(Germany )BOCHUM

Images kindly supplied by BOGESTRA. (Thanks)
Duewag B80D	Stadler Tango	underground

Bochum
In the early years '70s Bochum planned a Stadtbahn network (premetro-like, with ground level and underground sections), in order to connect Bochum (400.000 inhabitants), Herne (175.000 inhabitants) and Gelsenkirchen (280.000 inhabitants), based on 3 axis:
- north-south, Recklinghausen-Bochum via Herne;
- south west-north east, from Hattingen to Castrop-Rauxel;
- north east-south east, from Gelsenkirchen to Bochum.
The 3 corridors converge on Bochum Hauptbahnof station, organized in 2 levels in order to host an underground line and a ground level line (east-west).
At the moment the only lines operating are the main section of the north-south route (Line U35: Herne Schloss Strunkede-Bochum Hauptbahnhof-Wasserstrasse -underground-, Wasserstrasse-Hustadt ground level; opened in 1989, it adopts metro-like rolling stock) and the urban segment (inside Bochum) of the second line (opened in 1979-1981, with 4 underground stops); works for the third line are going on in Bochum, while it's yet operating the Gelsenkirchen tunnel section (7 stops, almost completely realized in 1984-1994).
With the U35 exception, all the other segments of the network adopts tram-like rolling stock.
On January 2006 works for an underground section (Bochumer Verein/Jahrhunderthalle - Lohring) of the Bochum Hauptbanhof-Wanne-Eickelbranch branch have been completed; a further U35 southern extension (up to Fachhochschule, 2 stops) it's expected.
Bogestra (official site)

CHRONOLOGY
02-09-1989	Herne Schloss Strunkede-Bochum Hauptbahnhof
novembre 1993	Bochum Hauptbahnhof-Hustadt

Country	Germany
Line	U35
Inhabitants	City 400.000, District 855.000 (Bochum-Herne-Gelsenkirchen)
Date opening	1989
Future development:	southern extension towards Fachhochschule (ground level)
Length (km)	14.3
Track sections	underground from Schloss Strunkede to Wasserstrasse (11 km), ground level in reserved lanes from Wasserstrasse to Hustadt with level crossing at the crossroads (partly on an elder railway track)
Stops	21, average distance m 715
Platforms	--
Platform doors	--
General characteristics	--
n. of vehicles	Siemens:--; Stadler: 6
n. of cars per vehicle	Siemens: 2; Stadler: 3
Type	steel wheels
Vehicle dimensions (m)	length 28, width 2.65
Vehicle capacity (pax)	Siemens: 171 (70 seated); Stadler: 175 (66 seated)
Frequency	--
Current/Voltage	--
Type of guide/gauge	standard gauge rails (1435 mm)
Speed Km/h	Max 80
Accel./Decel. (m/sec2)	Siemens: 1.15/1.15; Stadler: --
System capacity	--
Ridership	--
Total cost	--
Staff	--
System builder	SIEMENS, STADLER
Model	Siemens: B80D; Stadler: Tango
NOTE	Duewag rolling stock (now Siemens)