The Rhine-Erft Express is funded jointly by three transport associations: the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (Rhine-Ruhr transport association, VRR), which includes the Mönchengladbach–Rommerskirchen section, the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (Rhine-Sieg transport association, VRS), which includes the Stommeln–Bad Honnef section and the Rhineland-Palatinate Zweckverband SPNV-Nord (regional rail transport “purpose association” North).
VRR fares apply between Mönchengladbach and Rommerskirchen. Between Unkel and Koblenz the fares of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Mosel (Rhine-Moselle transport association, VRM) apply. Due to extensive overlap of rules VRS fares apply between Grevenbroich and Engers.
History
From 1998 to 2002 there was a Rhein-Erft-Express service numbered RE 18. Line number RE 8 applied to the Rhein-Holland-Express, which operated over the Venlo–Mönchengladbach–Cologne–Koblenz route. With the introduction of the second stage of the North Rhine-Westphalia integrated timetable in 2002, the VRR sought a transfer-free connection from Düsseldorf to Venlo, which meant that the Rhein-Erft-Express was cut back to Mönchengladbach and renumbered as RE 8. The section of the route from Moenchengladbach to Venlo became part of the new Maas-Wupper-Express, RE 13.
From December 2002, RE 8 ran largely to today's route with push–pull trains consisting of class 143 locomotives and five Silberling carriages. A change of the service to double-deck coaches was planned and vehicles had already been ordered.[2] After the opening of the Cologne/Bonn Airport station on 13 June 2004, the Rhine-Erft Express was diverted to run through it. As travel through the airport tunnel required vehicles with the modern German emergency brake system (German: Notbremsüberbrückung), the line was operated with new class 425 electric multiple units in double sets.
Notes
^Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland (German railway atlas). Schweers + Wall. 2009. ISBN978-3-89494-139-0.
