As the main sponsor, Deutsche Bahn intends to do its utmost to ensure the Capital of Culture year is a success. DB’s CEO Dr. Rüdiger Grube: “Deutsche Bahn is an active partner for the Ruhr region. It is therefore only logical that, as the official mobility and logistics partner, we should support RUHR.2010. With our involvement, we are providing climate-friendly mobility for visitors from home and abroad, for comfortable stations and for perfectly organised logistics.“

Special Cultural Ticket allows visitors to purchase a cheap day return ticket along with an entrance tickets to selected exhibitions. It is valid for a radius of 300 km and a 2nd class ticket costs 39 euros (1st class: 59 euros).

DB Schenker is also responsible for the logistics services on 18 July for the Still Life project, Europe’s largest street party. Following the A40 autobahn, the Ruhr district‘s main traffic artery, is closed to traffic, DB Schenker will transport thousands of tables and benches overnight and set them up along the autobahn, and remove them again at top speed when the event is over.

In partnership with the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, DB will be launching field trials of the "Touch&Travel" e-ticket system this month. The system enables customers to use their mobile phones as a ticket – on the bus, the tram, the metro, S-Bahn, Regional Express or the ICE. The mobility services provided by Deutsche Bahn also include Call a Bike bicycles at the Dortmund, Düsseldorf and Hamm stations and cars from DB Carsharing.

Essen Central Station will be showing off its new look at the opening on 16 January, with glass pavilions in the entrance area, renovated platforms and barrier-free access. The passenger buildings in Dortmund and Duisburg have also been modernized, and in the case of the station in Münster, the platform facilities and access roads renewed. An additional 108 small to medium-sized stations in North Rhine-Westphalia have also been modernised. The investments made in the stations will be borne by the federal government, the state and Deutsche Bahn.


The logistics for Europe's biggest street party were tested in fall 2009.
Photos: DB AG - click for high-res photos