Twente S-bahn

The Twente S-bahn (: Twentse S-baan; Dutch Low Saxon: Tweantsen S-boan; : Twentebahn) is an urban and suburban  system located in the Dutch Low Saxon province of Twente, with branches into the Achterhoek and the German Kreise  and, centralised around the city of Enschede. It has a length of 139 kilometres (86.4 miles) and covers 84 stations.

The S-bahn system was created in the 1950s as part of an effort to modernise the region. An S-bahn system was created that followed many of the former rail lines that by then had fallen into disuse and disrepair.

The Twente S-bahn opened in 1956 and initially consisted of two lines: the Alenol Line and the Winengron Line. Both of these lines cross international borders with Germany, and thus there were border checks at Broekheurne and Brook.

As the system saw its popularity soar during the 1970s, more lines were planned. In 1978, the Runenlo Line opened, followed by the Ehebo Line in 1980. The last addition to the system was the Hebeha Line in 1999, which provided a direct connection between Haaksbergen and Hengelo, thus eliminating a transfer at Loerhazen. This was the first line and so far only line on the network to not pass through Enschede Centraal.

In 2002, the Winengron Line was extended past Gronau to Ochtrup and Welbergen, together with the reopening of the rail services between Enschede on one side and Münster and Dortmund on the other. The Alenol Line also saw an extension to Ahaus, along a route that was formerly served only by bus.

As of 2015 there are two future expansions in planning: the Haengrobe Line, which will provide a connection to Bad Bentheim, for 2017, and the Rhenenhelmar Line, which would will provide a connection between Rheine, Gronau, Enschede, Hengelo, Almelo and Mariënberg. These extensions will add 89 kilometres of track and increase the total number of stations to 124. An extension of the Haengrobe Line to Nordhorn and possibly Coevorden is being looked into as of 2015.

Alenol Line
The Alenol Line (from Alstätte, Enschede and Oldenzaal), opened in 1956 together with the Winengron Line, originally ran from Alstätte in Germany to Enschede Centraal and from there to Oldenzaal. The line was heavily impacted by the 2000 Enschede fireworks disaster, but was rebuilt by 2002. An extension was also built to Ahaus in the same year. Prior to the creation of the Schengen Agreement, border checks were carried out at Broekheurne.

As of 2015, the Alenol Line served 21 stations. Of those 21 stations, 14 are served solely by the Alenol Line.

The official colour for the Alenol Line is yellow.

Winengron Line
The Winengron Line (from Winterswijk, Neede, Enschede and Gronau), opened in 1956 together with the Alenol Line, originally ran from Winterswijk to Gronau in Germany via Groenlo, Eibergen, Neede, Haaksbergen and Enschede. An extension was built in 2002 so that the line continued past Gronau to Ochtrup, Langenhorst and Welbergen.

As of 2015, the Winengron Line served 33 stations. Of those 33 stations, 17 are served solely by the Winengron Line.

The official colour for the Winengron Line is dark blue.