Traditionally Borkum was accessed by water. Prior to 1850 the ferry only called at Borkum every fortnight. With the growth in tourism a weekly service was set up which alternately called at Greetsiel and Emden. In 1883 a jetty was constructed as part of the extension of the island train, which was completed in 1888.
Today there is a tidal-independent connection between Borkum and Emden and Eemshaven. The traffic to the mainland of Lower Saxony to Emden Außenhaven (outer harbour) which is linked to the European railway network and to the harbour of Eemshaven of Lower Saxony is serviced by car ferries and passenger express ferries. From Borkum you can also reach the neighbouring islands.
With the completion of the railway line Emden-Meppen in 1856 Borkum was integrated into the German railway network. This had an imminent effect on the growth of tourism.
By the end of the 19th century the extension of the island railway line and the harbour terminal began. The impulse for this was a threatening competitive disadvantage in view of the extension of the traffic infrastructure on Norderney. A horse tram was built in 1879 which was first used for the transport of building material for the new lighthouse and was rebuild as the island railway line. When Borkum became a sea fortress the narrow gauge railway was extended from a length of 8km to over 40km, in parts comprising two lines. During the Second World War, next to the “main line” the military constructed several light railway lines which linked the main settlement to the different parts of the fortress.
In the 1970s the importance of the island railway line grew in response to the growth in tourism, and in 1990 it became necessary to add new rolling stock. There is also an hourly bus service from the harbour which almost follows the route of the train. The bus service also links the eastern part of Ostland, which is not serviced by the railway line. Car traffic is restricted on the island.
