The Troisdorf–Mülheim-Speldorf railway is the main axis for freight between Cologne and the Ruhr area in Germany and the Netherlands. It connects the marshalling yards of Duisburg-Wedau and Gremberg.

The Osterath–Dortmund-Süd railway is a historically significant line in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Parts of it are closed, much of it is now used for freight only, but several sections are still used for Regional-Express, Regionalbahn or Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn services.