Rügen is Germany’s largest island, famous for numerous sandy beaches, lagoons and open bays. The island is very popular among tourists from Germany and Europe. Trains on Rügen connect resort towns and tourist destinations. During summer season and on certain days narrow-gauge heritage railway also operate.
The railway network in Rügen consists of the electrified standard gauge stretch of the Deutsche Bahn Stralsund – Bergen – Sassnitz, Lietzow – Binz line and the non-electrified routes Bergen – Putbus – Lauterbach Mole. The first railway on Rügen was put into operation in 1883.
There is also a broad gauge section with the 1520 mm gauge in the Mukran ferry port.
Rügen island is linked to the mainland by road and railway via the Rügen Bridge and Causeway, two routes crossing the two-kilometre-wide Strela Sound, a sound of the Baltic Sea.
Regional trains on Rügen
There are regional trains between Stralsund and Rügen. The first station on the Rügen is Altefähr – neglected train stop.
Regional trains on Rügen run on the following routes
Stralsund – Sassnitz via Bergen and Lietzow
Stralsund – Ostseebad Binz via Bergen and Lietzow
Ostseebad Binz – Lietzow
Lietzow – Sassnitz
Some regional trains are extended to Rostock and Pasewalk.
Long-distance trains on Rügen
Deutsche Bahn runs also long-distance trains from major cities to Ostseebad Binz or Sassnitz.
München – Ostseebad Binz
Berlin – Ostseebad Binz
Frankfurt am Main – Ostseebad Binz
There is also an international train Basel – Ostseebad Binz via Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Frankfurt am Main, Cologne, Dortmund, Bremen and Hamburg.
There are many long-distance trains from Berlin to Rostock and Stralsund from where you can continue your journey by regional train to Rügen.
Long-distance trains on Rügen are operated by Deutsche Bahn. Regional trains from Rostock to Ostseebad Binz and Sassnitz are operated by Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn (ODEG)
Deutsche Bahn – search engine and online shop.
Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn – official website
Narrow-gauge railway on Rügen
There is a very interesting and popular narrow-gauge railway on Rügen. The Rügen Resort Railway (Rasender Roland) runs seasonally from Putbus to Binz, Baabe, Sellin and Göhren. Steam hauled trains are comprised of vintage carriages. Some of them are almost a hundred years old. Total length of the line is 24.1 km, the railway was built to 750 mm gauge. The maximum speed is 30 kilometres per hour. Train travels through scenic southeast of the island of Rügen. Trains cover the distance of 24 km in around 80 minutes.
Rolling stock fleet consists eight steam locomotives and two diesel locomotives as well as various passenger cars, baggage wagons and freight wagons. There is also a historic traditional train with original carriages.
During summer season narrow-gauge trains run on the 2.6 kilometer long three-rail track between Putbus and Lauterbach Mole in addition to the standard-gauge trains.
Deutschland Ticket is valid on the Rügen Resort Railway but passengers must pay a surcharge.
Narrow-gauge railway network on Rügen was once 100 km long.
Rügen Resort Railway – official website
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