linked with the rest of the transport network in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Essen, Dortmund, Hamm, Bielefeld, Herford, Löhne and Minden. Tenders of the route Four public transport associations are involved in the operation of the Rhein-Weser-Express: the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (transport association of the Rhine-Ruhr, VRR, the Verkehrsgemeinschaft Ruhr-Lippe (transport community of Westphalia-Lippe), Zweckverband SPNV Münsterland (regional rail transport association of Münsterland, ZVM) and Verkehrsverbund OstWestfalenLippe (transport association of East Westphalia-Lippe, VVOWL). The "large traffic" contract (große Verkehrsvertrag) that covers the route between Dortmund and Düsseldorf was terminated by the VRR on 12 June 2008 without notice, since then DB has operated this branch under direction. On 19 December 2008 the Administrative Court of Gelsenkirchen ruled that the termination of the "large traffic" contract had been unlawful. The North Rhine-Westphalian authorities submitted a joint tendering schedule, according to which the RE 6 line was to be tendered together with the RE 5 Rhein-Express. Operation for the RE 6 was to commence on 11 December 2016. Within the framework of the so-called "Rhein-Ruhr-Express" interim contract, services were provided by DB Regio from December 2016 until the start-up of the Rhine-Ruhr Express services. Since the timetable change in December 2019, the Rhein-Weser-Express has been operated by National Express with Desiro HC rolling stock. See also List of regional rail lines in North Rhine-Westphalia List of scheduled railway routes in Germany References External links Rail services in North Rhine-Westphalia Named DB Regio services