Bochum Stadtbahn

The Bochum Stadtbahn is part of the Rhine-Ruhr light rail system and a core element of public transport in Bochum. It serves Bochum and nearby cities including Herne, Witten, Hattingen, and Gelsenkirchen. In practice, this is a mixed transport system: the U35 is the only true Stadtbahn line, while several tramway lines share parts of the underground network. Bochum Hauptbahnhof is the main interchange, and the overall route plan forms a star-shaped network centered on the city.

Bochum Metro Map

Map of Bochum Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Bochum Metro map in PDF format.

Bochum Stadtbahn Metro Lines

The Bochum Stadtbahn belongs to the Rhein-Ruhr light rail network and is operated by BOGESTRA. For everyday transportation in Bochum, it works as one combined system of Stadtbahn and trams rather than two separate networks.

Strictly speaking, only the standard-gauge U35 is the Bochum Stadtbahn proper. The other routes are metre-gauge tram lines that use underground tunnels and stations in Bochum and Gelsenkirchen originally built for the planned Stadtbahn system. Those stations were designed for low-floor vehicles.

Bochum Hauptbahnhof is the central hub. It links the U35 with tram services and allows direct transfers on part of the station layout. Around this hub, the network spreads out in a star shape, with three underground trunk corridors and seven outer branches.

The main lines in operation are U35, 302, 306, 308, 316, 318, 305, and 310. U35 is the key north-south route and the busiest line. Line 302 runs through central Bochum and Gelsenkirchen underground sections, while 306 connects Bochum city centre with Wanne-Eickel. Lines 308 and 318 serve the corridor through Linden, Weitmar, Hattingen, and Gerthe. Line 316 strengthens the 306 corridor, and 305 and 310 are part of the tram network with lower frequency.

As a route map in words, the network combines underground city-centre sections with outer surface branches. That mixed design is what makes Bochum local transport a bit unusual, but also very practical.

Stations

Several stations are important for transfers, but Bochum Hauptbahnhof stands out as the main interchange in the stations map. Bochum Rathaus is another key stop in the city centre, and several lines share underground sections through central Bochum.

Operating Hours

The Bochum Stadtbahn operating hours are daily from 4:30 am to 1:00 am. On Friday and Saturday nights, the system runs 24 hours, which extends the usual opening hours for late travel.

The U35 follows the same opening times, with service from 4:30 am until 1:00 am. After 8:00 pm, trains run every 15 minutes. If you are checking timings today or looking for the last train, that late-evening interval is worth keeping in mind.

In general, tram service ends shortly after midnight, while Stadtbahn service continues until after 1:00 am. So if you are planning around closing time, the U35 usually runs later than most tram lines.

Frequency

Frequency depends on the line and time of day. On weekdays, the U35 runs every 5 minutes between Hustadt and Riemke Markt and every 10 minutes between Riemke Markt and Schloß Strünkede. During school holidays and on Saturdays, it runs every 10 minutes.

On weekdays, line 306 also has a 5-minute morning service between Bochum Hbf and Hordeler Straße. In off-peak periods, most lines switch to a 30-minute timetable, while the U35 continues every 15 minutes until the end of service.

For night service on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, the U35, 306, and 318 run hourly.

Ticketing and Fares

Bochum is part of the VRR tariff system, so the fare depends on how many zones you travel through. Zone A covers Bochum, while zones B and C apply to surrounding areas. If you need a fare calculator in practice, VRR zone rules are the basis for the ticket price and total cost.

You can buy a ticket from vending machines, VRR kiosks, BOGESTRA offices, and bus drivers. Machines are available on platforms and at tram stops, and the BOGESTRA sales office is in front of Bochum Hauptbahnhof.

Before boarding, validate your ticket. Validation machines are orange and can be found on platforms, trams, and buses. Traveling without a stamped ticket can lead to high penalties.

Monthly pass options are also available. Ticket 1000 is non-transferable and valid for unlimited travel in the selected zone, with a lower price after 9:00 am. Ticket 2000 is transferable and includes bicycle transport while keeping the same family travel conditions.

Children under 6 travel free with an adult. Children aged 6 to 15 pay the child fare, while passengers aged 15 and over pay adult fares.

Connections to Other Systems

The Bochum Stadtbahn is closely integrated with the wider Rhine-Ruhr Stadtbahn network and with city transport in Bochum. Its core route, U35, links Herne and Bochum through a tunnel in the city center, giving it more separation from street traffic than many other regional light rail lines.

At Bochum Hauptbahnhof, passengers can transfer to the broader rail network as well as local transport services. The station connects the standard-gauge U35 with the metre-gauge tram network, even though the two systems use different tracks.

Several tunnel sections built for the original Stadtbahn plan are now used by tram services. That means the system works less like a standalone metro and more like a connected urban transport network, with trams, light rail, and regional rail all meeting at key points.

Airport Connections

Bochum is served by three airports, and the nearest is Dortmund Airport.

From Bochum Hauptbahnhof, ICE, IC, EC, and regional RE 1 trains connect to the airport area. A single ticket costs €11.40 ($12.39). The running time is about 33 minutes by ICE and 35 minutes by regional train.

For many travelers, the main step is simple: use the Stadtbahn or tram to Bochum Hauptbahnhof, then continue by regional or long-distance rail.

History

The Bochum Stadtbahn grew out of the wider Rhine-Ruhr Stadtbahn concept of the 1970s. In Bochum, three routes were originally planned to meet at Bochum Hauptbahnhof: a north-south line via Herne, a southwest-to-northeast line from Hattingen toward Castrop-Rauxel, and a northwest-to-southeast line from Gelsenkirchen into Bochum.

Only part of that plan was built. The first section to open was the line now known as U35, which began service on 2 September 1989 between Herne, Schloss Strünkede and Bochum Hauptbahnhof. On 28 November 1993, it was extended south to the Ruhr University area and Hustadt.

Other planned infrastructure was completed but later used by tram lines instead. In Bochum, two more tunnel routes were built under the city center, each with four underground stations. These include the east-west tunnel used by lines 302 and 310 and the later tunnel for line 306. Gelsenkirchen also received a tunnel as part of the same broader system concept.

On 29 January 2006, the inner-city tunnel for lines 302 and 310 opened together with the tunnel used by line 306. With that change, the last street-running tram tracks disappeared from Bochum city center, and Massenbergstraße became a track-free boulevard.

Later expansion and network changes continued. Construction of a new route from Witten-Crengeldanz via Langendreer to Laer Mitte began in autumn 2012. The section to S-Bahnhof Langendreer opened in October 2017, and the branch toward Witten opened for lines 309 and 310 in November 2020. On 15 December 2019, the Liniennetz 2020 service change was introduced. On 9 January 2023, an 850-meter branch of route 302 between Laer Mitte and O-Werk entered service.

An 850-meter branch equals 0.85 km or about 0.53 miles.

Future Extensions

Several future extensions have been discussed for Bochum’s Stadtbahn and tramway network, though only a few are seen as realistic in the near term.

The clearest proposal for U35 is a southern expansion from Hustadt by two stops to Hochschule Bochum. That project received an insufficient cost-benefit assessment, so it remains a lower-priority measure. Political approval has existed for years, but construction has not started because binding funding from North Rhine-Westphalia is still missing.

At the northern end, an extension of U35 toward Recklinghausen was part of the original route plan, but there is no confirmed schedule. A further southern extension toward Witten has also been discussed in the past and is considered unlikely. A bridge already exists behind the current Hustadt terminus as a preparatory structure for a possible short extension, though that does not change the current planning status.

For the tram network, the focus is mainly on capacity and reliability rather than major new routes. Long-term goals include double-tracking bottlenecks on lines 308 and 318 and further upgrades to line 310 in Witten. The system is also expected to continue modernizing stops and infrastructure to make boarding easier with low-floor vehicles.

Nearby Attractions

The Bochum Stadtbahn offers easy access to several of the city’s best-known attractions, so it works well for both daily transport and sightseeing.

One of the most notable stops is the German Mining Museum, served by the U35. It is the world’s largest mining museum and one of the city’s signature cultural sites. Another major destination is the Starlight Express Theater, along with the Zeiss Planetarium Bochum for astronomy shows and family visits.

For sports and events, the network also reaches Vonovia Ruhrstadion. Around Bochum Hbf, you are close to the city centre and within reach of places such as Bermuda3Eck and the Anneliese Brost Musikforum Ruhr.

Beyond the centre, the network also provides access to Jahrhunderthalle Bochum and other destinations across the wider urban area, making public transport a practical option if you want to get around without a car.