The contract covers the operation of around 430,000 train-km per year. In 1992 the line was sold by German Rail (DB) to Durener Kreisbahn which is owned by the local government in Düren, but operator Rurtalbahn is largely privately owned.
DB had planned to close the line but under its new ownership regular-interval hourly services were introduced in 1993 and passenger numbers increased substantially. The 10.4km section from Jülich to Linnich re-opened to passenger trains in 2002.
Rurtalbahn will obtain new Lint 54 DMUs from Alstom (pictured) to operate services on the route from 2017 replacing Siemens/Düwag Regiosprinter units which date from 1995.
Rurtalbahn has already replaced the older units on the southern branch from Düren to Heimbach, where Stadler Regioshuttle DMUs are used. A new station near Jülich North will open in 2017 to serve a new school complex which is under construction.
