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.

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.

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	Buerer Str. (in Gelsenkirchen) – E-Karnap – Altenessen – Berliner Platz – Essen Hbf – Rüttenscheid – Essen Messe/Gruga	23 (13)	Operated by Ruhrbahn. Only 3 stations in BOGESTRA area.

The tram system dates back to the 1890s. As of 2012, BOGESTRA exclusively operates the following six 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)
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)
310	Bochum-Höntrop Kirche – Bochum Hbf – Witten Rathaus – Heven Dorf	39 (4)
318	Bochum-Gerthe Schürbankstraße – Bochum Hbf – Weitmar – Linden – Dahlhausen Bf.	32 (4)	Also operates as a Night Express.

In addition, a seventh 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.

As of 2012, BOGESTRA operates 65 bus lines. BOGESTRA bus lines are generally given route numbers in the 300s (like the tram route numbers).

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

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

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