City-Bahn

Old Silberling coaches were modernised and a more frequent fixed-interval service (Taktfahrplan) introduced.

One of the services was the Cologne–Overath–Gummersbach line, which was opened in 1984 as the Aggertaler on the Agger Valley Railway (Aggertalbahn, KBS 459).

For experimental services on the closure-threatened line, Silberling coaches were converted to the then modern interiors of the VT 628.2 and, like the Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn, painted in orange and light grey livery.

The modernised rolling stock and the fixed hourly services led to a considerable increase in passengers.

The second City-Bahn route was the Lower Elbe Railway (Niederelbebahn), where trains ran between Hamburg and Stade.