Regiobahn

What Regiobahn does

Regiobahn is a municipal regional railway company based in Mettmann, Germany, operating passenger rail services in North Rhine-Westphalia under exclusive contracts with the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR). The company operates through two legal entities: Regiobahn GmbH, which owns approximately 25 kilometers of railway infrastructure and 9 traffic stations, and Regiobahn Fahrbetriebsgesellschaft mbH, which runs the train operations. Its service portfolio consists of two core rail lines — the S28 (S-Bahn service connecting Kaarster See with Wuppertal Hbf over 48.4 km) and the RE47 Düssel-Wupper-Express (connecting Remscheid-Lennep with Düsseldorf Hbf, launched December 2022). Combined annual traffic volume reaches approximately 2.13 million train kilometers. Since January 2024, VRR has been the majority shareholder, having enabled the procurement of new rolling stock.

The company is mid-transition from diesel Integral trains to a modernized fleet. The RE47 line is being relaunched in summer 2026 using Siemens Mobility Mireo Smart Plus B battery-electric multiple units — the first BEMU deployment in NRW, offering up to 120 km battery range, 140 km/h top speed, and zero direct emissions. The S28 line will receive Stadler FLIRT XL electric multiple units following completion of an ongoing ~45 km overhead line electrification project. Supporting infrastructure includes digital passenger information displays deployed across all stations in 2025, an electronic signal box (ESTW) at Mettmann Stadtwald, and integration with VRR tariff and ticketing platforms. The company employs more than 150 staff at its Mettmann headquarters.

Revenue mechanics are anchored in public procurement: Regiobahn receives contracted payments from VRR for operating the S28 and RE47 lines, supplemented by farebox revenue collected through the VRR tariff system and government subsidies for regional rail. Customer segments include daily commuters to Düsseldorf (primary), leisure travelers, senior citizens (with dedicated training programs), and cyclists using combined bike-rail options. Distribution occurs via 19 stations along the S28, the Kundencenter in Mettmann, VRR TicketShop online, and automated ticket machines. Customer service enhancements include the Pünktlichkeitsversprechen punctuality guarantee (refunds for delays over 10 minutes) and the Mobilitätsgarantie NRW (taxi/alternative transport reimbursement for delays exceeding 20 minutes).

Name

Regiobahn

Legal name

Regionale Bahngesellschaft Kaarst-Neuss-Düsseldorf-Erkrath-Mettmann-Wuppertal mbH

Website

https://regio-bahn.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Regiobahn is a municipal regional railway operator in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, running the S28 and RE47 passenger rail lines under VRR contracts. It owns 25 km of rail infrastructure, 9 stations, and is transitioning its fleet to battery-electric and electric trains.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Rail Transportation

NAICS

Line-Haul Railroads (482111), Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Railroad Switching & Terminal Establishments (4013), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Light Rail Transit (LRT) Operators (TLAFAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rail Replacement Bus Services (Operator-Managed Substitution) (THAIACAK)

Keywords

• Regional rail services
• Passenger rail transport
• Public transit operations
• Rail infrastructure management
• Commuter rail services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mettmann

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Rail Transport Operations: Regiobahn Fahrbetriebsgesellschaft mbH operates the S28 and RE47 lines under contract with the VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr), providing approximately 1.6 million train kilometers annually on S28 and 534,000 train kilometers on RE47. Revenue is derived from public transport fares and government subsidies for regional rail services.
2. Ticket Sales: Direct ticket sales through the Kundencenter in Mettmann, online via VRR TicketShop, and at automated ticket machines at stations.
3. Infrastructure Management: Regiobahn GmbH owns approximately 25 kilometers of railway infrastructure, 9 traffic stations, servicing facilities in Mettmann Stadtwald, and a freight station in Dornap Hahnenfurth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Regiobahn is a regional railway operator in Germany's Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area, operating through two entities: Regiobahn GmbH, which owns and manages approximately 25 km of railway infrastructure including 9 stations, and Regiobahn Fahrbetriebsgesellschaft mbH, which operates passenger train services on the S28 line (Kaarster See to Wuppertal Hbf) and the RE47 line (Düsseldorf-Wupper-Express) under contract to the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR).

Product overview

Regiobahn operates as a regional railway service provider in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, through two companies: Regiobahn GmbH (railway infrastructure company) and Regiobahn Fahrbetriebsgesellschaft mbH (railway transport company). The core product offering consists of two rail lines: S 28 (S-Bahn service between Kaarster See and Wuppertal Hbf) and RE 47 (Düssel-Wupper-Express between Remscheid-Lennep and Düsseldorf). Currently transitioning from diesel Integral trains to battery-electric Mireo Smart Plus B trains for RE 47 and future FLIRT electric trains for S 28 following infrastructure electrification. Supporting services include customer center, timetable information, ticket sales, mobility guarantees, and the Digital Station project for real-time passenger information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• S28 Line Service
• RE47 Düsseldorf-Wupper-Express
• Rail Infrastructure Management

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.6 million train km annually (S28)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Siemens MobilitycoreTechnology or Integration · 17 July 2025Siemens Mobility provides Mireo Smart Plus B battery-electric trains for the RE47 line. These innovative second-generation BEMU (battery-electric multiple unit) trains offer up to 120 km range, 140 km/h maximum speed, and can operate on both electrified and non-electrified sections using battery power. Maintenance will be performed at Siemens Mobility's Rail Service Center in Dortmund.
• Smart Train Lease GmbHcoreTechnology or Integration · 2 December 2024Smart Train Lease arranged the short-term procurement of Mireo Smart Plus B battery-electric trains from Siemens Mobility. As a specialist in rail vehicle solutions, they enabled the rapid deployment of the trains for the RE47 line within a short timeframe.
• Allianz pro SchieneminorOthersAllianz pro Schiene is a German alliance promoting environmentally friendly and safe rail transport. Regiobahn is a member of this coalition.
• Stadler Pankow GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationFuture FLIRT XL trains from Stadler Pankow GmbH will be deployed on the S28 line after completion of electrification. These 3-car electric multiple units will feature 180 seats, six wide double doors, wheelchair areas, toilets, sockets, and free WLAN.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr AöR (VRR): Public transport authority and majority shareholder of Regiobahn. Functions as both customer/contracting authority and owner; central counterparty and governance entity for Regiobahn's operations.
• Siemens Mobility GmbH: Supplier of the Mireo Smart Plus B BEMU trains being deployed on Regiobahn's RE47 line. Strategic enabling partner; relevant as the OEM whose product roadmap defines Regiobahn's future service quality.

Direct peers

• VIAS Rail GmbH: Regional rail operator running Odenwaldbahn and other concession services. Comparable mid-tier private operator competing for state-subsidized regional concessions under similar regulatory frameworks.
• eurobahn (Keolis): Keolis Germany's NRW-focused regional rail brand operating multiple S-Bahn and RE lines. Closely comparable as a contracted regional operator serving overlapping commuter corridors in eastern NRW.
• Keolis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG: Operates regional rail concessions in Germany including the eurobahn brand in NRW. Direct competitor for VRR concession tenders with overlapping target passenger corridors in the Rhein-Ruhr region.
• National Express Germany GmbH: Privately operated regional rail concessionaire in NRW (e.g., RE lines in the Rhein-Ruhr region). Directly competes with Regiobahn for VRR-awarded contracts under similar tariff and subsidy frameworks.
• Transdev Rhein-Ruhr GmbH: Transdev's German regional rail subsidiary operating multiple NRW concession lines. Directly comparable as a contracted regional rail operator in the same VRR service area with similar concession-based revenue model.
• NordWestBahn GmbH: Transdev subsidiary operating Regional-Express and S-Bahn services in NRW and Lower Saxony. Comparable mid-sized private regional operator with similar contracted revenue model and rolling stock profile.
• Hessische Landesbahn GmbH (HLB): Mid-sized regional rail operator active in Hessen, NRW, and Rhineland-Palatinate. Comparable as a contracted operator with a similar fleet-renewal trajectory and concession-based revenue structure.

Broad incumbents

• DB Regio AG: Deutsche Bahn's regional rail arm and Germany's largest S-Bahn/Regional-Express operator. Comparable as the dominant NRW regional rail concession holder; competes with Regiobahn for tenders but operates at vastly greater scale across multiple federal states.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Regiobahn_RFG
• Facebookfacebook.com/Regiobahn.S28
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/regiobahn-fahrbetriebsgesellschaft-mbh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Regiobahn