Germany (Berlin and Brandenburg) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the timetable dated from 11 December 2016 to 9 December 2017, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information. Map references relate to the 2014 issue of the Schweers+Wall Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland.
Obscure services
Routes are listed generally in the following order: (i) Berlin central area; (ii) the Berlin Outer Ring (Außenring) and connections to or from it, in anti-clockwise order starting from Biesdorfer Kreuz; (iii) all others outside the Außenring.
Berlin central area
Berlin-Charlottenburg – Berlin-Halensee (Halensee Kurve)
[200.46] (128B3) DE17/251
The limited scheduled service over this south to east S-Bahn curve, withdrawn in June 2002, was reinstated from 29 May 2006. Departures are:
- From Halensee: 00:35
- From Berlin-Charlottenburg: 04:38 SSuX, 04:58 SSuX, 05:38 SO, 05:58 SO, 06:58 SuO, 07:18 SuO
Berlin-Lichtenberg – Berlin-Gesundbrunnen
(129A1-129C3) DE17/252
This is the north-eastern quadrant of the Ringbahn Ferngleis.
D1 | FO | EN453 | Paris Est - 07:13 (SO) Berlin Hbf - Moskva Belorusskaja |
D2 | NEB61198 | Rheinsberg (Mark) - 22:40 Berlin-Gesundbrunnen - Berlin-Lichtenberg | |
D1 | WO | EN452 | Moskva Belorusskaja - 20:45 (ThO) Berlin Lichtenberg - Paris Est |
D1: These trains are diverted via the Berlin Stadtbahn and do not use this route when departing Berlin on 31 August and Paris on 1 September 2017.
D2: 15 June to 5 November 2017
From 9 February until 9 December 2017 trains, other than S-Bahn, between Berlin-Gesundbrunnen and Berlin-Karow are diverted via this route and Biesdorfer Kreuz.
This route is also used quite often by other short term engineering works, announced locally and on the Fahrplanänderungen page of DB, and when international trains to/from Poland are diverted via Küstrin/Kostrzyn.
Berlin-Gesundbrunnen (Abzw Berlin-Wedding) - Berlin-Jungfernheide (Abzw Moabit Ost)
[206] (128D1-128C2) DE17/253
This section of the Ringbahn Ferngleis is used by trains runnning direct between Berlin-Gesundbrunnen and Berlin-Spandau, not via Berlin Hbf. There is a limited local service Mondays to Fridays and the route is also used by the following:
D | SO | IC2422 | Köln Hbf - 13:41/14:22 Berlin-Spandau - Stralsund Hbf/Ostseebad Binz |
FO | IC2426 | Köln Hbf - 16:52/17:56 Berlin-Spandau - Stralsund Hbf | |
D | SO | IC2423 | Ostseebad Binz/Stralsund Hbf - 13:22/13:55 Berlin-Gesundbrunnen - Köln Hbf |
D | SuO | IC2427 | Stralsund Hbf - 17:55/17:56 Berlin-Gesundbrunnen - Köln Hbf |
D | SuO | IC1932 | Stralsund Hbf - 19:32/19:36 Berlin-Gesundbrunnen - Oldenburg (Oldb) Hbf |
Berlin-Wannsee (Abzw Berlin-Grunewald Gds) - Berlin Hbf (tief) (Abzw Moabit Ost)
[206] (128A3-128C2) DE17/253A
This section of the Ringbahn Ferngleis and the curve from Berlin-Wannsee are not normally used by passenger trains.
D4 | IC2431 | Emden Außenhafen - 18:08 Berlin-Wannsee - Cottbus | |
D5 | IC2432 | Cottbus - 07:29 Berlin Hbf (tief) - Norddeich Mole |
D4: 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 May 2017 only
D5: 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 13 May 2017 only
Berlin-Spandau – Berlin-Staaken (Nennhauser Damm)
[209.13, ODEG RE4] (124D4-124C4) DE17/254
There are two routes between Berlin-Spandau and Staaken. The more northerly route makes a junction with the line from Falkensee about 1 km to the west of Berlin-Spandau. The southern route, mostly following the alignment of the Lehrter Bahn, converges with the main line at the west end of Berlin-Spandau station. Trains using the southern route can call only at platform 6, or use a non-platform track outside the station roof. IC, ICE and EC trains use the northern route in both directions. RE and RB trains generally use the northern route westbound and the southern route eastbound. If an eastbound train is to use the northern route, signal 8942 at Staaken (just east of the station) displays speed restriction ‘6’ (= 60 km/hr) above the main aspect.
Berlin Außenring (Outer Ring) and connections
Details are given of trains using connections on and off the Außenring at each of the junctions. Services referred to, generally operating hourly, are thus:
RE2 | Wismar - Wittenberge - Spandau - Alexanderplatz - Königs Wusterhausen - Cottbus | 209.24 |
RE5 | Rostock/Stralsund - Oranienburg - Gesundbrunnen - Südkreuz - Elsterwerda | 205 |
RE6 | Wittenberge - Neuruppin - Hennigsdorf (reverse) - Spandau (to/from Gesundbrunnen Monday to Friday) | 206 |
RE7 | Dessau/Jüterbog - Alexanderplatz - Schönefeld Flughafen - Wünsdorf-Waldstadt | 207 |
RB12 | Ostkreuz - Lichtenberg - Oranienburg - Templin Stadt | 209.12 |
RB14 | Nauen - Spandau - Alexanderplatz - Schönefeld Flughafen | 209.14 |
RB20 | Oranienburg - Hennigsdorf (reverse) - Potsdam Hbf (Monday to Friday only) | 209.20 |
RB21 | Friedrichstraße/Potsdam Hbf - Golm - Wustermark | 209.21 |
RB22 | Potsdam Hbf - Golm (reverse) - Schönefeld Flughafen - Königs Wusterhausen | 209.21 |
RB24 | Eberswalde - Lichtenberg - Ostkreuz - Königs Wusterhausen - Senftenberg | 209.24 |
RB25 | Ostkreuz - Lichtenberg - Werneuchen | 209.25 |
Engineering Work diversion on 4 and 5 November 2017: As a result of bridge works, IC and ICE trains between Eberswalde and Berlin Hbf are diverted via Berlin-Spandau, omitting calls at Berlin-Lichtenberg and Berlin-Gesundbrunnen. The trains concerned are routed via the following sections of line which are not normally used by passenger trains:
Berlin-Karow - Berlin Karow West
Schönfließ West - Hohen Neuendorf West
Hennigsdorf Nord (Hdo) - Hennigsdorf Nord (Hdw)
Biesdorfer Kreuz
(129D2) DE17/261
Biesdorfer Kreuz West - Biesdorfer Kreuz Nord is used by services RB12, RB24 and RB25. From 9 February until 9 December 2017 this curve is also used by trains between Berlin-Gesundbrunnen and Berlin-Karow, which are diverted via Berlin-Lichtenberg.
Biesdorfer Kreuz West - Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd is used by:
D1 | FO | EN453 | Paris Est - 07:13 (SO) Berlin Hbf - Moskva Belorusskaja |
D2 | LOC1818 | Stuttgart Hbf - 11:48 Wolfsburg - Berlin-Lichtenberg | |
D1 | WO | EN452 | Moskva Belorusskaja - 19:27 (ThO) Frankfurt (Oder) - Paris Est |
D3 | LOC1819 | 14:28 Berlin-Lichtenberg - Stuttgart Hbf |
D1: These trains are diverted via the Berlin Stadtbahn and do not use this route when departing Frankfurt (Oder) on 31 August and Paris on 1 September 2017.
D2: Train runs TWThX until 6 April and then daily. Service suspended from 12 May 2017.
D3: Train runs MTWX until 6 April and then daily. Service suspended from 11 May 2017.
Services between Rzepin and Berlin which are diverted via Berlin-Lichtenberg with a stop at Frankfurt(Oder) also run this way. If such a train is booked non-stop between Rzepin and Berlin–Lichtenberg, it runs via Küstrin/Kostrzyn.
There are two single lines between Biesdorfer Kreuz West and Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd. The short curve (line 6071) is reversible, but the long curve (line 6076) can only be used by trains to Berlin-Lichtenberg. Generally, the long curve is only used if other movements prevent used of the short one. The Locomore train from Stuttgart always used the short curve, because the long one is not accessible from Rummelsburg. The Moskva trains also use the Außenring between Biesdorfer Kreuz and Wuhlheide.
There is no passenger use of the curves to the Außenring from Biesdorfer Kreuz Ost, nor of the Außenring between Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd and Biesdorfer Kreuz Nord.
Karower Kreuz
(125C2) DE17/262
See note above concerning diverted trains on 4 and 5 November 2017.
Berlin-Karow Ost - Berlin-Karow (east to north) is used by RB24. From 9 February until 9 December 2017 this curve is also used by trains between Berlin-Gesundbrunnen and Berlin-Karow, which are diverted via Berlin-Lichtenberg.
Berlin-Blankenburg - Berlin-Karow West (south to west) is used by RE5 and IC trains between Berlin and Rostock.
Berlin-Karow Ost - Berlin-Karow West (Außenring ) is used by RB12.
There is no passenger use of the south to east or north to west curves.
Abzw Hohen Neuendorf
(125A1) DE17/263
See note above concerning diverted trains on 4 and 5 November 2017.
Schönfließ West - Birkenwerder (east to north) is used by RE5, RB12 and IC trains between Berlin and Rostock. There are two routes. The Lange Kurve runs parallel with the S-Bahn via Hohen Neuendorf, passing below the Außenring. The Kleine Kurve is a direct east to north connection from the Außenring to Birkenwerder. Both routes are reversible single tracks. The Kleine Kurve is used by all northbound trains. Southbound RB12 trains normally run via the Lange Kurve, but others use the Kleine Kurve unless it is necessary to avoid conflict with a westbound freight on the Außenring.
Hohen Neuendorf West - Birkenwerder (west to north) is used by RB20. There are two routes. The Lange Kurve branches south from and then passes below the Außenring having described three-quarters of a circle. It no longer sees regular use. Running times between Hohen Neuendorf West and Birkenwerder require RB20 always to use the direct Kleine Kurve.
There is no passenger use of the Außenring between Schönfließ West and Hohen Neuendorf West.
Abzw Hennigsdorf
(124D2) DE17/264
See note above concerning diverted trains on 4 and 5 November 2017.
Hennigsdorf Nord (Hdo) - Hennigsdorf (east to south) is used by RB20
Hennigsdorf Nord (Hdw) - Hennigsdorf (west to south) is used by RE6 and RB20
There is no passenger use of the Außenring between Hdo and Hdw, avoiding Hennigsdorf.
Falkenhagener Kreuz
(124B3) DE17/265
Falkenhagen - Finkenkrug (north to east) is used by RE6
Falkenhagen - Brieslang Hasselberg (Außenring ) is used by RB20
There is no passenger use of the curves to the Außenring from Brieslang.
Abzw Wustermark
(124A4) DE17/266
Wustermark - Priort (west to south) is used by RB21
Wustermark Awf - Priort (Außenring ) is used by RB20
There is no passenger use of the curves to the Außenring from Wustermark Rbf and Elstal.
Potsdam
(126A2) DE17/267
Potsdam Park Sanssouci - Golm (east to north) is used by RB20, RB21 and RB22; however RB22 is suspended between 14 May and 8 October 2017 for bridge works on the Außenring.
Postdam Wildpark West - Werder (Havel) (south to west) has been used by passenger trains on Saturdays and Sundays during the “Baumblütenfest” (Blossom Festival) in Werder. RB22 may be diverted to Werder (Havel), instead of Golm, or other arrangements may be made. For the 2017 festival there was an approximately hourly service between Königs Wusterhausen and Werder (Havel) via Saarmund from about 10:00 until late evening on 29 and 30 April and 1, 6 and 7 May.
Golm - Potsdam Wildpark West (Außenring ) is used by RB22; however it does not run between 14 May and 8 October 2017 as a result of engineering works on a bridge near Potsdam-Pirschheide.
Saarmund - Michendorf is used between 14 May and 8 October 2017 by an extension of RB23 Potsdam - Michendorf via Caputh to Schönefeld Flughafen. This is instead of RB22 which is suspended between these dates while the bridge over the Templiner See between Saarmund and Potsdam-Pirschheide is reconstructed. This means that there is no service over the Außenring between Golm and Saarmund during this period.
There is no passenger use of the north to west curve from Golm to Werder (Havel), nor of the connections from the Außenring to the Belzig line at Wilhelmshorst and (normally) Saarmund.
Abzw Genshagener Heide
(127A3) DE17/268
Großbeeren Süd - Genshagener Heide Mitte (north to east) is a loop west of the Berlin - Leipzig main line used by RE5 trains and also by:
D | SO | IC446 | Ostseebad Binz - 21:23 Neustrelitz - Köln Hbf |
D | FO | IC447 | Köln Hbf - 05:06 (SO) Potsdam Hbf - Ostseebad Binz |
IC446 arrives in Berlin setting down at Gesundbrunnen, Hauptbahnhof and Südkreuz. It then runs via Genshagener Heide and the Außenring to the Stadtbahn, picking up at Ostbahnhof, Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten and Wannsee. IC447 operates similarly in the opposite direction, setting down first and then picking up.
This curve is normally used by IC/EC trains between Berlin and Dresden, but during 2017 these are diverted via Falkenberg (Elster).
There is no passenger use of any of the other curves at Genshagener Heide.
Abzw Glasower Damm
(127C3) DE17/269
Glasower Damm West - Blankenfelde (Glasower Damm Süd) is used by RE5. It is normally used also by IC/EC trains between Berlin and Dresden, but during 2017 these are diverted via Falkenberg (Elster).
Glasower Damm West - Glasower Damm Ost (Außenring ) is used by RB22 and:
D | SO | IC446 | Ostseebad Binz - 21:23 Neustrelitz - Köln Hbf |
D | FO | IC447 | Köln Hbf - 05:06 (SO) Potsdam Hbf - Ostseebad Binz |
See the note above concerning operation of IC446 and IC447 in the Berlin area.
Glasower Damm Ost - Glasower Damm Süd is used by RE7.
Grünauer Kreuz
(127D2) DE17/270
Grünauer Kreuz Süd - Berlin-Grünau (south to east) is normally used by RB22; however RB22 is suspended between 14 May and 8 October 2017 owing to bridge works on the Außenring. During this period, this curve has no passenger service as trains between Königs Wusterhausen and Schönefeld Flughafen are replaced by buses.
Grünauer Kreuz Nord - Berlin-Grünau (north to east) is used by RE2
Grünauer Kreuz Süd - Grünauer Kreuz Nord (Außenring ) is used by RE7, RB14 and:
D | SO | IC446 | Ostseebad Binz - 21:23 Neustrelitz - Köln Hbf |
D | FO | IC447 | Köln Hbf - 05:06 (SO) Potsdam Hbf - Ostseebad Binz |
See the note above concerning operation of IC446 and IC447 in the Berlin area.
There is no passenger use of the curves to the Außenring from Berlin-Schöneweide.
Wuhlheide
(129D4) DE17/271
Berlin-Eichgestell - Berlin-Ostendgestell (south to west) is used by RE2, RE7, RB14 and:
D | SO | IC446 | Ostseebad Binz - 21:23 Neustrelitz - Köln Hbf |
D | FO | IC447 | Köln Hbf - 05:06 (SO) Potsdam Hbf - Ostseebad Binz |
See the note above concerning operation of IC446 and IC447 in the Berlin area.
Berlin Stadtforst - Eichgestell Nord (north to east) is used by:
D1 | FO | EN453 | Paris Est - 07:13 (SO) Berlin Hbf - Moskva Belorusskaja |
D1 | WO | EN452 | Moskva Belorusskaja - 19:27 (ThO) Frankfurt (Oder) - Paris Est |
D1: These trains are diverted via the Berlin Stadtbahn and do not use this route when departing Frankfurt (Oder) on 31 August and Paris on 1 September 2017.
There is no passenger used of the south to east curve from Berlin-Eichgestell to Berlin Stadtforst or of the Außenring between Berlin-Eichgestell and Eichgestell Nord.
Berlin Ostbahnhof (Rummeslburg Rgbv) - Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd West
(129C3-129D3) DE17/272
There is no west to north curve at Wuhlheide, but this line enables trains to run between Berlin Ostbahnhof and the north side of the Außenring.
D2 | LOC1818 | Stuttgart Hbf - 11:48 Wolfsburg - Berlin-Lichtenberg | |
D3 | LOC1819 | 14:19 Berlin-Lichtenberg - Stuttgart Hbf |
D2: Train ran TWThX until 6 April, then daily until 12 May 2017, and recommenced WThX on 24th August 2017.
D3: Train ran MTWX until 6 April, then daily until 11 May 2017, and recommenced TWX on 25th August 2017.
Other lines outside the Außenring
Rheinsberg (Mark) - Stechlinsee
[NEB RB54] (25D3) DE17/280
Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn operates a single round trip between Rheinsberg (Mark) and Stechlinsee on Saturdays and Sundays in July and August 2017, at 13:20 from Rheinsberg (Mark), arriving back at 14:40. VBB tickets are not valid on this service. For further details, see the Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn leaflet.
Berlin-Staaken – Stendal – Wolfsburg
[ODEG RE4, 301] (124C4 to 32D4) DE17/281
On this route the double track Schnellfahrstrecke runs alongside one or two other tracks for most of the way. Between Berlin-Staaken and Elstal local passenger trains use a double line immediately south of the Schnellfahrstrecke. There is a single-track local line between Elstal and Wustermark. All passenger trains use the Schnellfahrstrecke between Wustermark and Rathenow. There is no passenger use of the parallel track from Wustermark to Abzw. Ribbeck (east of Buschow), which is not electrified, or from Abzw. Bamme (west of Nennhausen) to Rathenow. RB trains between Rathenow and Stendal use the parallel non-electrified single line. All others use the Schnellfahrstrecke. Between Hämerten (Abzw. Staffelde) and Vinzelberg (Abzw. Nahrstedt) the Schnellfahrstrecke follows a separate route to the south of Stendal, which is used by all trains not calling there. All RB trains west of Stendal use the single, non-electrified line. The two routes diverge slightly at a number of places, particularly at Oebisfelde.
Ferch-Lienewitz (Abzw Lienewitz Lia) - Beelitz Heilstätten
[207] (47A1) DE17/281A
This north to south-west curve is occasionally used by RE7 services between Dessau and Berlin if engineering work is taking place on the direct line between Seddin and Griebnitzsee Ost, requiring diversion via Ferch-Lienewitz and Potsdam Hbf. On such occasions trains are not advertised to make the usual stops between Beelitz Heilstätten and Berlin-Wannsee. This diversion is scheduled for 18 May to 6 June 2017.
Cottbus
The three lines into Cottbus from the west all split into separate routes to the south side platforms, 1 to 4, and to the higher-numbered middle and north side platforms, as shown on this map.
Cottbus - Stw W10 – Kolkwitz (Cottbus Abzw Cbn)
[ODEG RE2] (49B4) DE17/282
This spur (lines 6203 and 6201) links the Lübbenau line to the middle and north side platforms.
All departures from Cottbus until the 07:01 to Wittenberge use the southern platforms. All later departures are from platform 5, in the middle.
Arrivals from Lübbenau use the southern platforms at Cottbus, except the following which use platform 5:
RE63960 | Wittenberge - 06:55 Kolkwitz - Cottbus | ||
SSuX | RE63954 | Berlin Zoologischer Garten - 18:39 Kolkwitz - Cottbus |
Cottbus (Stw W9) – Kolkwitz Süd (Cottbus Abzw Cfw)
[209.43] (49B4) DE17/283
Most trains to and from Falkenberg (Elster) use the middle and north platforms at Cottbus. The following use the south platforms.
RB18178 | 08:04 Cottbus - Falkenberg (Elster) | ||
RB18182 | 14:04 Cottbus - Herzberg (Elster) | ||
RE18397 | Leipzig Hbf - 22:27 Calau (Nl) - Cottbus |
Cottbus (Nordseite Stw B12) – Leuthen (b Cottbus) (Cottbus Südwest Stw B2)
[208] (49B4) DE17/284
Most trains to and from Ruhland use the south platforms at Cottbus. The following use the middle and north platforms.
SSuX | RB78971 | 04:15 Cottbus - Ruhland | |
RE78951 | 05:16 Cottbus - Ruhland | ||
RB78973 | 06:07 Cottbus - Ruhland | ||
RB78975 | 08:07 Cottbus - Ruhland | ||
RB78981 | 14:07 Cottbus - Ruhland | ||
RB78987 | 20:07 Cottbus - Ruhland | ||
RB78972 | Ruhland – 06:34 Leuthen (b Cottbus) – Cottbus | ||
RB78986 | Ruhland – 19:40 Leuthen (b Cottbus) – Cottbus |
Uebigau (Falkenberg (Elster) Stw B3) – Falkenberg (Elster) unt Bf (Stw W17)
[209.43] (59C1) DE17/285
This combination of curves provides an east to north route, on the south side of the Cottbus – Leipzig line, connecting that line with the low level station at Falkenberg (Elster). It is used by through trains between Cottbus and Herzberg (Elster) and by the following trains to and from Cottbus via Finsterwalde, starting or terminating at Falkerberg (Elster):
- Arrivals: 00:18 (RB18192) & 22:12 (RB18190)
- Departures: 03:51 SSuX (RB18177), 04:43 (RB18179), 06:52 (RB18183), 08:52 SSuO (RB18185), 16:52 (RB18191) & 18:52 (RB18193)
Other Cottbus via Finsterwalde trains, including RB18185 on Mondays to Fridays, use the high-level platforms.
Bad Liebenwerda (Falkenberg (Elster) Stw W15) – Falkenberg (Elster) ob Bf (Stw W2)
[208] (59C1) DE17/286
This south to west curve connects the line from Elsterwerda-Biehla with the high level platforms at Falkenberg (Elster) and is used by trains between Ruhland and Wurzen via Leipzig, generally every two hours.
Falkenberg (Elster) – Glaubitz (b Riesa) (Abzw. Zeithain Bogendreieck)
(59C1-59C3) DE17/287 [the southern portion of this line is in Sachsen]
This part of the original rail route from Berlin to Dresden links Falkenberg with the Leipzig – Dresden main line near Riesa. The local passenger service has been withdrawn, but owing to engineering work between Berlin and Elsterwerda, which will last until late 2017, all EC, EN and IC trains between Berlin and Dresden are diverted by this route.