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) DE23/650

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 – 13:01 Schweinfurt Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
	SSuO	RE4648	Bamberg – 19:01 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) DE23/651

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)

[850, 860] (ERA-E 55A3-55B3; ERA-R 108B1; S+W 81B3) DE23/652

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) DE23/653

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:

Note		RE3004/3594	Neustadt (Waldnaab) (SuX)/Weiden (Oberpf) (SuO) / Furth im Wald – 07:50 Hartmannshof – Nürnberg Hbf
Note		RE3028/3568	Neustadt (Waldnaab) / Regensburg – 19:51 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) DE23/654

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

Note		NJ421	Amsterdam C - 04:36/05:00 Nürnberg Hbf - Innsbruck Hbf
Note		NJ420	Innsbruck Hbf - 22:07/22:51 München Hbf / 22:41/22:42/23:25 Augsburg Hbf - Amsterdam Centraal

Note: Times at intermediate stations vary within a complicated set of date ranges and in particular the Augsburg call is sometimes omitted. Checking with the journey planner on the DB or ÖBB website or app is recommended.

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

[983,993] (ERA-E 60A5 not shown; ERA-R 115B1; S+W 97D4) DE23/655

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.

In a reversal of practice in previous years, 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) DE23/656

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) DE23/657

This west to east curve allows trains to run between Germany and Austria without reversing at Lindau-Insel (the former Lindau Hbf). Since December 2020 this has been used by ECE trains between München and Zürich.

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) DE23/658

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 - 14:11 Augsburg Hbf - Innsbruck Hbf

D1: 17 December 2022 - 25 March 2023

München Hbf Starnberger Bahnhof

[955, 956, 960, 961] (ERA-E 61B1-61C1 not shown; ERA-R 95B5 not shown; S+W 165A3) DE23/659

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) DE23/660

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

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) DE23/661

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.

D2		NJ236	Venezia S. Lucia – 04:05 Salzburg Hbf – Stuttgart Hbf
D3	SuX	IC1296	Salzburg Hbf – 07:20 München Ost – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
D3		IC1290	Salzburg Hbf – 09:33 München Ost – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
D3		EC218	Graz Hbf – 11:32 München Ost – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
D3		EC114	Klagenfurt Hbf – 13:31 München Ost – Dortmund Hbf
D3		EC112/212	Klagenfurt Hbf / Zagreb Gl.kol – 15:31 München Ost – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
D3		EC216	Graz Hbf – 17:31 München Ost – Saarbrücken Hbf
D4	FSSuX	ICE1560	17:03 München Ost – Ulm Hbf

D2: 11 December 2022 - 30 January 2023

D3: 27 August - 9 December 2023

D4: 12-22 December 2022; 9 January - 24 August 2023

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) DE23/662

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 Landsberger Straße and is common with route DE23/661 from Bft Friedenheimer Brücke.

	TThSuO	NJ469	Paris Est - 02:15 Karlsruhe Hbf - Wien Hbf
D5	SO	ICE1201	Hamburg-Altona - 12:03 Augsburg Hbf - St. Anton am Arlberg
		IC2083	Hannover Hbf - 14:00/14:01 München-Pasing - Berchtesgaden Hbf
D6	SX	ICE1291	Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - 19:46 Augsburg Hbf - Salzburg Hbf
	MThSO	NJ468	Wien Hbf - 00:04 TFSuO München Ost - Paris Est
		IC2082	Berchtesgaden Hbf - 11:17 München Ost - Hamburg-Altona / Hannover Hbf
D5	SO	ICE1200	St. Anton am Arlberg - 15:37 München Ost - Hamburg-Altona
D6	FSSuX	ICE1560	17:03 München Ost – Ulm Hbf

D5: 17 December 2022 - 25 March 2023

D6: 27 August - 8 December 2023

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) DE23/663

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) DE23/664

The Bayerisches Eisenbahnmuseum usually runs Nikolausfahrten rund um München 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 operate Rund um München. Trains are running at Easter (Ostern) and Pentecost (Pfingsten) 2023, however the exact route(s) to be taken are not yet finalised. The June 2022 Pentecost trains ran from München Ost "via Munich Südring and the Braunau railway bridge to Munich Allach. From there [they went] via the Nordring and Johanneskirchen back to the Ostbahnhof, with the train crossing the Leinthaler Isarbrücke on the way".

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) DE23/665

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.

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) DE22/681

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. It is used on 10 December 2022 by diverted ICE trains between Fulda and Frankfurt (Main) Hbf; the services concerned having an extended journey time over this section.

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

[641] (ERA-E; ERA-R; S+W 77C4) DE22/681A

This curve links the Hanau and Darmstadt lines to the west of Aschaffenburg Hbf. Because of short-notice engineering work at Hainburg-Hainstadt, it is used between 6 and 12 August 2022 by diverted RE85 services between Hanau Hbf, Babenhausen and Groß-Umstadt Wiebelsbach or Erbach (Odenwald) in both directions. Note that RB86 stopping services are running between Hainburg-Hainstadt and Groß-Umstadt Wiebelsbach only, thus not using this curve.

Burgsinn - Burgsinn Bbf - Würzburg

[800.1] (ERA-E 54B3; ERA-R 107A1; S+W 78C3) DE22/682

This route comprises a connection between Burgsinn, on the old main line, and the Schnellfahrstrecke towards Würzburg. It is used from 17 October until 10 December 2022 by northbound ICE trains from Würzburg Hbf at 05:47 SSuX, 06:47 SuX, 07:47 and hourly to 13:47, 15:47 and 17:47.

It is also used by:

D1		ICE885	Kiel Hbf - 20:56 Fulda - München Hbf
D2		IC2082	Berchtesgaden Hbf - 14:40 Würzburg Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
D3		ICE784	München Hbf - 17:28 Würzburg Hbf - Hamburg-Altona
D4		ICE582	München Hbf - 18:28 Würzburg Hbf - Hamburg-Altona
D5		ICE1204	Innsbruck Hbf - 18:40 Würzburg Hbf - Hamburg-Altona
D3	SSuX	ICE58	München Hbf - 20:28 Würzburg Hbf - Hamburg-Altona
D6		ICE780	München Hbf - 21:28/21:47 Würzburg Hbf - Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe

D1: 23 September to 15 November and 4 December to 10 December 2022

D2: 17 October to 10 December 2022

D3: 25 September to 7 October 2022

D4: SuX 23 September to 7 October, 7 October to 15 November, 5 to 10 December; SuO 23 October to 4 December 2022

D5: 25 September and 4 October 2022

D6: 25 September, 3, 23 and 30 October, 6 and 13 November, 4 December 2022

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

[810, 820] (ERA-E 54C3; ERA-R 114C5; S+W 80B4) DE22/683

This west to north curve enables trains to run between the Schweinfurt and Saalfeld lines without reversing at Bamberg Hbf. Some ICE trains between Erfurt and Frankfurt am Main were diverted via this route in February and March 2020, 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) DE22/684

This route via the western side of the Nürnberg ring line may be used by IC/ICE trains between Augsburg and Würzburg during work on the line via Ansbach and this happened on several weekends in autumn 2017. 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) DE22/685

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 ran this way in August 2017, but that was most unusual. Any such diversion is indicated by the usual stop at Nürnberg Hbf being omitted.

München Nordring

The München 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.

Various routes additional to those listed below are possible, but no passenger used of these is expected in 2022.

See route DE22/664 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.

The following schedules were planned, but have been modified. Look for trains passing through the München area without calling at München Hbf or München-Pasing, or an extended journey time between Rosenheim and München Hbf without a stop at München Ost.

Olching – München-Johanneskirchen

(ERA-E 61B2-61C1; ERA-R 95A5-95C5; S+W 166B2-165C2) DE22/691

This is the route from the Augsburg line along the Nordring. It is used by the following trains on 15 and 16 March 2022, not calling at München-Pasing or München Ost.

D	TWO	IC2083	Hamburg-Altona - 13:36 Augsburg - Freilassing
D	TWO	IC2082	Berchtesgaden Hbf - 10:47 Rosenheim - Hamburg-Harburg

It may be used by the the following train from 21 May to 13 July 2022. If the train reverses at München Ost as booked then it will use this route. The train is sometimes re-timed, to use the south ring and avoid the reversal. This re-timing has been noted to sometimes happen while the train is on the way. It appears as a much shorter stop at München Ost, for example zero minutes.

D

EC115

Münster (Westf) - 13:41 Augsburg Hbf - Klagenfurt Hbf

Olching - München-Feldmoching

(ERA-E 61C2-61B1; ERA-R 95B5-95C5; S+W 165D1-164C2) DE22/692

This route allows trains to run between the Augsburg and Landshut lines via the Nordring. The following train is diverted this way when departing Paris 20 May to 31 July 2022.

D

TFSuO

NJ469

Paris Est - 02:15 MWSO Karlsruhe Hbf - Wien Hbf

München-Karlsfeld – München-Johanneskirchen

(ERA-E 61B2-61C1; ERA-R 95B5-95C5; S+W 166B2-165C2) DE22/693

This is the route from the Ingolstadt line along the Nordring. It is used by the following train between 17 June and 8 July 2022.

D

FO

ICE1211

Hamburg-Altona - 17:28 Nürnberg Hbf - Schwarzach St Veit

München-Moosach – München-Johanneskirchen

(ERA-E 61B1-61C2; ERA-R 95B5-95C5; S+W 164D2-165C2) DE22/694

This route includes a south-facing curve from the Nordring to the Landshut line and is used by trains to and from München Hbf if diverted via the Nordring. The following trains are diverted this way between 21 May and 13 July 2022:

D	SSuX	EC81	07:10 München Hbf - Bologna Centrale
D	SSuO	EC1281	07:10 München Hbf - Venezia S Lucia
D		NJ421	Amsterdam C - 07:50 München Hbf - Innsbruck Hbf
D		RJ62	08:47 München Hbf - Budapest Keleti
D		EC85	11:17 München Hbf - Venezia S Lucia
D		EC117	Frankfurt am Main Hbf - 18:17 München Hbf - Klagenfurt Hbf
D		IC1296	Salzburg Hbf - 06:25 Rosenheim - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D		EC114	Klagenfurt Hbf - 12:46 Rosenheim - Dortmund Hbf
D		RJ64	Budapest Keleti - 17:57 Rosenheim - München Hbf
D		EC82	Venezia S Lucia - 19:46 Rosenheim - München Hbf
D		NJ420	Innsbruck Hbf - 21:07 Rosenheim - Amsterdam C
D		RJ68	Budapest Keleti - 21:57 Rosenheim - München Hbf

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

(ERA-R 95C5-95C4; S+W 167B3) DE22/695

This is the north to east connection from the Nordring to the Rosenheim line. It is used by the trains listed under routes DE22/693 and DE22/694. It is also used by the following trains on 15 and 16 March 2022.

D	TWO	IC2083	Hamburg-Altona - 13:36 Augsburg - Freilassing
D	TWO	IC2082	Berchtesgaden Hbf - 10:47 Rosenheim - Hamburg-Harburg