Borkum island is the largest and most westerly of the seven East Frisian Islands. It is known for a mild climate, low pollen counts and air containing high levels of iodine. Borkum offers visitors a wide variety of cultural and wellness activities. There is a narrow-gauge railway on the island. Trains on Borkum connect the port with the town of Borkum. It is the oldest island railway in Germany.
The island is partially car-free. Off-season, driving by car is permitted everywhere, otherwise there are car-free zones. The only town on the island is also called Borkum.
Trains on Borkum – Borkumer Kleinbahn
Borkumer Kleinbahn is a narrow-gauge railway (900 mm) from the harbour to the town of Borkum. The length of the line is 7.5 km. The line was opened in 1888 as a successor of the horsedrawn line inaugurated in 1879. In the next decades numerous short branches were built – the network reached its peak length in 1938 with a total length of 45 km tracks.
Trains are comprised of diesel locomotive and passenger carriages. During summer a steam locomotive from the Bäderbahn Molli is scheduled to run on the line and sometimes a Wismar railbus, called “pig”, is deployed.
The railway is currretly operated by Borkumer Kleinbahn und Dampfschiffahrt GmbH.
The route runs through the outer dike of Borkum. In the event of a storm surge, this can be blocked by a dike gate.
Borkumer Kleinbahn – official website
Map of the Borkum with a railway line (Wikimedia Commons)
There are ferries to the island of Borkum from the German port of Emden (connected by regional trains from Cologne or long-distance trains from Leipzig or Berlin) or from the Dutch port of Eemshaven. The nearest train station is Rodeschool, 6 kilometers away (numerous trains from Groningen to Rodeschool).
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Trains on Borkum
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