Introduction
This document acts as an archive for Recent and Future Changes in the past.
General
Following the unification of Germany in 1990, the two railway systems Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) and Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) were amalgamated as a government-owned company, Deutsche Bahn AG (DB) on 1 January 1994.
In order to improve its poor financial position, DB has ceased operating Inter-Regio, semi-fast long distance services, loss-making part of DB Reise and Touristik. They were replaced by Regional Express trains, worked by DB Regio and subsidised by the Länder.
In the early 2000s DB was re-organised on a divisional basis, as a prelude to privatisation, but plans to float parts of DB, particularly the long-distance business, were shelved after the worldwide financial crisis of 2007. DB has acquired many interests abroad (for example, in UK alone: DB Cargo, Chiltern Railways and Arriva).
Openings
In the years following reunification, extensive work was undertaken to re-open lines across the former border between East and West Germany, and it is now extremely difficult to see where the border was. Most railways were rebuilt on their previous alignment, although the line from Stapelburg to Vienenburg was new, replacing that to Bad Harzburg. Unification resulted in major changes to the railway system in Berlin, as most lines that were severed by the wall were reinstated. An entirely new north-south main line was opened through the centre of Berlin, approximately on the course of the former Berlin Wall and serving the new Berlin Hbf, on the site of the former Lehrter Bf. Most former DR main lines have been entirely rebuilt and there have been several electrification schemes.
During the 1980s DB started building high speed lines, the first being from Hannover to Würzburg and Mannheim to Stuttgart. The high speed line between Lehrte and Berlin-Spandau was completed in 1998 followed by those from Köln to Frankfurt am Main, including a new station at Frankfurt Flughafen, and between Nürnberg and Ingolstadt.
2018
209.63
|
Templin Stadt - Joachimsthal (experimental service)
|
9 December (ceased December 2022)
|
227
|
Hoyerswerda – Horka (Abzw. Muckenhain) [- Görlitz] (after long-term closure for rebuilding)
|
9 December
|
351
|
Einbeck Salzderhelden – Einbeck Mitte
|
9 December
|
471
|
Mainz Hbf (Abzw Kaiserbrücke Ost) - Hochheim (Main) (Abzw Kostheim) (used by new service RE4 between Frankfurt and Mainz)
|
9 December
|
930
|
Neufahrn avoiding curve
|
9 December
|
2017
513
|
Dippoldiswalde – Kurort Kipsdorf (reopening after 2002 flood damage)
|
19 June
|
133
|
[Kiel Hbf -] Kiel Schulen am Langsee - Kiel-Oppendorf
|
4 September
|
200.9
|
Treptower Park - Warschauer Straße (S-Bahn Berlin)
|
10 December
|
459
|
Meinerzhagen - Brügge (Westf)
|
10 December
|
580
|
Erfurt - Ebensfeld, including connections to and from Coburg (Schnellfahrstrecke)
|
10 December
|
2016
225
|
Brieske – Hosena temporarily owing to closure of Ruhland - Hosena for engineering work
|
30 January (ended 24 September 2016)
|
482
|
[Alsdorf Poststrasse -] Eschweiler-St.Jöris - Stolberg (Rheinl.) Hbf
|
12 June
|
908
|
Gotteszell - Viechtach (originally trial service; now permanent)
|
12 September
|
541
|
Wünschendorf Nord - Gera-Zwötzen (0.5 km connection to allow closure of line via Gera-Liebschwitz)
|
25 October
|
2015
680
|
Heimbach (Nahe) – Baumholder
|
23 February (deferred from 14 December 2014 by lack of crew)
|
622
|
Frankenberg (Eder) - Korbach
|
14 September
|
209.23
|
Ferch-Lienewitz – Beelitz-Heilstätten (temporary diversion of Michendorf service)
|
13 December (ended 10 December 2016)
|
209.24
|
Berlin Grünau – Berlin-Schöneweide – Berlin Ostkreuz – Berlin Lichtenberg
|
13 December
|
230.5
|
Görlitz – Zgorzelec (Poland)
|
13 December
|
580
|
Erfurt-Linderbach – Gröbers [- Leipzig] / Halle-Ammendorf
|
13 December
|
720
|
Konstanz – Kreuzlingen Hafen (Switzerland)
|
13 December
|
858
|
Selb-Plößberg – Aš (Czech Republic)
|
13 December
|
2014
247
|
Dolni Poustevna ČD - Sebnitz
|
5 July
|
305
|
Uelzen W750 - Uelzen W23 (Veerßer Kurve)
|
15 April (regular service ceased March 2020)
|
482
|
Alsdorf Poststraße - Eschweiler-St.Jöris
|
15 June
|
2013
133
|
Kiel Hbf - Kiel Schulen am Langsee (one morning school train only)
|
30 August
|
459
|
Marienheide – Meinerzhagen
|
15 December
|
485
|
Lindern – Heinsberg (Rheinl.)
|
15 December
|
501
|
Leipzig Nord/Leipzig-Gohlis – Leipzig Hbf (tief) – Leipzig-Stötteritz/Leipzig-Connewitz
|
15 December
|
501.1
|
Leipzig Stötteritz – Leipzig Engelsdorf
|
15 December
|
710.41
|
Heilbronn Harmonie - Neckarsulm (tram-train)
|
15 December
|
976
|
[Ulm -] Senden - Weißenhorn
|
15 December
|
2012
703
|
[Müllheim(Baden) -] Neuenburg(Baden) - Mulhouse (France) (full service in lieu of the former seasonal service)
|
9 December
|
703
|
Bad Bellingen - Efringen-Kirchen via new Katzenberg tunnel
|
9 December
|
790.6
|
Maichingen - Renningen
|
9 December
|
2011
751
|
Laupheim West south curve
|
12 June
|
209.35
|
Bad Saarow - Bad Saarow Klinikum
|
24 October
|
482
|
[Herzogenrath -] Alsdorf-Annapark - Alsdorf-Mariadorf - Alsdorf-Poststraße
|
11 December
|
650.1
|
Darmstadt-Eberstadt - Pfungstadt
|
11 December
|
439
|
Brilon Wald - Brilon Stadt
|
11 December
|
2010
|
Sindelfingen - Maichingen
|
14 June
|
|
Burg (Fehmarn) station and the associated north and south curves
|
31 July
|
|
Gemünd - Schleiden - Hellenthal (tourist trains)
|
1 August
|
|
Olbernhau-Grünthal - Neuhausen now available for special trains.
|
13 November (Line closed to all traffic in December 2023)
|
|
(Leipzig -) Weißig [Abzw. Leckwitz] - Böhla [Abzw. Kottewitz] (- Dresden) connection
|
12 December
|
2009
|
(Stolberg Hbf -) Eschweiler-Weisweiler - Langerwehe
|
14 June
|
|
Ueckermünde - Ueckermünde Stadthafen
|
15 August
|
|
Arnsdorf (Dresden) avoiding curve
|
4 October
|
S-Bahn Stuttgart
|
Plochingen - Kirchheim (Teck)
|
13 December
|
|
Eschwege West - Eschwege Niederhone new station - Eschwege
|
13 December
|
2008
|
(Schorndorf -) Rudersberg Nord - Rudersberg-Oberndorf
|
16 June
|
Usedomer Bäderbahn
|
Ahlbeck Grenze - Świnoujście Centrum (Poland)
|
|
Ohlsdorf - Hamburg Airport
|
12 December
|
|
Pöppendorf - Travemünde Skandinavienkai (new alignment)
|
14 December
|
2007
|
Bayreuth - Weidenberg
|
8 January
|
|
(Trier -) Perl [DE] - Apach [FR] (weekend only)
|
10 June
|
|
Bremen Vegesack - Bremen Farge
|
16 December
|
2006
Kassel tram-trains
|
Helsa - Hessisch-Lichtenau (on former DB line)
|
28 January
|
|
Berlin Hauptbahnhof/Lehrter Bahnhof tief/low level together with new 9 km north-south tunnel
|
28 May
|
|
Nürnberg - Ingolstadt Neubaustrecke
|
28 May
|
|
Müllheim - Neuenburg - Mulhouse (France) (Sunday-only service)
|
9 July (daily since Dec 2012)
|
|
Pockau-Lengefeld - Marienberg (Sachs)
|
4 September (closed Dec 2013)
|
|
Traunreut - Hörpolding
|
10 December
|
2005
|
Chemnitz - Burkhardtsdorf - Thalheim - Aue (following upgrade)
|
15 January (replaced by tram-train connection at Chemnitz end in Jan 2022)
|
|
Flöha - Olbernhau-Grünthal (after upgrade)
|
29 January
|
|
Berlin S-Bahn: Lichterfelde - Teltow
|
24 February
|
|
Neuruppin - Wittstock (Dosse)
|
27 February
|
|
Dannenberg Ost - Lüchow (weekend trains)
|
12 March (ceased 2014)
|
|
Frankenberg - Battenberg (Summer Saturdays)
|
30 April (ceased 2007)
|
|
Osnabrück - Dissen-Bad Rothenfelde
|
12 June
|
|
Heilbronn Pfühlpark - Öhringen (resumption of DB interregional services)
|
10 December
|
|
Merkstein - Alsdorf-Annapark
|
11 December
|
|
Ilmenau - Ilmenau-Bad
|
11 December
|
2004
|
Wemmetsweiler avoiding curve
|
6 February
|
|
Berlin-Zoologischer Garten - Charlottenburg (S-Bahn Berlin)
|
19 April
|
|
Kall - Gemünd (- Hellenthal) (museum trains)
|
10 May
|
|
Düren - Zülpich - Euskirchen (Summer Sundays only)
|
10 May
|
|
Köln/Bonn airport loop off Neubaustrecke
|
13 June
|
|
Großbothen - Döbeln - Nossen
|
22 August (Döbeln - Nossen closed Dec 2015)
|
|
Stolberg Hbf - Eschweiler-Weisweiler
|
11 September
|
|
Schelklingen - Oberheutal - Münsingen - Gomadingen (- Kleinengstingen)
|
13 September
|
Karlsruhe light rail
|
Heilbronn-Harmonie - Pfühlpark (- Öhringen)
|
26 November
|
|
Herzogenrath - Merkstein (- Alsdorf)
|
12 December
|
|
Chemnitz - Niederwiesa - Frankenberg - Hainichen
|
12 December
|
|
Immendingen - Hintschingen - Leipferdingen - Zollhaus-Blumberg
|
12 December
|
2003
|
Bad Schussenried - Bad Schussenried Kloster (summer Sunday trains)
|
13 April (service ceased 6 October 2003)
|
|
Gummersbach - Marienheide
|
29 April
|
S-Bahn Berlin
|
Schönhauser Allee - Bornholmer Straße (new alignment)
|
16 June
|
|
Flughafen Leipzig-Halle - Gröbers (- Halle (Saale) Hbf)
|
30 June
|
|
Hüfingen - Bräunlingen
|
30 June
|
|
Seligenstadt (bei Würzburg) - Prosselsheim - Volkach-Astheim (museum trains)
|
13 September
|
|
Bad Wildbad Bf - Bad Wildbad Kurpark
|
5 October
|
|
Schifferstadt avoiding line (Ludwigshafen - Neustadt)
|
19 November
|
|
New Egge tunnel (Altenbeken - Kassel)
|
14 December
|
|
Offenbach Ost - Offenbach-Bieber - Rödermark-Ober Roden/Dietzenbach Bahnhof
|
14 December
|
|
Brilon Wald - Korbach Süd
|
14 December
|
2002
|
Jülich - Linnich
|
9 June
|
|
Westhafen - Wedding - Gesundbrunnen (completing the Berlin S-Bahn Innenring restoration)
|
15 June
|
|
Müncheberg (Mark) - Buckow (Märkische Schweiz) (tourist trains)
|
15 June
|
|
Leer - Weener DB - Nieuweschans NS
|
16 June
|
|
Köln - Montabaur - Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof (high-speed line)
|
1 August
|
|
Cottbus - Cottbus-Willmersdorf - Peitz Ost (- Guben)
|
13 August
|
|
Altchemnitz - Stollberg (after conversion to electric light rail)
|
13 December
|
|
(Gotha -) Crawinkel - Gräfenroda
|
13 December (closed 11 December 2011)
|
|
(Leipzig Hbf -) Neuwiederitzsch-Leipziger Messe - Flughafen Leipzig-Halle
|
13 December
|
|
Eisfeld - Rauenstein (Thür) - Sonneberg (Thür) Hbf
|
13 December
|
|
Neumünster - Bad Segeberg
|
13 December
|
|
Pforzheim - Bad Wildbad Bf (- Bad Wildbad Kurpark) (after electrification)
|
13 December
|
|
Rottenbach - Obstfelderschmiede - Katzhütte
|
13 December
|
|
Sonneberg (Thür) Hbf - Lauscha - Ernstthal - Neuhaus am Rennweg
|
13 December
|
2001
|
Dresden Klotzsche - Grenzstraße - Dresden Flughafen (new line)
|
24 March
|
Bayerisches Eisenbahnmuseum
|
Nördlingen - Dinkelsbühl (museum trains)
|
7 April (services since ceased)
|
|
Monsheim - Marnheim - Langmeil (Pfalz): summer weekend trains
|
26 May
|
|
Stolberg Hbf - Stolberg-Altstadt (formerly Stolberg-Hammer)
|
9 June
|
|
Berlin: Abzw Eichgestell - Wuhlheide Rbf - Biesdorfer Kreuz
|
10 June
|
|
Kassel trams: Kaufungen-Papierfabrik - Helsa (on former DB line)
|
10 June
|
|
Ramsen - Eiswoog (Rheinland-Pfalz): summer weekend trains
|
10 June
|
|
Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg avoiding curve
|
10 June?
|
|
Kaisersesch - Daun - Gerolstein: summer weekend trains (ceased 2014)
|
16 June
|
|
Bremerhaven-Speckenbüttel - Bederkesa: summer Sunday tourist trains
|
24 June
|
|
Karlsruhe light rail: Heilbronn Hbf - Heilbronn Stadtmitte - Harmonie
|
21 July
|
Berlin S-Bahn
|
Gesundbrunnen - Bornholmer Straße - Pankow
|
17 September
|
Berlin S-Bahn
|
Gesundbrunnen - Schönhauser Allee (Innenring)
|
17 September
|
Stuttgart S-Bahn
|
Flughafen - Filderstadt
|
29 September
|
Essen light rail
|
Altenessen Bf - Gelsenkirchen-Fischerstraße
|
30 September
|
|
Berlin: Biesdorfer Kreuz Nord - Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd
|
3 November
|
|
Gronau (Westfalen) DB - Glanerbrug NS (- Enschede NS)
|
18 November
|
2000
|
Dresden: Neucoswig - Radebeul-Naundorf
|
28 May
|
|
Düren - Distelrath experimental summer Sunday service
|
28 May (daily permanent service since Dec 2019)
|
|
Klingenthal DB - Hranicna ČD
|
28 May
|
|
Kremmen - Neuruppin Rheinsberger Tor
|
28 May
|
|
Langenhagen - Hannover Flughafen
|
28 May
|
|
Magdeburg-Sudenburg - Magdeburg-Buckau
|
28 May (no longer with regular service)
|
|
Neuruppin Rheinsberger Tor - Herzberg (Mark)
|
28 May (closed 2007)
|
|
Röderau - Zeithain Bogendreieck
|
28 May (entire line from Falkenberg (Elster) closed to local services in 2004 but still used for diversions)
|
|
Züssow - Wolgast Hafen - Wolgaster Fähre
|
28 May
|
|
Niebüll DB - Tønder DSB
|
2 July (summer service; daily since 2003)
|
|
Mayen West - Kaisersesch
|
6 August
|
Closures
There were extensive cuts in the passenger network in West Germany during the 1970s and 1980s, mainly involving little-used rural lines. This has largely come to an end and some railways are reopening. The former DDR had a public transport system appropriate for a population where the level of car ownership was very low, and most vehicles were unsuitable for long journeys. As a result traffic has fallen away severely on many local lines, and large numbers have closed. Poor infrastructure has also forced closure, and some train services have been withdrawn at very short notice.
The poorer, Eastern Länder cannot easily afford to support rail services. There have been particularly extensive closures in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (one of the least-populated parts of Germany) and Brandenburg.
2018
The following line closed on 15 September 2018:
524
|
[Chemnitz Hbf –] Chemnitz Süd – Chemnitz-Reichenhain (Abzw Chemnitz Süd Strab)
|
Line closed for conversion to tram-train route but this connection closed to passengers completely.
|
2017
The following line closed on 10 December 2017:
594 (part)
|
Buttstädt - Großheringen
|
|
2016
The following line closed on 24 October 2016:
541
|
Gera Süd (Abzw. Gera Debschwitz) - Wünschendorf Nord
|
4.7 km section of route replaced by a short link to the Gera - Saalfeld line near Wolfsgefärth, owing to the poor condition of a viaduct at Liebschwitz.
|
The following line closed on 25 September 2016:
225
|
Brieske - Hosena
|
Closed after temporary diversion of Ruhland - Hosena services for engineering work ended. A summer weekend service from Dresden via Kamenz still runs via this line.
|
The following line closed on 31 July 2016:
209.70
|
Pritzwalk West - Putlitz
|
|
In the "tourist/museum line" sector:
The Wachtl-Bahn 900 mm gauge line from Kiefersfelden to Wachtl ceased operations at the end of the 2016 season as it did not pass an official inspection in 2017. There does not appear to be any sign of a resumption of service.
The Teckelfahrten service from Hagen to Ennepetal ceased operation at the end of the 2016 season.
2015
The following lines closed on 13 December 2015:
209.23 (part)
|
Ferch-Lienewitz – Seddin
|
Trains temporarily diverted to Beelitz-Heilstätten until December 2016
|
506 (part)
|
Döbeln Hbf – Roßwein – Nossen – Meißen Triebischtal
|
The following line closed on 26 September 2015:
R61 [WEG]
|
Hemmingen – Heimerdingen – Weissach
|
Hemmingen – Heimerdingen reopened on 12 September 2018 after track renewals.
|
The following line closed to regular services on 12 April 2015:
337
|
Klostermansfeld - Wippra
|
A summer weekend service continues to operate
|
The following line closed on 1 May 2015:
172 (part)
|
Mecklenburgische Südbahn: Parchim - Inselstadt Malchow
|
A summer weekend service resumed in 2020
|
The following line closed on 13 March 2015:
236 (part)
|
Varnsdorf Pivovar Kocour (CZ) - Seifhennersdorf
|
A rail replacement bus operates and is shown in the timetable. The line is due to reopen in December 2021
|
The following line closed on 1 March 2015:
230
|
Görlitz - Zgorzelec (Poland)
|
The Dresden - Wrocław service was withdrawn owing to a reduction in funding for Przewozy Regionalne. Services were reintroduced from 13 December 2015.
|
2014
218
|
Pratau – Bad Schmiedeberg Kurzentrum (A summer weekend service operated until 2019)
|
31 December
|
517
|
Cranzahl – Vejprty (Czech Republic) (A summer weekend service continues to operate)
|
14 December
|
588
|
Merseburg – Schafstädt
|
14 December
|
The København - Basel/Amsterdam/Praha overnight service was withdrawn on 1 November 2014
2013
519
|
Pockau-Lengefeld – Marienberg (Sachs.)
|
15 December
|
2012
183
|
Rostock Hbf – Rostock Seehafen Nord
|
9 December
|
539
|
Adorf (Vogtl.) – Zwotental
|
9 December
|
See also
Germany |
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General | |
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Border Crossings | |
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Obscure passenger services | |
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Other | |
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