Germany (Hamburg) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the timetable dated from 13 December 2020 to 11 December 2021, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information. Map references relate to the 2017 issue of the Schweers+Wall Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland.
Obscure services
Hamburg-Altona avoiding line: Pinneberg (Hamburg-Langenfelde Bbf) – Hamburg Dammtor (Abzw Rainweg)
[103, 130] (119A3) DE20/051
This north to east curve is used by trains between the Elmshorn line and Hamburg Dammtor which are not booked to call at Hamburg-Altona. Most trains between Hamburg Hbf and Kiel Hbf or Flensburg use this route. RE services to Westerland mostly start and terminate at Hamburg-Altona. It is intended to close Hamburg-Altona station, replacing it with a new through station to the north, which may open in December 2023. That will result in this curve being replaced by a new line to the south.
Hamburg-Wandsbek – Hamburg Hbf (via Horn, Hamburg-Rothenburgsort and Abzw Ericus)
[104] (119D2-119C3) DE20/052
This is an alternative route between Hamburg Hbf and the Lübeck line, using part of the Hamburg Ring line. It is common with DE20/054 between Hamburg Hbf and Hamburg Rothenburgsort Ro.
D | IC2221 | 16:37 Lübeck Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf | |
D | IC2415 | Fehmarn-Burg - 16:37 Lübeck Hbf - Hamburg Hbf | |
D | IC2220 | Frankfurt am Main Hbf - 12:19 Hamburg Hbf - Lübeck Hbf |
Hamburg-Wandsbek – Hamburg-Harburg (Abzw Oberhafen) (via Horn and Hamburg-Rothenburgsort)
[104] (119D2-119C3) DE20/053
This route, via part of the Hamburg eastern ring line, allows trains to run between the Lübeck and Hamburg-Harburg lines without reversal at Hamburg Hbf. It is common with route DE20/052 between Hamburg-Wandsbek and Hamburg-Rothenburgsort and with route DE20/055 between Hamburg-Rothenburgsort and Abzw Oberhafen.
D | IC2417 | Fehmarn-Burg - 10:19 Lübeck Hbf - Köln Hbf | |
D | IC2418 | Köln Hbf - 11:50 Hamburg-Harburg - Fehmarn-Burg |
Hamburg-Bergedorf (Rothenburgsort Rop) - Hamburg Hbf (via Abzw Ericus)
[100, 102] (119C3-119D3) DE20/054
This is an alternative route between Hamburg Hbf and the Büchen line, and is the only one available for trains using platforms on the west side of Hamburg Hbf (numbered 11 and higher). It is common with DE20/052 between Rothernburgsort Ro and Hamburg Hbf. The following trains are scheduled to use this route:
SuX | ICE1577/1647 | Stralsund Hbf - 07:21 Schwerin Hbf - Hamburg Hbf/Karlsruhe Hbf | |
IC2217 | Züssow/Greifswald/Stralsund Hbf - 09:21 Schwerin - Stuttgart Hbf | ||
ICE1671 | Stralsund Hbf - 11:21 Schwerin Hbf - Karlsruhe Hbf | ||
IC2211/2213 | Ostseebad Binz - 13:39 Schwerin Hbf - Karlsruhe Hbf/Stuttgart Hbf | ||
D1 | SSuO | ICE737/IC2409 | Stralsund Hbf - 15:09 Schwerin Hbf - Köln Hbf |
ICE1645/1675 | Ostseebad Binz/Stralsund Hbf - 15:21 Schwerin Hbf - Hannover Hbf/Karlsruhe Hbf | ||
D2 | ICE1677/IC2379 | Stralsund Hbf - 17:21 Schwerin Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf | |
SuO | ICE1679 | Stralsund Hbf - 19:21 Schwerin - Göttingen | |
IC2212 | Koblenz Hbf - 11:18/11:42 Hamburg Hbf - Ostseebad Binz | ||
ICE1672 | Karlsruhe Hbf - 13:43 Hamburg Hbf - Stralsund Hbf/Ostseebad Binz | ||
D | IC2216 | Offenburg/Stuttgart Hbf - 15:17 Hamburg Hbf - Stralsund Hbf/Greifswald | |
ICE1578/1648 | Karlsruhe Hbf/Frankfurt (M) Hbf - 17:42 Hamburg Hbf - Stralsund Hbf/Greifswald | ||
SX | ICE976/ICE1596/IC2188 | Karlsruhe Hbf/Hamburg-Altona - 19:43 Hamburg Hbf - Rostock Hbf/Stralsund Hbf | |
ICE905 | Hamburg-Altona - 21:51 Hamburg Hbf - Berlin Südkreuz |
D1: Sundays Only 15 December to 5 April and 8 November to 6 December
D2: Not Saturdays until 28 March or from 7 November
Hamburg Hbf – Hamburg-Harburg (Abzw Oberhafen/Abzw Norderelbbrücke) (via goods line)
[110, 120, 121] (119C3-120D4) DE20/055
Between Hamburg Hbf and Hamburg-Harburg there are, in addition to the S-Bahn tracks, two pairs of tracks - one designated Pz-Gl (passenger line) and the other Gz-Gl (goods line), the latter being located between the S-Bahn tracks and the Pz-Gl.
All four tracks are used for passenger trains as operating convenience requires. They share common alignment south of Abzw Oberhafen (where the goods line from Rothenburgsort joins), but north-west of there, the Pz-Gl are at higher level, whereas the Gz-Gl follow a slightly different alignment at ground level via Abzw Ericus. A single-track connection from Abzw Ericus passes under the Pz-Gl and joins the southbound Pz-Gl at Abzw Norderelbbrücke.
The Gz-Gl are used, as required, by passenger trains to avoid conflicting moves at Hamburg Hbf. The connection to Abzw Norderelbbrücke, in particular, enables trains from platforms 8, 11 & 12 at Hamburg Hbf to reach the southbound Pz-Gl without crossing the northbound track on the level.
Route indicators associated with signals at the south end of Hamburg Hbf show the line to be used. 'P' indicates use of the Pz-Gl and 'H' the Gz-Gl.
Hamburg Hbf (Abzw Wilhelmsburg) – Hamburg-Harburg (via harbour line)
[121] (120D3-120D4) DE20/056
South of Abzw Wilhelmsburg an additional pair of tracks, designated Hafen-Gl (harbour line), run broadly parallel to the main line on the approach to Hamburg-Harburg. They are normally used by those Cuxhaven line trains running through to or from Hamburg Hbf.
Obscure services: Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions
Pinneberg (Hamburg-Eidelstedt En) - Hamburg Hbf (via Hamburg-Lokstedt and Hamburg-Rothenburgsort)
[131] (120B1-119C3) DE20/060
This route comprises the Hamburg Ring line from the Elmshorn line around the north and east sides of the city. No passenger trains have been identified as using it in the current timetable.
Trains between Hamburg Hbf and Elmshorn are diverted this way when the main line via Dammtor is blocked.
Hamburg-Harburg (Abzw Oberhafen) – Hamburg-Bergedorf (Rothenburgsort)
[100, 120] (119C3-119D3) DE20/061
This line is used by trains between the Hamburg-Harburg and Büchen lines, if not calling at Hamburg Hbf. Most trains run via Hamburg-Rothenburgsort Ro, so joining or leaving the main line to Büchen at Hamburg-Rothenburgsort Tk (Tiefstack). Some do not have a timing point at Hamburg-Rothenburgsort Ro, so may join or leave the main line further west, via line 1291, at Hamburg-Rothenburgsort Rop.
All trains between the Harburg and Büchen lines reverse at Hamburg Hbf in the current timetable, so there is no scheduled passenger use of this route.