The Gelsenkirchen Metro, commonly known as the Straßenbahn, is a transport system operating in the city of Gelsenkirchen, Germany. It comprises three operating lines within the city and extends its service beyond the city limits. The total length of the system is 84 kilometres and extends across both Gelsenkirchen and Bochum. Despite its metro name, the tramway is very similar to a tram, with some of the older rails having been replaced for the transition to a light rail system.
The Gelsenkirchen underground has been in operation since 1895. The fare structure depends on the distance travelled, with a short trip of less than three stations costing 1.60 Euros (or 1.88 USD). The service operates between 3:30 or 4:00 in the morning and 11:00 at night or 1:00 the following morning.
The Gelsenkirchen Metro, also known as the “Stadtbahn”, operates in Germany. The metro does not operate 24 hours a day and operates between 11:30 and 23:30. The standard fare is €13.
The metro does not use driverless trains, has no air conditioning, no platform screen doors and passengers are not allowed to walk between platforms.
Gelsenkirchen Metro Map
Map of Gelsenkirchen Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Gelsenkirchen Metro map in PDF format.
Gelsenkirchen: An Overview
Gelsenkirchen is a city in the Rhineland region of North Rhine-Westphalia in the Federal Republic of Germany, specifically in the Ruhr area. The city has been recorded since around 1150, but experienced significant growth during the Industrial Revolution, largely due to its trading port on the River Ruhr and the development of the local coal industry.
The city currently has a population of just over 250,000. Gelsenkirchen faced high unemployment following the closure of the coal industry, but has since recovered and is now known as an environmentally friendly city that welcomes tourists. Tourism increased significantly when Gelsenkirchen hosted the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The city is also home to Schalke 04 football team.
The Gelsenkirchen metro, together with the Bochum tram, covers a total distance of 84 kilometres. The system’s fleet consists mainly of trams. The M6S and M6C models entered service in the 1970s, but have since been largely phased out and replaced by the NF6D (MGT6D) in the 1990s. The network underwent significant modernisation with the introduction of the Variobahn models 501-530, 531-545 and 101-142. The tram systems of Bochum and Gelsenkirchen are operated by BOGESTRA (Bochum-Gelsenkirchener Straßenbahn AG), with the exception of line 107, which is operated by EVAG.
- Commonly Known as: Straßenbahn.
- System Length: The entire network spans 84 kilometers, including the lines in Bochum.
- Gauge Size: 1000 mm.
- Number of Lines: 3.
- Number of Stations: 99.
- Operated by: BOGESTRA (Bochum-Gelsenkirchener Straßenbahn AG,) EVAG.
- Founded: November 3, 1895.
Historical Perspective
Germany is known for its extensive and ancient transport systems, having been one of the first countries to develop extensive railway networks. Over time, Germany began to adapt its long-distance rail networks to meet the needs of inner cities. This trend was seen in Gelsenkirchen and throughout the Rhine-Ruhr region, where urban railway systems began to emerge at the end of the 19th century. The tram networks of Bochum and Gelsenkirchen began to develop during this period. The Bochum network opened on 23 November 1894 with a length of 6.9 kilometres, and the Gelsenkirchen underground opened a year later on 3 November with an initial length of 3.4 kilometres.
The system experienced significant growth until 1905 with the construction of additional stations, but progress was halted during World War I. The next significant expansion took place in the 1950s and 60s, marking the beginning of the modernisation of the system with the introduction of new rolling stock and the conversion of roads to railways. In the 21st century, the system has continued to be modernised, with a focus on the transition from tram lines to light rail.
Lines and Stations
The tram system between Bochum and Gelsenkirchen consists of a total of 7 lines, but only three of these serve the city of Gelsenkirchen. One of these lines connects the two cities within the system. These lines are:
107
Line 107, one of the longest lines, is normally operated by EVAG, except on Saturday mornings when it is operated by BOGESTRA. It has a total of 34 stations, 11 of which are operated by BOGESTRA. Its terminals are the city’s main station, Gelsenkirchen Hbf, and Bredney, with a stop at Essen city station. The main type of train used on this line is the M8D-NF2 class.
In 2010, when the Ruhr region was declared European Capital of Culture, the 107 line was named the “Culture Line” as it passes through many historic and cultural sites of tourist interest.
301
The 301 is the only line exclusively serving the city of Gelsenkirchen and has an annual ridership of over 7.4 million passengers. It has 34 stations and starts at Gelsenkirchen Hbf and passes through 7 underground stations before reaching the surface. These stations have been extended to include larger side platforms, some of which have encroached on former road space, resulting in the sharing of roads between the underground and pedestrian crossings for trains making short journeys.
As the line operates at 700 volts, only certain trains can be used, such as the M6S and the new Variobahn series. The journey starts at Gelsenkirchen Hbf, continues through Bismarck and Buer and ends at Horst.
302
Line 302, with its 44 stations (7 of which are underground), serves the main stations of Gelsenkirchen Hbf and the neighbouring city of Bochum Hbf. This means that a single metro line serves the two main stations of both cities. The terminus in Gelsenkirchen is Gelsenkirchen-Buer Rathaus, while the terminus in Bochum is Laer Mitte.
The underground section of this line is in the central part of the city, with an above-ground connection from the Musiktheater to Buer Rathaus. This line was significantly extended after the 2006 World Cup.
Connections
As in the rest of Germany, there is an extensive suburban railway system, known as the S-Bahn. The S-Bahn connects the city centre with the surrounding suburbs. In general, the S-Bahn services are fully integrated with the underground and tram services, especially in terms of the fare system.
Gelsenkirchen is also connected to the S-Bahn. The S2 line of the S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr passes through Gelsenkirchen Hbf, which is directly connected to the tram. There is also an indirect connection to the system via the S-Bahn stations Gelsenkirchen-Buer Nord and Gelsenkirchen-Hassel, which can be reached from both stations by a BOGESTRA-operated bus.
The bus system is fully integrated with the tram system, so each ticket also gives access to the buses operated by the same company. There are 68 bus routes between Bochum and Gelsenkirchen, all of which operate within the same structure. The system also includes night buses.
To get to the city of Essen, passengers can take the U11 underground line from the Buerer Strasse station on line 301. The Stadtbahn is the rail transport system of the city of Essen.
There are also connections to long-distance trains. The main connection in the city of Gelsenkirchen is Gelsenkirchen Hbf, operated by Deutsche Bahn, which provides connections to regional and long-distance trains throughout Germany and the European continent. The station is a central hub for trams, buses, long-distance trains and the S-Bahn.
Airport Connection
Although the city of Gelsenkirchen does not have its own airport, most passengers in the Rhine-Ruhr region typically use Düsseldorf City Airport. Connections from the airport to the Gelsenkirchen tram can be made via the S-Bahn.
The railway station at Düsseldorf Airport is a major hub for medium and long-distance trains. The station is also home to an S1 suburban railway station. Passengers can take this line to Duisburg and then take the S2 line to Gelsenkirchen Hbf, the main tram station. Passengers can also board long-distance trains and later change to the underground to reach the city.
Schedule, Timetables, and Calendar
The operating hours of the tram system in Gelsenkirchen and Bochum vary from line to line, but generally start at around 4:00 in the morning and end after midnight.
On line 107, the first train of the day starts at 4:28 in the morning and the last train leaves at 11:21 at night. The frequency of trains on this line is the slowest in the system due to its tram-like characteristics, with an average of 20 minutes between trains.
Line 301 starts a little later, with the first train leaving at 3:58 in the morning. Conversely, the last train on this line is the latest of the entire tram system to depart, leaving at 1:08 the next morning. The departure frequency on this line is quite fast compared to others, with an average of about 10 minutes between each train.
The 302 line begins service at 3:55 in the morning, with the first train leaving the terminal station. The last train of the day leaves after midnight, at 12:15 the following day. Its frequency is the same as the 301, i.e. each train arrives at the platforms every 10 minutes.
Tickets, Prices, and Cards
The fare system for the Gelsenkirchen and Bochum trams is complex and depends on the distance travelled during the journey. There are four fare zones: A, B, C and D.
Zone A is subdivided into A1, which represents towns and small cities; A2, which represents relatively large cities; and A3, which represents cities with extensive transport networks such as Dortmund and Cologne. The entire fare system is similar to that of the Rhine-Ruhr region.
Single tickets: For short journeys of less than three stops, the price for children and adults is €1.60 ($1.88). The price for adults varies by zone: Zone A costs €2.70 ($3.17), while zones B, C and D cost €5.80 ($6.81), €12.10 ($14.21) and €15 ($17.62) respectively.
Four-trip tickets: For children, the ticket costs €5.90 ($6.93). The cost is the same for adults making short trips. For zones A, B, C and D, the adult prices are 10 euros ($11.75), 20.90 euros ($24.55), 42.80 euros ($50.28) and 52.50 euros ($61.67) respectively.
Ten-ride tickets: This ticket has a fixed price of €13.60 ($15.98) for children and adults making short trips. For zones A, B, C and D, the price is 22 euros ($25.84), 44 euros ($51.69), 88 euros ($103.38) and 100 euros ($117.48) respectively.
Daily passes: These passes offer unlimited travel for one day. In Zone A, the adult ticket costs €6.80 ($7.99) and the child ticket costs €6.70 ($7.87). Zone B tickets cost €13.90 ($16.33) for adults and €13.60 ($15.98) for children. In Zone C, tickets cost €23.60 ($27.72) for adults and €23.10 ($27.14) for children. In Zone D, tickets cost 28.40 euros (33.36 dollars) for adults and 27.70 euros (32.54 dollars) for children.
Finally, Seven-Day Passes: offer unlimited rides for seven days.
- Adults: Prices for Zones A1, A2, A3, B, C, and D are 21.90 euros (25.73 USD), 26.65 euros (31.30 USD), 27.65 euros (32.42 USD), 40.40 euros (47.46 USD), 53.15 euros (62.43 USD), and 67.60 euros (79.41 USD) respectively.
- Children: Prices for Zones A1, A2, A3, B, C, and D are 21.60 euros (25.37 USD), 26.20 euros (30.78 USD), 26.80 euros (31.48 USD), 39.65 euros (46.58 USD), 51.90 euros (60.97 USD), and 66 euros (77.53 USD) respectively.
Monthly cards: These are another popular option. There are two types of monthly pass: those valid from the first to the last day of a calendar month and those valid for 30 days from the date of purchase. These monthly passes also offer the option to add extra services such as dogs, luggage or children for an extra charge. There are also different tickets for different times of day, with some valid all day and others only after 9am.
The age of the user has a significant impact on the price of the ticket, with special rates available for young people, students of various levels and senior citizens.
Tips for Riding the Gelsenkirchen Metro
Navigating any public transport system, even in a country like Germany, requires certain precautions:
- German public transport doesn’t require you to show your ticket when you board. However, checks are often made during the journey. Make sure you’ve paid for your ticket or have enough money on your card to avoid fines.
- With so many different types of ticket available, it’s important to decide which is best for you. Think about how long you’ll be in the city and how often you’ll be using the metro.
- Timetables are displayed at the entrances and exits of the stations, so you can plan your journey, choose the best route and decide which train to take.
Fun Facts
The Rhine-Ruhr region is politically and socially united. All its cities are connected by the S-Bahn, and they are also connected by the Stadtbahn and the Straßenbahn. Gelsenkirchen is connected to Bochum by tram and to Essen by tram.
Parts of the metro system have a tramway-like structure. However, in recent years the busiest lines have been upgraded to a light rail system.
The gauge of the railway is 1000 mm, which distinguishes it from most systems of this type, which use a standard gauge of 1,435 mm.
The system guarantees punctuality, so if a train arrives more than 10 minutes late, the user can request a refund.
Advertising within the system is an effective sales technique, but requires a minimum fee of 510 Euros (599.11 USD).
Nearby Attractions
Gelsenkirchen, like the whole of the Rhine-Ruhr region, was primarily a coal-based industrial centre, producing a wide range of coal-related goods. In recent years, however, the city, and Germany as a whole, has moved towards modern, environmentally friendly industries. In addition, the Rhine-Ruhr region was selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2010. As a result, the number of tourists visiting the region, and Gelsenkirchen in particular, has grown exponentially.
Some of the attractions accessible from the Gelsenkirchen Metro include:
- Musiktheater im Revier: This is a German cultural monument inaugurated in 1959 and is considered the city’s musical landmark. It hosts operas, concerts and classical dance performances. The architecturally striking building was designed by Werner Ruhnau and is decorated with sculptures by Robert Adams and Norbert Kricke. To visit, get off at the Musiktheater stop on the 301 bus.
- Hans Sachs House: This is one of the administrative centres of Gelsenkirchen, built between 1924 and 1927 by the architect Alfred Fischer. Originally planned as a hotel with restaurants and a shopping mall, the building is notable for its modern design. To visit, get off at the Heinrich-König-Platz stop on the 107 or 302 and walk one block.
- Revierpark Nienhausen: This is Gelsenkirchen’s most prominent park, covering an area of 30 hectares. The park has facilities for spas, massage centres, an outdoor swimming pool, a conference centre and a physiotherapy centre, making it an ideal place for relaxation or rehabilitation. The park receives an estimated 250,000 visitors a year. To visit, get off at Nienhausen station on the 107 line.
- Gelsenkirchen racecourse: This is one of the region’s most distinctive harness racing stadiums. Founded in 1912, it holds 30,000 spectators and is visited by many people from the Rhine-Ruhr region and beyond. It’s easy to get to, just get off at the Trabrennbahn station on line 107.