Today's RE 7 is the successor to the former StädteExpress line SE from Aachen via Cologne and Wuppertal to Munster.

From 1998, under the original version of North Rhine-Westphalia’s integrated timetable (ITF 1), the service ran between Düren and Munster.

This eliminates a level crossing of rail tracks in Cologne and avoids conflicts between the two services.

[3][4] The Rhein-Münsterland-Express runs on the following railway lines: Since December 2015, the service has been operated by National Express with Bombardier Talent 2s.

[5][6] It was previously operated by DB Regio NRW with push–pull trains, each composed of four double-deck carriages hauled by class 112 locomotives.