Tram return after 43 years: Connection of Recklinghausen planned!

Tram return after 43 years: Connection of Recklinghausen planned!

On January 23, 2025, a tram connection in the Ruhr area returns after 43 years. The last tram between Herne-Strünkede and Recklinghausen drove on October 3, 1982. The return of this connection is promoted by the "Vestische Straßenbahnen GmbH" in Recklinghausen, whereby the planned extension of the existing line U35 from Bochum to Recklinghausen focuses on. The Recklinghausen district council has already debated this initiative with the aim of creating a continuous connection from the Recklinghausen main station to the Ruhr University Bochum.

Currently there is no direct tram connection between these cities, which makes the need for the new line all the more pressing. With the opening of a new regional train in North Rhine-Westphalia in early 2024, which offers the only direct connection between Bochum and Recklinghausen, the importance of a reliable tram line becomes all the more clear. The responsible persons hope that the tram connection is relocated to relocate traffic and facilitate local public transport.

costs and planning

The costs for the section of the Herne-Strünkede route to the Recklinghausen Südbahnhof are estimated at around 20 million euros. The next step in this project is to check the project by the district government in Münster. This thorough planning is crucial to minimize the delays and to meet the region's traffic needs.

The existing U35 is already transporting about 85,000 passengers a day, especially at peak times, when the trains drive in an extremely full line. The current frequency in main traffic is just three minutes with double tractions, which signals a need for an extensive expansion. In the long term, a fully automatic subway is sought, which should drive in a 90-second clock with four-time tractions.

planned measures

The relevant planned measures include a cross -free expansion of the route in the Wasserstraße and Brenscheder Straße area as well as the extension of the platforms at the above -ground stations. The plan also provides southern extensions and a northern extension of the line. In particular, the extension according to Langendreer is seen as the most important project that is intended to integrate further regional traffic and commuter flows more efficiently.

• Extension after Langendreer to a new train station.
• Connection from Harpen via Ruhrpark to Langendreer.
• Northern extension of the tram from Langendreer to Lütgendortmund, Bövinghausen and Castrop.
• planned large P+R-Platz on the A43 for commuters to Bochum and Witten.

The final expansion of the U35 could enable trains between Hustadt and the mining museum to drive every 2.5 minutes, while the routes after Langendreer are to be operated every 5 minutes. The journey time from town hall to Schloss Strünkede is currently around 14 minutes, with the estimated travel time to the Recklinghausen Südbahnhof with the new connection to 16 to 17 minutes.

The improvements in local public transport are part of the “Mobility Impulse.Ruhr” project, which aims at the optimization of public transport in the metropolis of Ruhr. An inter-municipal exchange is sought to identify the relevant optimization options and weaknesses in the public transport network and to develop solutions. The implementation of these measures is regarded as a prerequisite for a functioning local transport infrastructure in the region.