with 6 million train-kilometers operated by 400+ staff.
WestfalenBahn is a subsidiary of Abellio in Deutschland (parent transferred to BeNEX in April 2024, with Mindener Kreisbahnen holding a 25% stake). It successfully exited Schutzschirmverfahren restructuring in March 2022, expanded by taking over eurobahn's Bielefeld–Minden services in early 2025 and the RE 34 line on October 1, 2025, and opened a new stop at Neermoor in May 2026. Customer touchpoints span an online ticket shop, ticket vending machines, DB Reisezentrum resellers, tourist offices and a Bielefeld KundenCenter. Distribution, social and content channels include a regional leisure platform (FreizeitbLOK), Facebook/X/Instagram, and the multi-operator 'Fokus Bahn' recruitment program.
WestfalenBahn firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WestfalenBahn
- Legal name
- WestfalenBahn GmbH
- Website
- https://westfalenbahn.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- WestfalenBahn GmbH is a German regional railway operator (Bielefeld, founded 2005) running three Regional Express lines (RE 15, RE 60, RE 70) across 600 km in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony for 20 million passengers annually, paid via 15-year gross-cost contracts with four regional transport authorities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WestfalenBahn industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regional Rail Transportation
- NAICS
- Commuter Rail Systems (485112), Rail Transportation (4821)
- SIC
- Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regional Rail (Short-to-Mid Distance) Passenger Operators (THAIACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Passenger Rail Operators (Intercity/High-Speed/Regional) (TLAFAAAF)
Keywords
Where WestfalenBahn is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bielefeld
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
WestfalenBahn business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Public Transport Contracts: Operates under long-term public service contracts (15-year contracts) with regional transport authorities including NWL, LNVG, Regionalverband Großraum Braunschweig, and Region Hannover. Revenue is based on kilometers traveled and service provision rather than direct passenger fares.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Deutschlandticket |
| Usage-based | Monthly | eezy.nrw |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Emsland-Touren-Ticket |
| Subscription | Annual | Semester Tickets |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
WestfalenBahn product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WestfalenBahn operates regional passenger rail services across a 600-kilometer network in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony under long-term public service contracts. The company runs three Regional Express lines (RE 15, RE 60, RE 70) using a fleet of 28 modern Stadler electric multiple units (15 FLIRT³ and 13 KISS double-decker trains), serving approximately 20 million passengers and 6 million train kilometers annually.
Product overview
WestfalenBahn is a regional railway transport company founded in 2005, operating three Regional Express services (RE 15, RE 60, RE 70) across a 600km network connecting cities in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. The company operates a fleet of 15 FLIRT³ electric multiple unit trains (4-car, 215 seats) on the Emsland network (RE 15) and 13 KISS double-decker electric trains (6-car, 627 seats) on the Mittelland network (RE 60, RE 70). Services include free WiFi on all trains, bicycle transport, accessible travel options, and customer centers. The company also offers specialized tourism products like the Emsland-Touren-Ticket and the FreizeitbLOK leisure platform. Annual operations cover 6 million train kilometers transporting 20 million passengers with over 400 employees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- RE 15 Regional Express Service (Emsland network) Regional Express service operating between Münster, Rheine, Lingen, Meppen, Leer, and Emden (Außenhafen) in the Emsland network using FLIRT³ trains. The service is aimed at commuters, students, and leisure travelers in northwestern Lower Saxony and northern North Rhine-Westphalia.
- RE 60 Regional Express Service (Mittelland network) Regional Express service operating between Rheine, Osnabrück, Minden, Hannover, and Braunschweig in the Mittelland network using KISS double-decker trains. Targeted at commuters, students, and travelers across Lower Saxony and the Hannover/Braunschweig metropolitan area.
- RE 70 Regional Express Service (Mittelland network) Regional Express service operating between Bielefeld, Herford, Minden, Hannover, and Braunschweig in the Mittelland network using KISS double-decker trains. Serves commuters, students, and travelers in eastern North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony.
- Deutschlandticket Germany-wide monthly subscription ticket offering unlimited local and regional public transport travel, accepted on all WestfalenBahn routes. Targeted at commuters, students, and frequent travelers who want a single subscription covering nationwide public transport.
- Semestertickets (Semester Tickets) Discounted annual student travel passes valid in the WestfalenBahn service area, provided through special agreements with individual universities. Targeted at university students needing affordable regional rail access.
- Emsland-Touren-Ticket Seasonal tourism ticket for travel in the Emsland region combining train, bus, and bicycle transport. Available from March 21 to November 1 and on selected 2026 dates. Can be purchased at the online shop, ticket machines, tourist information offices, and sales partners. Targeted at leisure travelers and cyclists exploring the Emsland region.
- FreizeitbLOK Digital leisure magazine and content platform (freizeitblok.de) showcasing excursion destinations, restaurants, wellness offerings, sights, nature, shopping, and activities throughout the WestfalenBahn service region. Targeted at leisure travelers seeking curated day-trip inspiration along RE 60, RE 70, and RE 15 routes.
Companies that use WestfalenBahn
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
WestfalenBahn technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
WestfalenBahn partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NWL)coreRegional transport authority contracting WestfalenBahn services for Westphalia-Lippe region under public service obligation.
- Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen mbH (LNVG)coreLower Saxony state transport authority contracting rail services. Funded the new Neermoor station (2.68 million EUR).
- Regionalverband Großraum BraunschweigcoreRegional authority for Braunschweig metropolitan area contracting rail services.
- Region HannovercoreHannover region transport authority contracting rail services.
- DB InfraGO AGcoreRailway infrastructure manager responsible for tracks and stations. Conducts construction work causing service disruptions. WestfalenBahn operates on DB InfraGO infrastructure.
- Abellio Rail NRWminorPartnership in 'Fokus Bahn' program for railway industry personnel training and cost-sharing. Both WestfalenBahn and Abellio are Abellio group companies.
- DB Regio NRWminorParticipant in 'Fokus Bahn' program including joint employer branding campaign 'Dieser Job ist der Hit' and Jobparade events.
- Fokus Bahn Program PartnersminorJoint initiative including VRR, NVR, NWL, Abellio Rail NRW, DB Regio NRW, KEOLIS (eurobahn), National Express, NordWestBahn, Regiobahn, Rurtalbahn, VIAS Rail and WestfalenBahn for railway personnel recruitment in NRW.
- Minder Kreisbahnenminor25% owner of WestfalenBahn. Landlord for Bahnbetriebswerk Minden II maintenance facility built 2015 for 10 million EUR.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WestfalenBahn competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rurtalbahn: Rurtalbahn operates regional rail services in the Aachen/Düren region of NRW under public service contracts. Comparable smaller-scale regional operator and Fokus Bahn consortium member alongside WestfalenBahn.
- NordWestBahn: NordWestBahn is a direct regional rail peer operating Regional Express services across NRW and Lower Saxony under similar public service contracts. Operates comparable Stadler fleets on routes overlapping with WestfalenBahn's geography, and is part of the same 'Fokus Bahn' recruitment consortium.
- VIAS Rail: VIAS Rail operates regional rail services across multiple German states including NRW, with comparable Stadler FLIRT fleet and public service contract revenue model. Co-member of the Fokus Bahn consortium alongside WestfalenBahn.
- National Express Germany: National Express operates Regional Express services in NRW under public service contracts with the same regional authorities (NWL, VRR, NVR) that contract WestfalenBahn. Direct competitor in German regional rail tenders with comparable EMU fleets and contract-based revenue model.
- Abellio Rail NRW: Abellio Rail NRW is a sister company of WestfalenBahn within the Abellio in Deutschland group (acquired by BeNEX in 2024). Operates regional rail services in NRW under comparable public contracts and shares the Fokus Bahn recruitment initiative with WestfalenBahn.
- Regiobahn: Regiobahn operates regional rail services in the Düsseldorf–Mettmann corridor in NRW. A peer regional rail operator with similar contract-based revenue model and Fokus Bahn consortium member.
- Keolis Deutschland (eurobahn): Keolis operates the eurobahn regional rail services in NRW, including routes that WestfalenBahn took over from Keolis between Bielefeld and Minden in January 2025. Direct competitor in regional tenders and Fokus Bahn consortium partner.
- metronom Eisenbahngesellschaft: metronom operates regional rail services in Lower Saxony under contract with LNVG, the same contracting authority that contracts WestfalenBahn's RE 60 and RE 70 services. Direct peer in Lower Saxony regional rail market.
Broad incumbents
- Transdev (Transdev Rhein-Ruhr / Transdev Hannover): Transdev operates regional bus and rail services across Germany including in NRW and Lower Saxony. A broad incumbent with overlapping regional rail operations under public service contracts, competing with WestfalenBahn in tenders.
- DB Regio NRW: DB Regio is Deutsche Bahn's regional rail arm and the largest incumbent operator in NRW, running regional services across Germany. As a broad incumbent and infrastructure user/manager, it competes with WestfalenBahn on tenders and is part of the Fokus Bahn consortium.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WestfalenBahn social profiles
Digital presenceWestfalenBahn financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WestfalenBahn leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
WestfalenBahn funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WestfalenBahn M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WestfalenBahn
What does WestfalenBahn do?
WestfalenBahn operates regional passenger rail services across a 600-kilometer network in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony under long-term public service contracts. The company runs three Regional Express lines (RE 15, RE 60, RE 70) using a fleet of 28 modern Stadler electric multiple units (15 FLIRT³ and 13 KISS double-decker trains), serving approximately 20 million passengers and 6 million train kilometers annually.
Is WestfalenBahn a public or private company?
WestfalenBahn is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was WestfalenBahn founded?
WestfalenBahn was founded in 2005. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is WestfalenBahn based?
WestfalenBahn is headquartered in Bielefeld, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does WestfalenBahn make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Transport Contracts.
Who are WestfalenBahn's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rurtalbahn, NordWestBahn, VIAS Rail, National Express Germany, Abellio Rail NRW, Regiobahn, Keolis Deutschland (eurobahn) and metronom Eisenbahngesellschaft. Broad incumbents are Transdev (Transdev Rhein-Ruhr / Transdev Hannover) and DB Regio NRW.
Does WestfalenBahn have an API?
No public API is recorded for WestfalenBahn.
What industry is WestfalenBahn in?
WestfalenBahn's product category is Regional Rail Transportation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAIACAC, Regional Rail (Short-to-Mid Distance) Passenger Operators, with a secondary code of TLAFAAAF, Passenger Rail Operators (Intercity/High-Speed/Regional). Its NAICS code is 485112 and its SIC code is 4700.