Slovakia - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the timetable dated from 12 December 2021, unless otherwise shown. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information. Trains running only certain days of the week are shown using ISO 8601 weekday numbers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_week_date).
Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA-E" refer to the European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball. References prefixed "ERA-R" refer to the European Railway Atlas (Regional Series - Czech Republic and Slovakia) by M.G. Ball.
IMPORTANT NOTE: in the Slovak Railways timetable (Cestovný poriadok), the ⚒ working days symbol means ① to ⑤ not, as for most other railways, ① to ⑥.
Obscure services
In the heading to each entry, the map reference for the line in the European Railway Atlas 2016 published by M.G. Ball is shown.
Zbehy – Jelšovce
[140,141] (ERA-E 89C2; ERA-R 204A3) SK22/1
This curve is used by trains running directly between Prievidza and Bratislava, avoiding Lužianky. There are regular trains throughout the day and these can be readily identified in the ZSSK timetable as follows: For southbound services use timetable 140 and look for trains starting from Prievidza calling at Topoľčany with a black line below as far as Jelšovce and destination Bratislava hl.n. For northbound trains use timetable 141 and look for trains starting from Bratislava hl.n. with a departure time from Zbehy but seemingly no further stops until the destination of Prievidza.
Kysak avoiding line: Veľká Lodina (Kysak výh. č 35/36) – Obišovce (Kysak výh. č 39/40)
[180, 188] (ERA-E 91A4; ERA-R 202A3) SK22/2
This curve is used by trains between Prešov and Margecany which are not booked to call and reverse at Kysak.
⑤ | RR15711 | Bratislava hlavná stanica – 20:50 Margecany - Humenné | |
EC1261 | Praha hl.n. – 02:54 Spišská Nová Ves - Prešov | ||
EC1258 | 05:36 Prešov - Praha hl.n. | ||
⑦ | R17612 | Humenné – 15:36 Prešov - Bratislava hlavná stanica |
Lipany – Plaveč
[188] (ERA-E 91A5; ERA-R 201C4) SK22/3
This is part of the former international route between Kraków and Košice but now has a very restricted service.
D | ⑤ | 8520 | Košice - 15:57 Lipany - Čirč |
D | ⑦ | 8752 | 16:07 Lipany – Čirč |
D | ⑤⑦ | 8529 | 17:17 Čirč - Lipany |
Plaveč – Čirč – Muszyna[PL]
[188] (ERA-E 91A5; ERA-R ERA-R 201C4) SK22/4
This west to north curve is part of the former international route between Kraków and Košice. Two seasonal ⑤ & ⑦ train pairs are the only trains to use this curve AND continue to Muszyna in Poland. SK22/3 uses the curve but trains terminate at Čirč, the last station before the border.
D | ⑤⑦ | RR8360 | Poprad–Tatry - 08:52 Plaveč - Muszyna |
D | ⑤⑦ | RR8362 | Poprad-Tatry – 16:43 Plaveč – Muszyna |
D | ⑤⑦ | RR8361 | 09:59 Muszyna – Poprad-Tatry |
D | ⑤⑦ | RR8363 | 17:56 Muszyna – Poprad-Tatry |
Žilina – Žilina-Teplička
(ERA-E 90A4-A5, not shown: ERA-R 200A3) SK22/5
Click on thumbnail for a map showing the lines likely to be used:-
Staff trains run to and from the marshalling yards east of Žilina, probably using the flyover east of Žilina and the goods lines. The following are 2018 timings. The compilers would greatly appreciate any information on the routes used by these trains.
9901 | 05:35 Žilina - Žilina-Teplička (arr 05:49) | ||
9903 | 17:35 Žilina - Žilina-Teplička (arr 17:49) | ||
9900 | 06:06 Žilina-Teplička - Žilina (arr 06:20) | ||
9902 | 18:06 Žilina-Teplička - Žilina (arr 18:20) |
There are extensive engineering works taking place east of Zilina as at mid August 2022 and confirmed reports of eastbound trains on 17 July,late July and 15 August being diverted via Zilina yard. It seems likely that other trains may be diverted during August and early September. Reports would be welcomed by the compilers
Ružomberok – Zápalkáreň
(ERA-E 90A4; ERA-R 200B3) SK22/6
It appears that shuttles ran along this 3 km freight line in July-August 2020 and 2021 with Covid-19 measures. Trains also run in 2022 and dates and times can be found at https://www.ruzomberok.sk/oznamy/leto-s-korytkom-2022.html.
Obscure services: Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions
Zvolen avoider
[160, 170] (ERA-E 90A3; ERA-R 200B1) SK22/7
This north to east curve was last used between 5 - 23 November 2021 by trains to/from Banska Bystrica and Zvolen reversing at Zvolen nákladná stanica due to local engineering works.
Trams
See Slovakia - Tram services over obscure routes
Other sparse services
The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) - fewer than four trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run each weekday. Where dates and times have not yet been published for 2022, 2021 plans are shown below. Note some operating days to Muráň, Slavošovce & Dobšiná were revised on 27 July 2020:
112 | Zohor – Plavecké Podhradie | No services shown in 2021-22 timetable. Three pairs from Bratislava Hl s ran ⑥ between 4 July and 15 September 2020. See for details |
122 | Trenčianska Teplá - Trenčianske Teplice | For operating dates of this NG electric tramway see the operators' website Trez |
123 | Horné Srnie - Vlárský průsmyk(CD) | |
165 | Plešivec - Muráň | ⑦ train from Košice 5 July - 13 September 2020 plus 1 & 15 September 2020. See for details |
166 | Plešivec - Slavošovce | ⑥ train from Košice on 4, 18 July, 8, 22, 29 August, 12 September 2020. See here for details |
167 | Rožňava - Dobšiná | ⑥ train from Košice on 11, 25 July, 1, 15 August, 5 September 2020. See here for details |
173 | Červená Skala - Dobšinská Ľadová Jaskyňa | |
174 | Brezno-Halny - Tisovec | |
185 | Stará Ľubovňa - Plaveč | |
186 | Spišská Nová Ves - Levoča | The usual numerous return journeys are scheduled for 2 & 3 July 2022 in connection with a Religious event. |
188 | Lipany - Plaveč - Muszyna (Poland) | See SK22/3 and SK22/4 |
191 | Medzilaborce mesto - Lupków (Poland) |
Deletions since previous edition
Lines without services
The following lines have no passenger service, but are still included in the Cestovný poriadok:
135 | Komárno - Komárom (Hungary) |
190 | Slovenské Nové Mesto - Sátoraljaújhely (Hungary) |