Drive circuit for an electromagnetic relay having a relay coil and switch contacts, comprising - a first switching device, which is arranged between a first terminal of the relay coil and a first voltage source, - a second switching device, which is arranged between a second terminal of the relay coil and a zero potential; and - a control device, which is set up to close both switching devices (13a, 13b) to produce a current flow through the relay coil, wherein - a second voltage source is provided, which is connected by way of a third switching device to the first terminal of the relay coil, wherein the third switching device is connected parallel to the first switching device and the second voltage source has a higher voltage level than the first voltage source; and - to speed up the closure of the switching contacts of the relay the control device is set up initially to close all three switching devices (13a, 13b, 13c) to produce a current flow through the relay coil and at the end of a predefined time period on the one hand to open the third switching device again and on the other hand to keep the first and second switching devices (13a, 13b) closed; wherein - the control device is set up to generate separate switching signals (S 1, S 2, S 3) to drive the switching devices (13a, 13b, 13c), wherein the switching signals (S 1, S 2, S 3) are fed to the switching devices (13a, 13b, 13c) by way of mutually isolated signal paths; and wherein - signal inverters (15a, 15b) are provided either in the signal paths between the control device and the first and third switching devices (13a, 13c) or in the signal path between the control device and the second switching device, to bring about an inversion of the respective switching signal (S 1, S 3); and - the control device is set up to transmit inverse switching signals (S 1, S 2, S 3) in each instance by way of the signal paths provided with signal inverters (15a, 15b) to close the respective switching device (13a, 13b, 13c). - a first switching device, which is arranged between a first terminal of the relay coil and a first voltage source, - a second switching device, which is arranged between a second terminal of the relay coil and a zero potential; and - a control device, which is set up to close both switching devices (13a, 13b) to produce a current flow through the relay coil, - a second voltage source is provided, which is connected by way of a third switching device to the first terminal of the relay coil, wherein the third switching device is connected parallel to the first switching device and the second voltage source has a higher voltage level than the first voltage source; and - to speed up the closure of the switching contacts of the relay the control device is set up initially to close all three switching devices (13a, 13b, 13c) to produce a current flow through the relay coil and at the end of a predefined time period on the one hand to open the third switching device again and on the other hand to keep the first and second switching devices (13a, 13b) closed; wherein - the control device is set up to generate separate switching signals (S 1, S 2, S 3) to drive the switching devices (13a, 13b, 13c), wherein the switching signals (S 1, S 2, S 3) are fed to the switching devices (13a, 13b, 13c) by way of mutually isolated signal paths; and wherein - signal inverters (15a, 15b) are provided either in the signal paths between the control device and the first and third switching devices (13a, 13c) or in the signal path between the control device and the second switching device, to bring about an inversion of the respective switching signal (S 1, S 3); and - the control device is set up to transmit inverse switching signals (S 1, S 2, S 3) in each instance by way of the signal paths provided with signal inverters (15a, 15b) to close the respective switching device (13a, 13b, 13c).