Vectus Verkehrsgesellschaft
Former German regional railway operator serving the Westerwald-Taunus network from a base in Limburg an der Lahn.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Vectus Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH was a German regional railway company that operated passenger services in parts of Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and southern North Rhine-Westphalia. Its name was derived from the Latin word vectus, meaning carried or transported. The company was based in Limburg an der Lahn, which also served as the principal operating focus and interchange point for its services. Vectus was established on 23 July 2003 by two public-sector railway companies: Hessische Landesbahn GmbH, which held 74.9 percent, and Westerwaldbahn GmbH, which held 25.1 percent. The two companies had formed a consortium that won a concession in November 2002 to operate the Westerwald-Taunus network. The concession covered approximately 218 kilometres of regional railway routes and was awarded over competing bids, including one from DB Regio. The operating agreement was signed in January 2003 with the relevant public transport authorities, including SPNV Nord and the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund. Vectus began operating the network at the December 2004 timetable change. Its initial operating model combined a newly assembled fleet, a relatively small workforce and a timetable centred on Limburg. The company used 28 newly built diesel railcars and employed approximately 70 staff at the start of operations. Annual output was about 2.4 million train-kilometres. Its services connected communities in the Lahn valley, Westerwald and Taunus with larger railway hubs and with the wider regional transport networks of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. The company’s route portfolio included services on the Main-Lahn Railway, including connections toward Frankfurt, and regional services on the Lahntal railway. It also operated on the Lower Westerwald Railway between Limburg-Staffel and Siershahn, as well as other lines forming part of the Westerwald-Taunus operating package. Limburg was the main interchange with Deutsche Bahn services. Bus links from Limburg station connected passengers with long-distance Intercity-Express services at Limburg Süd, while Montabaur provided another connection to the ICE network. Vectus’s rolling stock was primarily composed of Alstom Coradia LINT diesel multiple units. The fleet comprised ten LINT 27 single-car units and eighteen LINT 41 two-car units, all built in 2004 and technically comparable to Deutsche Bahn’s Class 640 and 648 railcars. Vectus also operated three Stadler GTW diesel railcars acquired from Hessische Landesbahn in connection with a transfer of three LINT 27 units to the parent company. The vehicles were suited to the non-electrified regional routes that made up much of the network. Vectus was not intended to remain a long-term independent operating brand after the initial ten-year concession. In October 2012, Hessische Landesbahn won the future operating contract for the Westerwald network. At the end of Vectus’s original concession in 2014, HLB began operating the Westerwald services, while DB Regio took over the Taunus network. Vectus was subsequently absorbed by its principal shareholder. The Limburg operations centre closed in mid-2015, the company was dissolved, and its railcars were transferred to Hessische Landesbahn. Some of the former Vectus vehicles continued to receive occasional maintenance at the Limburg workshop after 2015. Vectus is therefore a defunct regional rail operating brand rather than an active transport company.
History
Vectus was created after a consortium of Hessische Landesbahn and Westerwaldbahn won a regional rail operating concession on 14 November 2002. The concession concerned the Westerwald-Taunus network, a roughly 218-kilometre group of lines in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, with associated sections in southern North Rhine-Westphalia. The agreement was formalized on 10 January 2003 with SPNV Nord and the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund. Vectus Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH was incorporated on 23 July 2003, with HLB as the majority shareholder and Westerwaldbahn as the minority shareholder. The company took over railway operations at the December 2004 timetable change. It launched with 28 new Alstom Coradia LINT diesel railcars and around 70 employees. The service pattern was organized around Limburg an der Lahn, where Vectus connected with Deutsche Bahn services and coordinated access to wider regional and long-distance transport. Its network included routes in the Lahn valley, Westerwald and Taunus, including portions of the Main-Lahn Railway, Lahntal railway and Lower Westerwald Railway. Vectus operated approximately 2.4 million train-kilometres annually. Its principal fleet consisted of ten single-car Alstom Coradia LINT 27 units and eighteen two-car LINT 41 units, all manufactured in 2004. These diesel railcars were appropriate for the largely non-electrified lines in the concession area. The company also used three Stadler GTW diesel railcars obtained from HLB as part of a fleet adjustment involving the transfer of three LINT 27 vehicles to HLB. The company’s independent operating period ended when the future contracts were reassigned. In October 2012, HLB was awarded the contract to operate the Westerwald network after the expiry of Vectus’s original ten-year arrangement. HLB began those services in 2014, while DB Regio took over the Taunus network. Vectus was subsequently taken over by HLB. Its Limburg operations centre closed in mid-2015, after which the legal entity was dissolved. The railcars passed to HLB, and the Limburg workshop continued to provide only occasional maintenance for the former Vectus fleet. The brand consequently disappeared from active railway operations.
- 2015
Operations centre closes and company is dissolved
[1]The Limburg operations centre closed in mid-2015. Vectus was subsequently dissolved, while its railcars were transferred to Hessische Landesbahn.
- 2014
Vectus concession ends
[1]At the end of Vectus’s ten-year operating period, HLB took over the Westerwald services and DB Regio assumed the Taunus network.
- 2012
HLB wins the future Westerwald operating contract
[1]Hessische Landesbahn was awarded the subsequent contract for the Westerwald network, setting the stage for the end of Vectus’s independent operations.
- 2004
Regional railway operations begin
[1]Vectus assumed operation of the concession network at the December timetable change, using 28 new Alstom Coradia LINT diesel railcars and approximately 70 employees.
- 2003
Vectus is founded
[1]Vectus Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH was established on 23 July 2003, with Hessische Landesbahn holding 74.9 percent and Westerwaldbahn holding 25.1 percent.
- 2002
Consortium wins the Westerwald-Taunus concession
[1]A consortium formed by Hessische Landesbahn and Westerwaldbahn won the concession to operate the approximately 218-kilometre Westerwald-Taunus regional railway network, defeating several competing bids.
Products and positioning
A public-sector-backed regional rail operator focused on dependable passenger transport across non-electrified routes in the Westerwald, Taunus and Lahn valley regions.
Regional passenger rail · 2004
Westerwald-Taunus regional rail services
Vectus’s principal offering was the operation of a regional railway network linking communities in the Westerwald, Taunus and Lahn valley areas. The service package was centred on Limburg and connected with Deutsche Bahn and regional transport-association services. It covered approximately 218 kilometres of mostly non-electrified lines and was delivered under a public-service concession.
Diesel multiple-unit rolling stock · 2004
Alstom Coradia LINT fleet
Vectus operated ten Alstom Coradia LINT 27 single-car railcars and eighteen Coradia LINT 41 two-car railcars. The units were built in 2004 and were comparable to Deutsche Bahn Classes 640 and 648. Their diesel propulsion made them suitable for the regional lines operated by Vectus, many of which were not electrified.
Diesel multiple-unit rolling stock
Stadler GTW diesel railcars
Vectus also operated three Stadler GTW diesel railcars acquired from its majority shareholder, Hessische Landesbahn. The units formed part of a fleet-compensation arrangement connected with the transfer of three LINT 27 railcars to HLB.
Brand decisions
2012
Future operating work is assigned to Hessische LandesbahnStrategyBackground
Vectus was operating under a ten-year concession that was due to expire in 2014. Its majority shareholder, Hessische Landesbahn, won the subsequent contract for the Westerwald network.
Action taken
The future Westerwald services were assigned to HLB, while DB Regio was selected to operate the Taunus network after the Vectus concession ended.
Aftermath
Vectus ceased independent operations in 2014, was taken over by HLB and was dissolved after the Limburg operations centre closed in 2015.
Recent events
Vectus launches Vectus Star Club[3]
Reported:
Vectus launched Vectus Star Club, an invite-only membership program offering benefits and incentives to selected channel partners.
Vectus launches ‘India Ki Waterline’ TV campaign[4]
Reported:
Vectus launched the ‘India Ki Waterline’ TV campaign, featuring Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor. The first TV commercial went live on major TV channels, with television and digital platforms leading the campaign.
Sources4 sources
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