Germany (Bayern) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable dated from 10 December 2023 to 14 December 2024, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained here.

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: Book 2) by M.G. Ball. References prefixed "S+W", or in italic, refer to Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland by Schweers + Wall.

Obscure services: Lines with regular use

Gemünden (Main) (Wernfeld) – Waigolshausen

[800, 810] (ERA-E 54B3; ERA-R 107A1-107B1; S+W 78C4-79B4) DE24/650

This line, which is about 35 km long, provides a more direct route between Gemünden (Main) and Schweinfurt than the main line via Würzburg or the branch lines via Bad Kissingen. It is used by the following services, which now run all year round.

	SSuO	RE4647	Frankfurt am Main Hbf – 10:20 Gemünden (Main) – Bamberg
	SSuO	RE4649	Frankfurt am Main Hbf – 16:20 Gemünden (Main) – Bamberg
	SSuO	RE4646	Bamberg – 13:00 Schweinfurt Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
	SSuO	RE4648	Bamberg – 19:02 Schweinfurt Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Hbf

Erfurt (Abzw Esbacher See) - Dörfles-Esbach and Creidlitz - Breitengüßbach (Abzw Weißenbrunn am Forst)

[820] (ERA-E 55A4-55A3; ERA-R 108A2; S+W 80B2) DE24/651

These two connections off the Erfurt to Breitengüßbach Schnellfahrstrecke are used by ICE trains calling at Coburg. The south connection from Abzw Weißenbrunn am Forst is also used by RE19 trains between Nürnberg Hbf and Sonneberg (Thür) Hbf which are non-stop between Bamberg and Coburg. These mostly run every two hours, but with some variation.

Trebgast (Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg Süd) – Marktschorgast (Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg Ost) (Schlömener Kurve)

[860] (ERA-E 55A3-55B3; ERA-R 108B1; S+W 81B3) DE24/652

This south to north curve, opened in 2001, connects the Bayreuth and Hof lines, avoiding Neuenmarkt-Wirsberg. It is used by RE30 trains between Nürnberg and Hof via Bayreuth. These mostly run every two hours.

Hersbruck (rechts Pegnitz) – Pommelsbrunn

[870] (ERA-E 55A2; ERA-R 115B4; S+W 90A3) DE24/653

This 5.2 km-long spur links the lines leading east from Nürnberg on each bank of the Pegnitz. It is used by trains between Nürnberg Hbf and Neukirchen (b Sulzbach-Rosenberg) that call at Hersbruck (rechts Pegnitz). These comprise hourly RE services between Nürnberg and Schwandorf or Neustadt (Waldnaab).

Note that only those trains that are booked to call at Hersbruck (rechts Pegnitz) platform 1 are guaranteed to do the full length of the connection. Trains which use platforms 2 or 3 (which are all eastbound and most westbound trains) can either use the full connection or join/leave it at a junction around 2 km further east. The only trains that are booked to use platform 1 are the following westbound services:

		RE3832	Schwandorf – 00:51 Hartmannshof – Nürnberg Hbf
Note		RE3032/3428	Neustadt (Waldnaab) / Regensburg – 20:52 Hartmannshof – Nürnberg Hbf
Note		RE3034/3430	Neustadt (Waldnaab) / Schwandorf – 21:52 Hartmannshof – Nürnberg Hbf

Note: These trains have two portions which join at Neukirchen (b Sulzbach-Rosenberg)

Nürnberg Hbf (Nürnberg-Dutzendteich) - Nürnberg-Eibach (via Nürnberg Rangierbahnhof)

[910] (ERA-E 56C1; ERA-R 112B1; S+W 162B4-162C3) DE24/654

This route via the eastern end of the Nürnberg ring line is used by the following trains in order to avoid reversal at Nürnberg Hbf.

		NJ421	Amsterdam Centraal - 04:36 Nürnberg Hbf - Innsbruck Hbf
		NJ420	Innsbruck Hbf - 23:25 Augsburg Hbf - Amsterdam Centraal

Ingolstadt Hbf – Weichering and Brunnen (Oberbay) (Seehof Bbf)

[983,993] (ERA-E 60A5 not shown; ERA-R 115B1; S+W 97D4) DE24/655

The two single lines to Ingolstadt from Augsburg and from Donauwörth join at Seehof Bbf and then split into two independent single tracks forming a flying junction with the main line from München. Crossovers south of Ingolstadt Hbf mean that all platforms are accessible from both routes, but the branch trains do not normally cross the main line on the flat. Trains to platforms 5, 6 and 7 on the east side of Ingolstadt Hbf use the flyover, but those to platforms 1, 2 and 2a on the west side do not.

The hourly trains to and from Augsburg mostly use the flyover and platforms 6 or 7. Trains to and from Ulm via Donauwörth mostly use the direct spur from Seehof Bbf to and from platforms 1 or 2. However in the morning and evening peaks, and at weekends, the Ulm trains use platforms 5 to 7 and the Augsburg trains use platforms 1, 2 or 2a. A check on the DB journey planner or app is recommended.

Augsburg-Oberhausen – Neusäß (Augsburg-Hirblinger Straße)

[980] (ERA-E 60A4 not shown; ERA-R 120A4 not shown; S+W 163C3) DE24/656

There are two routes into Augsburg from the Ulm line, one being a surface-level route to the west side of the Donauwörth line, the other running from a flying junction with the surface route then flying over the Donauwörth line to approach Augsburg from the east side of the Donauwörth line. Ulm trains to and from platforms 6 and 7 at Augsburg-Oberhausen (which are most of them) can only use the surface-level route. From the flyover route only platforms 1 and 2 at Augsburg-Oberhausen can be reached.

Lindau-Aeschach - Lochau-Hörbranz (Lindau-Reutin) (Lindau avoiding line)

[979] (ERA-E 59B2; ERA-R 119A1; S+W 112D3) DE24/657

This west to east curve allows trains to run between Germany and Austria without reversing at Lindau-Insel (the former Lindau Hbf). It is used by two-hourly ECE trains between München and Zürich and hourly Ulm - Lindau-Reutin IRE services.

München-Lochhausen (Abzw Pasing Nord) – München Hbf (Abzw München Kanal) (via the Abstellbahn)

[900] (ERA-E 61B1 not shown; ERA-R 95B5; S+W 164B3-164D3) DE24/658

The normal route for trains, other than S-Bahn and those via Starnberg, between München-Pasing and München Hbf is via the Augsburg line (5503) The following train to München Hbf is scheduled to use the Abstellbahn line (5524) from Abzw Pasing Nord to Abzw München Kanal on the line from Ingolstadt.

D1

SO

ICE1207

Hamburg-Altona - 14:09 Augsburg Hbf - Innsbruck Hbf

D1: 2 March - 14 December 2024

München Hbf Starnberger Bahnhof

[955, 956, 960, 961] (ERA-E 61B1-61C1 not shown; ERA-R 95B5 not shown; S+W 165A3) DE24/659

The Starnberger Bahnhof is an annexe to the north west of München Hbf, comprising platforms 27 to 36. The approach lines differ from those to the main station.

Trains from the Garmisch-Partenkirchen via Starnberg line pass through the south side of München-Pasing station and then fly over the Augsburg, Ingolstadt and Landshut lines.

Trains from the Holzkirchen line use the S-Bahn line to pass under the main lines into München Hbf and then a connection from Donnersbergerbrücke to the Starnberger Bahnhof.

München-Obermenzing – München Ost (München Süd) (via Laim Rbf)

[900, 950, 951, 990] (ERA-E 61B1 not shown; ERA-R 95B5-95B4; S+W 164C3-165A4) DE24/660

This route is used by trains between the Ingolstadt line and München Ost if not calling at München Hbf. No trains have been identified as using this route in the current timetable.

Urlaubs Express trains via München Ost may use this route, but not if scheduled to call at Augsburg Hbf.

München-Pasing – München Ost (München Süd) (via Laim Rbf)

[950, 951, 980] (ERA-E 61B1-61C1; ERA-R 95B5-95B4; S+W 164D3-165A4) DE24/661

This route is one of two routes available for trains between München-Pasing and München Ost if not calling at München Hbf. It runs north of the main Augsburg line from München-Pasing via Laim Rbf and then under the main lines from München Hbf. In this timetable period it is only used by two Nightjet services:

		NJ236	Venezia S. Lucia – 04:05 Salzburg Hbf – Stuttgart Hbf
D1	MWO	NJ444	Wien Hbf – 22:45 München Ost – [non-stop to] Paris Est

D1: 29 January - 1 May 2024

Urlaubs Express trains via München Ost may also use this route.

München-Pasing (Abzw Landsberger Straße) – München Ost (München Süd) (via München Landsberger Straße)

[950, 951, 980] (ERA-E 61B1-61C1 not shown; ERA-R 95B5-95B4; S+W 164D3-165A4) DE24/662

This is the alternative route between München-Pasing and München Ost if not calling at München Hbf. It diverges south from the Augsburg main line at Abzw Landsberger Straße to join the S-Bahn line to München Harras (DE24/663) as far as Bft Friedenheimer Brücke, where it joins route DE24/661. Therefore the only unique sections of this route are the connections at Landsberger Straße and Friedenheimer Brücke.

It is used during this timetable period by the following services:

D1	TThSuO / Daily	NJ469	19:12 Paris Est – Wien Hbf
D2	various days	NJ468	Wien Hbf – 00:11 München Ost – Paris Est
D3		IC2082	Berchtesgaden Hbf – 11:17 München Ost – Hamburg-Altona
D4	SO	ICE1200	St. Anton am Arlberg – 15:37 München Ost – Hamburg-Altona
D4	SO	ICE1201	Hamburg-Altona – 10:40 Nürnberg Hbf – St. Anton am Arlberg
D5		IC2083	Hamburg-Altona – 14:00 München-Pasing – Berchtesgaden Hbf
		NJ237	Stuttgart Hbf – 23:04 Augsburg Hbf – Venezia S.L.

D1: TThSO 10 December 2023 - 21 September 2024; daily 22 September - 13 December 2024

D2: MWFO 11 December 2023 - 26 January 2024; FO 2 February - 3 March 2024; MWFO 6 March - 13 September 2024; Daily 16 September - 14 December 2024. All dates one day later from München Ost.

D3: 5 March - 14 December 2024

D4: 23 December 2023 - 30 March 2024

D5: 1 March – 14 December 2024

Urlaubs Express trains via München Ost and Augsburg may also use this route.

München-Pasing – München Harras

[999.7] (ERA-E 61B1-C1 not shown; ERA-R 95B5-95B4 not shown; S+W 164B3-165A4) DE24/663

This single track runs south of the main lines and the southern ring line from München-Pasing to Heimeranplatz and then joins the Holzkirchen line. It is used by S20 trains between Pasing and Solln or Höllriegelskreuth at peak times Mondays to Fridays.

München-Moosach – München-Johanneskirchen (via München-Freimann)

(ERA-E 61B1-61C1; ERA-R 95B5-95C5; S+W 164D2-165C2) DE24/664

The Bayerisches Eisenbahnmuseum usually runs Nikolausfahrten rund um München ("Santa Specials") on the first two weekends in December. These depart from München Ost and operate via the Nordring; in past years they have generally been routed via München-Moosach. Departures from München Ost are normally at 10:00, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:00. These trains also use the route between München Süd and München-Neulustheim via Laim Rbf and the connection between the S-Bahn and Mühldorf lines at Riedenburgerstraße.

The Bayerischer Localbahn Verein operates Rund um München excursions. Trains are running in 2024 at Pentecost (Pfingsten) (19/20 May) and on 18 August; however the route for 2024 has not yet been finalised. In 2023, no non-passenger track was used.

Rosenheim avoiding line: Bad Endorf (Abzw Rosenheim Ost) – Pfraundorf (Inn) (Abzw Rosenheim Süd)

[ÖBB 300] (ERA-E 60C2; ERA-R 121A2; S+W 116C1-116C2) DE24/665

This east to south curve linking the Salzburg and Wörgl lines provides a through route between Salzburg and Kufstein for Austrian Korridorzüge, which run non-stop through Germany. They are not included in the DB Kursbuch, but are those shown in the ÖBB Fahrplanbilder (table 300) calling at both Kufstein and Salzburg Hbf.

Rosenheim (Abzw Landl (Obb.)) – Rohrdorf (Oberbayern)

(ERA-E 60C2; ERA-R 121A2; S+W 116C1-116C2) DE24/666

This 7.1 km branch line has no regular passenger service but is served by trains known as the "Wies'n-Express" on a few days in early September each year in connection with a local version of the Oktoberfest beer festival. Details of any service in 2024 are not yet available, but as a guide, the 2023 timetable is still shown here.

Bodenwöhr Nord – Nittenau

(ERA-E xxx; ERA-R xxx; S+W 91A4) DE24/667

This 8.4 km branch line has had no passenger service since 1955. Until 2010 the line ran for a further 2.4 km to the original Nittenau station, but this section was closed when a run-round loop was constructed at the gravel terminal north of the town, which is the line's only source of regular traffic.

The line is used on the second weekend of December each year for services in connection with the Christmas market in Bruck in der Oberpfalz. Services depart Bodenwöhr Nord every two hours from 12:00 until 18:00 and run to the current end of line, calling at makeshift boarding/alighting points at Bodenwöhr Ort and Bruck. Boarding and alighting is not permitted at the end of line; the train runs back to Bruck, where there is a 40-minute pause to allow a visit to the market and a return to Bodenwöhr on the same train, if desired. Use of these services is free of charge.

The round trip is scheduled to take 1h 50m, which means that trains just miss the train to Schwandorf at xx:47; however a traveller reports that the 17:50 arrival on the Sunday was five minutes early, which allowed a connection into the 17:47 to Schwandorf, re-platformed to platform 2.

Obscure services: Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions

Langenprozelten - Gemünden Zollberg - Rieneck - Rieneck Sinnberg - Burgsinn Bbf - Fulda

[615, 800, 801] (ERA-E 54B3; ERA-R 107A1; S+W 78C3) DE24/681

This route comprises a west to north curve linking the Aschaffenburg and Flieden lines, avoiding the need to reverse at Gemünden (Main), and a connection from the old main line to the Schnellfahrstrecke towards Fulda at Burgsinn. It is used occasionally for diversions when the line between Hanau and Flieden is blocked.

ICE services Fulda <=> Hanau are diverted over this route from 22 March to 7 June 2024. Trains take about 1 hour 40 minutes Frankfurt <=> Fulda. Trains taking 1 hr 55 minutes may take the classic line from Fulda via Flieden rather than the High Speed Line. The compilers would welcome confirmation of this.

Aschaffenburg avoiding line: Kleinostheim (Abzw Steinerts) – Stockstadt (Main) (Abzw Mainaschaff)

[641] (ERA-E; ERA-R; S+W 77C4) DE24/682

This curve links the Hanau and Darmstadt lines to the west of Aschaffenburg Hbf. It is rarely used by passenger services but was used in August 2022 because of engineering work by diverted RE85 services between Hanau Hbf, Babenhausen and Groß-Umstadt Wiebelsbach.

Burgsinn - Burgsinn Bbf - Würzburg

[800.1] (ERA-E 54B3; ERA-R 107A1; S+W 78C3) DE24/683

This route comprises a connection between Burgsinn, on the old main line, and the Schnellfahrstrecke towards Würzburg. It has been used by ICE trains between Hanau and Würzburg with an extended journey time and not stopping at Aschaffenburg.

Bamberg avoiding line: Oberhaid (Höflein) - Hallstadt (b Bamberg)

[810, 820] (ERA-E 54C3; ERA-R 114C5; S+W 80B4) DE24/684

This west to north curve enables trains to run between the Schweinfurt and Saalfeld lines without reversing at Bamberg Hbf. Occasionally, ICE trains between Erfurt and Frankfurt am Main are diverted via this route with journey times extended by at least 40 minutes.

Nürnberg-Eibach - Fürth (Bay) Hbf (via Nürnberg Großmarkt)

[910] (ERA-E 56C1; ERA-R 112B1; S+W 162B4-162B3) DE24/685

This route via the western end of the Nürnberg ring line may be used by IC/ICE trains between Augsburg and Würzburg during work on the line via Ansbach. Bus replacement of local trains may indicate this. This route may also be used by trains between the Treuchtlingen and Bamberg lines, in event of work in the Nürnberg area, but that is much less usual.

Feucht (Nürnberg-Reichswald) - Fürth (Bay) Hbf (via Nürnberg Rangierbahnhof)

[880] (ERA-E 56C1; ERA-R 112B1; S+W 162D4-162B3) DE24/686

This route via the full length of the Nürnberg ring line can be used by trains between Fürth and Regensburg in order to avoid Nürnberg Hbf. ICE and IC trains may be diverted to run this way but it is most unusual. Any such diversion is indicated by the usual stop at Nürnberg Hbf being omitted.

Münchener Nordring

The Münchener Nordring runs round the north side of the city and has connections to the Augsburg, Ingolstadt, Landshut and Rosenheim lines. It is rarely used by passenger trains, except for the section between München-Johanneskirchen and München-Daglfing, which forms part of the S-Bahn line from München Ost to München Flughafen Terminal.

See route DE24/664 for details of steam trains via the Nordring. The Venice Simplon Orient Express usually makes use of the Nordring on the few occasions when it passes through the München area without stopping there.

Olching – München-Johanneskirchen (via München-Freimann)

(ERA-E 61B2-61C1; ERA-R 95A5-95C5; S+W 166B2-165C2) DE24/691

This is the route from the Augsburg line along the Nordring.

Olching - München-Feldmoching

(ERA-E 61C2-61B1; ERA-R 95B5-95C5; S+W 165D1-164C2) DE24/692

This route allows trains to run between the Augsburg and Landshut lines via the Nordring.

München-Karlsfeld – München-Johanneskirchen (via München-Freimann)

(ERA-E 61B2-61C1; ERA-R 95B5-95C5; S+W 166B2-165C2) DE24/693

This is the route between the Ingolstadt line and München Ost via the Nordring.

München-Moosach – München-Feldmoching (via München Nord Rbf Lasallestraße)

(ERA-E 61B1-61C2; ERA-R 95B5-95C5; S+W 164D2-165D1) DE24/694

This and the following route may be used when the line is blocked between München-Moosach and München-Feldmoching. Trains from München mostly run this way, with their journey time extended by about seven minutes.

München-Feldmoching - München-Allach (via München Nord Rbf Lasallestraße and München Nord Rbf Forstweg)

(ERA-E 61C2-61B1; ERA-R 95B5-95C5; S+W 165D1-164C2) DE24/695

This and the previous route may be used when the line is blocked between München-Moosach and München-Feldmoching. Trains to München mostly run this way, with their journey time extended by about eighteen minutes.

München-Daglfing - München-Trudering - Haar (Abzw München-Waldtrudering)

(ERA-R 95C5-95C4; S+W 167B3) DE24/696

This is the north to east connection from the Nordring to the Rosenheim line. It is used by any trains listed under routes DE24/691 and DE24/693 when they do not run to München Ost.