Globalisation:
the Rheinbahn plans an alliance

In 1970, a mini revolution took place for Rheinbahn customers and the citizens of the Rhine and Ruhr regions:
suburban railway services that linked cities according to a standardised technical concept were developed to connect up the Rhine and Ruhr region with a new and attractive rail network. At the same time, the idea was born to establish a larger alliance with other transport operators. The opportunity to use all means of public transport in the Rhine and Ruhr region at standard ticket rates appeared to be an unavoidable step.
The initiators believed that such an interconnected system also offered the opportunity of reducing the number of car commuters on the congested city roads. However, this necessitated a co-ordination and integration process that involved all transport operators and political departments at the municipal authorities, which was naturally problematic.

The Rheinbahn, which was the largest transport operator in North Rhine-Westphalia, played a leading role in the negotiations right from the outset. However, one full decade passed before the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr, the biggest public transport authority in the Federal Republic of Germany, could finally be established. The move to the new Rheinbahn headquarters was definitely a milestone in the Rheinbahn’s long history and it coincided with the beginning of a new era of local public transport.

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