BOGESTRA

The Bochum-Gelsenkirchener Straßenbahnen AG (English: Bochum-Gelsenkirchen Tramways Corporation), abbreviated BOGESTRA, is a public transport operator in the Ruhr area, most notably in the cities of Bochum, Gelsenkirchen and Herne. As of 2012, the company operated, in whole or in part, 9 rail lines (2 Stadtbahn, and 7 tram), and 65 bus lines. In 2012, BOGESTRA transported a total of 144.9 million passengers. The company is a member of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) public transport association.

Bochum-Gelsenkirchener Straßenbahnen AG

Founded	13 January 1896 (1896-01-13)
Headquarters	Universitätsstraße 58 44789 Bochum
Locale	Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Service area	Bochum, Gelsenkirchen, Herne and Witten
Alliance	Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR)
Routes	Multi-Modal regional transit network consisting of: 2 Stadtbahn lines 10 Tram lines 53 Bus lines
Stops	1,285 (total)
Fleet	381 vehicles total: 128 Light rail vehicles 253 Buses
Annual ridership	144.9 million (2012)
Website	BOGESTRA AG

History

BOGESTRA network, 1949

Share of the Bochum-Gelsenkirchener Strassenbahnen, issued 22 January 1900

BOGESTRA was founded by the cities of Bochum and Gelsenkirchen and Siemens & Halske AG in Berlin on 13 January 1896. At the time of the founding of the company, the transit network consisted of three lines built by Siemens & Halske in 1894 and 1895. Thus, BOGESTRA already had, at the time of its founding, approximately 15.1 kilometres (9.4 mi) of streetcar network. The construction and operation of these lines remained with the Siemens & Halske AG, while BOGESTRA itself initially took only functional control. In the next 10 years the network grew rapidly.

Much of the streetcar network was damaged or destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II. On 24 May 1945, the deployment of transit personnel and the operation of approximately 55 kilometres (34 mi) of the rail network were resumed. In the period following the war, additional routes and lines were repaired and reopened. By the end of 1950, a total of 27 lines were back in operation, and the reconstruction of the rail system could be considered complete.

In contrast to the meter-gauge streetcar lines that BOGESTRA had operated since the 1890s, the 1970s and 1980s saw the planning for Stadtbahn lines throughout the Rhine-Ruhr region, including in the BOGESTRA operating area. BOGESTRA's new Stadbahn line would be operated on standard gauge rail with high platform stations in its own right-of-way using Stadtbahn B train cars. The first Stadtbahn section was opened on 2 September 1989 between Bochum Central Station and Castle Herne Strünkede as Line U35. This was also the first inter-city subway tunnel in Germany, because the city boundary between Bochum and Herne is crossed underground on Line U35. According to BOGESTRA, the underground section connecting these cities is still unique in Germany. An extension of Line U35 south from the Bochum Central Station to the Ruhr-University Bochum and on to Hustadt took place on 28 November 1993.

Current service

Bogestra tram and U-bahn network 2017

Stadtbahn

Main article: Bochum Stadtbahn

BOGESTRA currently exclusively operates Line U35, which is integrated in the Rhine-Ruhr Stadtbahn network. The U35 route runs between Herne and Bochum, serving 21 stations (15 of which are underground, with 6 being above-ground).

Line U35 opened on 2 September 1989, then operating a route between Castle Herne Strünkede and Bochum Central Station. An extension of the line from the Bochum Central Station south to the Ruhr-University Bochum and to Hustadt opened for service on 28 November 1993. Planned sections of the U35 line northwest to Recklinghausen and southeast to Witten were never implemented due to the associated costs to these respective municipalities.

Line	Route	Stations (underground)	Comments
U35	Schloss Strünkede – Herne Bahnhof – Bochum-Riemke – Bochum Hauptbahnhof – Ruhr-Universität – Bochum-Querenburg, Hustadt	21 (15)	Operated exclusively by BOGESTRA.

In addition, a second Stadtbahn line operates in the BOGESTRA region: one of the Essen Stadtbahn routes (operated by Ruhrbahn), Line U11, operates partially in the BOGESTRA transit area though only for its northernmost 3 stations.

Line	Route	Stations (underground)	Comments
U11	Gelsenkirchen-Horst Buerer Str. – Essen-Karnap – Altenessen – Berliner Platz – Essen Hbf – Rüttenscheid – Essen Messe/Gruga	23 (13)	Operated by Ruhrbahn. Only 3 stations in BOGESTRA area.

Tram

Main article: Trams in Bochum/Gelsenkirchen

The tram system dates back to the 1890s. As of 2019, BOGESTRA exclusively operates the following nine tram lines:

Line	Route	Stations (underground)	Comments
301	Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Bismarck – Buer – Horst	34 (7)
302	Gelsenkirchen-Buer Rathaus – Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Bochum Hbf – Laer Mitte - Langendreer S	44 (7)
305	Bochum-Höntrop Kirche – Bochum Hbf – Laer Mitte – Langendreer S	25 (4)
306	Wanne-Eickel Hbf – Bochum Hbf	21 (1)	Also operates as a Night Express.
308	Bochum-Gerthe Schürbankstraße – Bochum Hbf – Weitmar – Linden – Hattingen Mitte	38 (4)
309	Langendreer S – Witten Papenholz – Witten Rathaus – Heven Dorf	14 (0)
310	Bochum-Höntrop Kirche – Bochum Hbf – Langendreer Markt – Witten Papenholz – Witten Rathaus – Heven Dorf	39 (4)
316	Wanne-Eickel Hbf – Bochum Hbf – Bochum-Gerthe Heinrichstraße	31 (2)
318	Bochum-Gerthe Schürbankstraße – Bochum Hbf – Weitmar – Linden – Dahlhausen Bf.	32 (4)	Also operates as a Night Express.

Tw 1161 on line 107 and
Tw 1753 on a special trip
on Feldmarkstraße in Gelsenkirchen April 2006

In addition, a tenth tram line also operates in the BOGESTRA region: an Essen tram route, Line 107, operates partially in the BOGESTRA transit area though only for its northernmost 11 stations.

Line	Route	Stations	Comments
107	Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Feldmark – Trabrennbahn – Essen-Katernberg – Zeche Zollverein – Essen Hbf – Bredeney	34	Operated by Ruhrbahn. Only 11 stations in BOGESTRA area. On Saturday mornings, only operates to Trabrennbahn.

Bus

As of 2024, BOGESTRA operates 53 bus lines. BOGESTRA bus lines are generally given route numbers in the 300s (like the tram route numbers).

Line	Route	Comments
SB 33	Bochum-Wattenscheid, August-Bebel-Platz – Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität	Express Bus Line
SB 36	Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Musiktheater – Heßler – Nordsternpark – Schloss Horst – Gladbeck Oberhof – Goetheplatz – Gladbeck West – Bottrop-Kirchhellen	Operated together with Vestische Straßenbahnen, Express Bus Line
SB 37	Bochum Hbf – Schauspielhaus – Königsallee – Henrichshütte – Hattingen – Niedersprockhövel – Haßlinghausen – Schwelm – Ennepetal	Operated together with VER Ennepe-Ruhr, Express Bus Line
SB 67	Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität – Freizeitbad Heveney – Herbede – Steinenhaus – Niedersprockhövel – Haßlinghausen – Wuppertal Hbf	Operated by VER Ennepe-Ruhr, Express Bus Line
194	Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Rotthausen Achternbergstraße – Essen-Kray – Essen-Steele – Annental – Essen-Rellinghausen – Stadtwaldplatz – Villa Hügel – Bredeney – Essen-Haarzopf	Operated together with Ruhrbahn
320	Witten-Rüdinghausen – Witten-Annen – Marienhospital – Witten Rathaus – Witten Hbf – Witten-Heven – Freizeitbad Heveney – Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität / – Herbede – Steinenhaus – Niedersprockhövel
336	Bochum Hbf – Bochum Rathaus – Planetarium – Bochum-Grumme – Bochum-Harpen – Dortmund-Lütgendortmund
339	Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität – Bochum-Wiemelhausen – Bochum Hbf – Bochum Rathaus – Planetarium – Bochum-Grumme – Bochum-Harpen, Ruhr-Park
340	Gelsenkirchen-Rotthausen – Musiktheater – Bulmke-Hüllen – Röhlinghausen – Wanne-Eickel Hbf – Herne-Holsterhausen
342	Gelsenkirchen-Buer, Westfälische Hochschule – Schaffrath – Bahnhof Buer Süd – Sutum – Gelsenkirchen-Erle – ZOOM-Erlebniswelt – Wanne-Eickel Hbf
344	Bochum-Wattenscheid, Freiheitstraße – August-Bebel-Platz – Wattenscheid Bahnhof – Wattenscheid-Höntrop – Eppendorf – Bochum-Weitmar – Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität – Hustadt – Bochum-Querenburg, Hochschule Bochum
345	Bochum-Dahlhausen – Eppendorf – Wattenscheider Straße – Bochum Rathaus – Bochum Hbf – Bochum-Wiemelhausen – Altenbochum – Bochum-Laer – Bochum-Werne – Bochum-Langendreer, Knappschafts-Krankenhaus
346	Bochum-Wattenscheid, Freiheitstraße – August-Bebel-Platz – Wattenscheid-Höntrop – Bochum-Weitmar – Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität – Hustadt – Bochum-Querenburg, Hochschule Bochum
348	Gelsenkirchen-Hüllen, Konradstraße – Bulmke-Hüllen – Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Gelsenkirchen-Rotthausen – Essen-Kraspothshöhe – Essen-Katernberg
349	Bochum Hbf – Bochum-Wiemelhausen – Bochum-Weitmar / – Bochum-Stiepel, Haarstraße
350	Bochum Hbf – Schauspielhaus – Bochum-Wiemelhausen – Bochum-Stiepel – Steinenhaus – Blankenstein – Welper – Henrichshütte – Hattingen Mitte
352	Bochum-Hofstede – Bochum-Hamme – Wattenscheider Straße – Bochum-Eppendorf
353	Bochum-Weitmar - Bochum-Wiemelhausen – Schauspielhaus – Bochum Hbf – Bochum Rathaus – Bochum-Grumme – Hiltrop – Bochum-Gerthe – Schürbankstraße – Castrop-Rauxel Münsterplatz
354	Bochum-Weitmar, Sundern – Bochum-Wiemelhausen – Bochum Hbf – Planetarium – Bochum-Grumme – Bochum-Riemke	Operated using electric busses
355	Bochum-Dahlhausen – Eppendorf – Bochum-Ehrenfeld – Bochum Rathaus – Bochum Hbf – Hauptfriedhof – Bochum-Laer – Bochum-Werne – Bochum-Langendreer
356	Bochum Hbf – Bochum-Wiemelhausen – Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität
357	Bochum-Dahlhausen – Eisenbahnmuseum – Bochum-Linden – Bochum-Oberdahlhausen
358	Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität – Altenbochum – Bochum-Laer – Hauptfriedhof – Bochum-Harpen, Ruhr Park
359	Bochum-Dahlhausen – Bochum-Linden – Rauendahl – Hattingen – Hattingen-Holthausen, Klinik Holthausen
363	Wattenscheid-Südfeldmark – Freiheitstraße – August-Bebel-Platz – Wattenscheid-Höntrop Kirche – Essen-Steele
364	Bochum-Langendreer – Bochum-Werne – Bochum-Harpen, Ruhr Park – Bochum-Gerthe – Schürbankstraße – Castrop-Rauxel Münsterplatz
365	Bochum Hbf – Bochum Rathaus – Schauspielhaus – Bochum-Weitmar – Wattenscheid-Höntrop – Wattenscheid Bahnhof – August-Bebel-Platz – Freiheitstraße – Wattenscheid-Leithe, Kaufland Ottostraße
366	Bochum-Langendreer – Bochum-Harpen, Ruhr Park – Hiltrop – Herne Bahnhof – Bochum-Riemke
368	Bochum-Harpen, Ruhr Park – Altenbochum – Bochum Hbf – Bochum Rathaus – Bochum-Hamme – Hordel – Röhlinghausen – Wanne-Eickel Hbf
369	Dortmund-Lütgendortmund – Bochum-Langendreer – Dortmund-Lütgendortmund	Ring Line
370	Bochum-Stiepel – Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität – Bochum-Langendreer – Bochum-Werne – Dortmund-Lütgendortmund
372	Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität – Bochum-Laer – Bochum-Langendreer – Bochum-Werne
374	Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität – Witten-Heven – Herbede
375	Witten-Annen – Marienhospital – Witten Rathaus – Witten Hbf – Witten–Heven – Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität / – Durchholzer Platz – Witten-Herbede
376	Hagen-Vorhalle Bahnhof – Herdecke – Auf dem Schnee – Marienhospital – Witten Rathaus – Witten Hbf
378	Bochum-Querenburg, Ruhr-Universität – Bochum-Langendreer – Dortmund-Lütgendortmund – Castrop-Rauxel Münsterplatz
379	Bochum-Harpen, Ruhr Park – Bochum-Werne – Bochum-Langendreer – Marienhospital – Witten Rathaus – Witten Hbf – Witten-Bommern – Durchholzer Platz – Haßlinghausen
380	Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Musiktheater – Gelsenkirchen-Schalke – Schloss Berge – Gelsenkirchen-Buer Rathaus	Operated using electric busses
381	Gelsenkirchen-Rotthausen – Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Gelsenkirchen-Schalke – Gelsenkirchen-Erle – Gelsenkirchen-Buer Rathaus / – Gelsenkirchen-Resse
382	Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck, Trinenkamp – Gelsenkirchen Zoo Bahnhof – Haverkamp – Bulmke-Hüllen – Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Gelsenkirchen-Feldmark
383	Gelsenkirchen-Horst – Schloss Horst – Nordsternpark – Heßler – Musiktheater – Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Gelsenkirchen-Ückendorf – Wattenscheid-Günnigfeld – Gelsenkirchen-Bulmke-Hüllen
384	Wanne-Eickel Hbf – Haverkamp – Trinenkamp – Gelsenkirchen-Schalke – Gelsenkirchen-Heßler
385	Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Neustadt – Gelsenkirchen-Ückendorf – Röhlinghausen – Herne-Eickel – Bochum-Riemke
386	Bochum-Wattenscheid, Schlaraffiastraße – Wattenscheid Bahnhof – Freiheitstraße – August-Bebel-Platz – Wattenscheid-Westenfeld
388	Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Gelsenkirchen-Feldmark – Gelsenkirchen-Ückendorf, Marienhospital	Operated using electric busses
389	Gelsenkirchen Hbf – Marienhospital – Wattenscheid-Leithe – Freiheitstraße – August-Bebel-Platz – Wattenscheid Bahnhof – Wattenscheid-Höntrop
390	Bochum-Linden – Eppendorf – Wattenscheid-Höntrop – August-Bebel-Platz – Freiheitstraße – Wattenscheid-Günnigfeld – Röhlinghausen Markt – Herne-Eickel – Herne Bahnhof
392	Gelsenkirchen-Erle – Stadthafen – ZOOM-Erlebniswelt – Gelsenkirchen Zoo Bahnhof – Haverkamp – Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck
395	Bochum-Harpen, Ruhr Park – Bochum-Grumme – Hofstede – Herne-Holsterhausen
396	Gelsenkirchen-Buer Rathaus – Schaffrath – Schloss Horst – Gelsenkirchen-Horst
397	Gelsenkirchen-Buer Rathaus – Gelsenkirchen–Erle – Gelsenkirchen-Resser Mark
398	Gelsenkirchen-Buer Rathaus – Gelsenkirchen-Erle – Gelsenkirchen-Sutum
399	Gelsenkirchen-Buer Rathaus – Gelsenkirchen-Buer, Westfälische Hochschule

See also

• Rhein-Ruhr Stadtbahn
• Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR)
• Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn
• List of rapid transit systems

External links

• Official website (in German)
• Ruhrbahn – official site (in German)
• Vestische Straßenbahn – official site (in German)
• Documents and clippings about BOGESTRA in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW