Germany (Berlin and Brandenburg) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable in force from 14 December 2014 until 12 December 2015, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information.

In the heading to each entry the map reference for the line in the Schweers+Wall Eisenbahn Atlas (2007/2008 edition) is shown, in italic, in addition to the reference to M.G. Ball's European Railway Atlas.

Obscure services

Routes are listed generally in the following order: (i) Berlin central area; (ii) the Berlin Outer Ring (Außenring) and connections to or from it, in clockwise order starting from Abzw Hennigsdorf; (iii) all others fully outside the Außenring.

Berlin central area

Berlin-Charlottenburg – Berlin-Halensee (Halensee Kurve)

[200.46, 200.47] (31B2, 128B3) DE15/251

The limited scheduled service over this south to east S-Bahn curve, withdrawn in June 2002, was reinstated from 29 May 2006. Departures are:

• From Halensee: 00:34 Daily, 00:54 Daily, 19:39 M-F and 19:59 M-F
• From Berlin-Charlottenburg: 04:39 Mon-Fri, 04:59 Mon-Fri, 05:39 Sat, 05:59 Sat, 06:59 Sun, 07:19 Sun

The Halensee curve is also used on the Panorama S-Bahn unit Berlin sightseeing tours where the route is described as Stadtbahn or Stadtring. However, this service is at present suspended until further notice, because of lack of capacity in the S-Bahn depots to maintain the special train that is used.

Berlin-Lichtenberg – Berlin-Gesundbrunnen

[209.54] (32A2-32A3 not shown, 129C3-128D1) DE15/252

This is the north-eastern quadrant of the Ringbahn Ferngleis.

D1	SuX	EC41	06:39 Berlin Gesundbrunnen - Warszawa Wschodnia
D1	SO	EN447	Oberhausen - 00:43 Bielefeld(Sunday) - Warszawa Wschodnia
D1	SX	IC2341	Emden - 18:29 Berlin Gesundbrunnen - Cottbus
D1	SuX	IC2342	Cottbus - 07:09 Berlin Lichtenberg - Norddeich Mole
D1		EN456	Praha - 00:13 Berlin Lichtenberg - Oberhausen
D		IC61258	21:46 Berlin Lichtenberg - Erfurt
D	MTFO	EN452	Moskva Belorusskaja – 21:15 Brest Centralnyi – Paris Est	Note that the train calls in Poland only to set down passengers.

D1: From 29 or 30 August

This route is also used (i) quite often by short term engineering works announced locally and on the Fahrplanänderungen page of DB and (ii) when international trains to/from Poland are diverted via Küstrin/Kostrzyn.

Berlin-Gesundbrunnen (Abzw Berlin-Wedding) – Berlin-Jungfernheide (Berlin-Moabit)

[203] (32A2, 128D1-128C2) DE15/253

This section of the Ringbahn Ferngleis connects the routes from Berlin Hbf to Stralsund and to Hamburg:

A Mondays to Fridays RE service runs from Wittenberge to Berlin Gesundbrunnen calling at Berlin Spandau at 06:32*, 07:33, 08:33, 09:33, 14:34,15:32, 16:37, 17:32, 18:33 and 19:32. The return services depart Berlin Gesundbrunnen at 06:54, 07:53, 08:52, 09:53, 14:52. 15:53, 16:57, 17:53, 18:52 and 19:54*. * Starts/ends Wittstock

Other trains using this route are:

D1	SX	IC2341	Emden - 18:08 Berlin Wannsee - Cottbus
D1	SuX	IC2342	Cottbus - 07:21 Berlin Gesundbrunnen - Norddeich Mole
D1		EN456	Praha Hl - 00:26 Berlin Gesundbrunnen - Oberhausen
D1	SO	EN447	Oberhausen - 00:43 (Sunday) Bielefeld - Warszawa Wschodnia

D1 From 28,29 or 30 August

(Berlin Wannsee) - Berlin Grunewald Gdr - Berlin Charlottenburg Abzw. - Berlin Jungfernheide - (Berlin Gesundbrunnen)

[203] (32A2, 128A3-128B2/B3) DE15/254

This section of the Ringbahn Ferngleis connects the route from Berlin Wannsee to Berlin Gesundbrunnen

D1

SO

EN447

Oberhausen - 00:43 (Sunday) Bielefeld - Warszawa Wschodnia

D1 From 28,29 or 30 August

Berlin-Spandau – Berlin-Staaken

[202] (31B2, 124D4-124C4) DE15/255

There are two routes between Berlin-Spandau and Staaken. The more northerly route makes a junction with the line from Falkensee about 1 km to the west of Berlin-Spandau. The southern route, mostly following the alignment of the Lehrter Bahn, converges with the main line at the west end of Berlin-Spandau station. Trains using the southern route can call only at platform 6, or use a non-platform track outside the station roof. IC, ICE and EC trains use the northern route. Eastbound RE and RB trains using platform 6 at Berlin-Spandau may use either route. If a train is to use the northern route, signal 8942 at Staaken (just east of the station) displays speed restriction ‘6’ (= 60 km/hr) above the main aspect. Westbound trains from Berlin-Spandau platform 6 can only use the southern route.

Berlin Outer Ring and connections

Hohen Neuendorf West – Birkenwerder

[209.20] (31B3, 125A1) DE14/256

There are two routes between Hohen Neuendorf West and Birkenwerder. The Lange Kurve branches south from and then passes below the Außenring having described three-quarters of a circle. It no longer sees regular use. Local trains between Oranienburg and Hennigsdorf use connections to and from the northbound S-Bahn track at Birkenwerder in order to call at the station, so always use the direct Kleine Kurve.

Birkenwerder – Berlin-Hohenschönhausen (Abzw Schönfließ West)

[209.12] (31B1, 125A1) DE14/257

There are two routes between Birkenwerder and the east side of the Außenring. The Lange Kurve runs parallel with the S-Bahn via Hohen Neuendorf, passing below the Außenring. The Kleine Kurve is a direct east to north connection from the Außenring to Birkenwerder. Both routes are reversible single tracks. The Kleine Kurve is used by all northbound trains and, when possible, by southbound ones. However, subject to punctual running, southbound RE5 and RB12 trains usually run via the Lange Kurve in order to avoid conflict with northbound services.

Berlin-Hohenschönhausen (Abzw. Berlin-Karow Ost) – Bernau b. Berlin (Berlin-Karow)

[209.60] (32A3, 125C2) DE14/258

This east to north curve links the east side of the Außenring with the line to Bernau and Angermünde. It is used by service RB60 hourly between Berlin-Lichtenberg and Eberswalde.

Berlin-Hohenschönhausen (Abzw. Berlin-Karow Ost) - Berlin-Gesundbrunnen (Berlin-Blankenburg)

(32A3, 125C2) DE15/259

This east to south curve links the east side of the Außenring with the line to Pankow and Berlin-Gesundbrunnen and provides an alternative to DE15/252 for trains travelling from Berlin Lichtenberg to Berlin Gesundbrunnen.

D	SX	CNL1259	Erfurt Hbf – 07:28 or 07:30 Berlin Gesundbrunnen – Berlin Lichtenberg
D		CNL1258	21:46 Berlin-Lichtenberg - Zürich

Berlin-Lichtenberg (Abzw. Biesdorfer Kreuz West) – Abzw. Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd – Erkner (Abzw. Stadtforst)

[201] (32B2, 129C2-36C3) DE15/260

This route connects Berlin-Lichtenberg with the line to Frankfurt (Oder) via the Außenring.

D	MTFO	EN452	Moskva Belorusskaja – 21:15 Brest Centralnyi – Paris Est
D1	SSuO	EN446	Warszawa Wschodnia - 22:15 Frankfurt (Oder) - Berlin Lichtenberg ( joins EN446)
D	TWSO	EN453	Paris Est - 21:29 Berlin Hbf(tief) - Moskva Belorusskaja
D1	SuX	EC41	Berlin Gesundbrunen - 06:54 Berlin Lichtenberg - Warszawa Wschodnia
D1	SO	EN447	Dortmund - 00:43 Bielefeld (Sunday) - Warszawa Wschodnia

D1 From 28 or 29 August

Services between Rzepin and Berlin which are diverted via Berlin-Lichtenberg with a stop at Frankfurt(Oder) also run this way. If such a train is booked non-stop between Rzepin and Berlin–Lichtenberg, it runs via Küstrin/Kostrzyn; see PL14/37 for notes on routing in Poland.

See DE14/261 for notes on routing between Biesdorfer Kreuz West and Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd.

Berlin Ostbahnhof (Abzw. Rummelsburg Rgbv) – Abzw. Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd West – Berlin-Lichtenberg (Abzw. Biesdorfer Kreuz West)

(32A2, 129C3-129C2) DE15/261

Main line trains running between Berlin Ostbahnhof and Berlin-Lichtenberg have to do so via the Außenring. Only the S-Bahn tracks run directly between the two stations.

D2		CNL1247	20:59 Berlin-Lichtenberg – München Ost
D2		CNL1246	München Ost – 22:50 Augsburg Hbf – Berlin-Lichtenberg

D2 To 23/24 august

Berlin-Lichtenberg (Abzw. Biesdorfer Kreuz West) – (Eichgestell Stw Egb) - Königs Wusterhausen/Berlin Schönefeld

[209.36] (32A2, 125B-125D) DE15/262

This is the route for trains between Berlin-Lichtenberg and the Königs Wusterhausen or Berlin Schönefeld lines via the Außenring. It joins the main line from Berlin Ostbf at Eichgestell. All trains run via Biesdorfer Kreuz, where there are two routes between Abzw. Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd and Abzw. Biesdorfer Kreuz West. There is a direct south to west curve, but the Lange Kurve from Abzw. Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd joins the Ostbahn (from Kostrzyn) at Abzw. Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd-Ost east of the Außenring. Both lines are reversible, but trains to Berlin-Lichtenberg normally use the Lange Kurve and those in the opposite direction the direct route.

D1		EN456	Praha - 21:02 Dresden Neustadt - Dortmund
D1		CNL1247	20:59 Berlin Lichtenberg - München Ost
D1	SX	IC2341	Emden - 18:41 Berlin Lichtenberg - Cottbus
D1	SuX	IC2342	Cottbus - 06:24 Lubben - Norddeich Mole

Königs Wusterhausen (Bf Grünau) – Berlin-Schönefeld Flughafen (Abzw Grünauer Kreuz Süd)

[209.19] (32B2, 127D2) DE15/263

This east to south curve links the Außenring and the Königs Wusterhausen line. It is used by hourly RB19 trains between Berlin Gesundbrunnen and Senftenberg via Berlin-Schönefeld Flughafen.

Großbeeren (Abzw. Großbeeren Süd) – Abzw. Großbeeren West – Abzw. Genshagener Heide Nord – Abzw. Genshagener Heide Ost and Abzw. Glasower Damm West – Blankenfelde(Kr Teltow-Fläming) (Abzw. Glasower Damm Süd)

[203, 240] (31B1 not shown fully & 32A1; 127A3 & 127C3) DE15/263

These are, respectively, a 270 degree north to east outside connection between the Berlin – Leipzig main line and the Außenring, and a west to south curve between the Außenring and the Dresden main line. They are used by EC/IC trains between Berlin Hbf (low level) and Dresden and RE3 trains to Wünsdorf-Waldstadt and Elsterwerda.

The section between Abzw. Genshagener Heide Ost and Abzw. Glasower Damm West is also used by RB22 services between Golm and Berlin-Schönefeld Flughafen.

Großbeeren (Abzw. Großbeeren Süd) – Abzw. Großbeeren West – Abzw. Genshagener Heide Nord - Genshagen Heide - (Saarmund)

[203, 240] (31B1 not shown fully & 32A1; 127A3 & 127C3) DE15/263A

This combination of lines allows trains from the Berlin – Leipzig main line to connect with the westbound Außenring towards Saarmund. One overnight train uses this curve as part of a long loop around south western Berlin, presumably to avoid reversal.

D1

SO

EN447

Dortmund - 00:43 Bielefeld - Warszawa Wschodnia

D1 from 29 August

Saarmund (Abzw Potsdam Wildpark West) - Werder(Havel)

(31A1, 126A2) DE15/264

This south <=> west curve links the southwestern quadrant of the Außenring to the Berlin – Magdeburg main line.

During the “Baumblütenfest” (Blossom Festival) in Werder(Havel), RB22 services between Berlin-Schönefeld Flughafen and Potsdam Hbf have been diverted to reverse at Werder(Havel) instead of Golm and hence use this curve.

This service ran in 2013. It is not known whether they ran in 2014. Details are not yet available for the 2015 festival, which runs from 25 April to 3 May.

Berlin-Staaken – Stendal – Wolfsburg

[202, 301] (27B3 to 29B3, 124C4 to 32D4) DE15/265

On this route the double track Schnellfahrstrecke runs alongside one or two other tracks for most of the way. Between Berlin-Staaken and Elstal local passenger trains use a double line immediately south of the SFS. There is a single-track local line between Elstal and Wustermark. All passenger trains use the Schnellfahrstrecke between Wustermark and Rathenow: there is no passenger use of the non-electrified parallel track from Wustermark to Abzw. Ribbeck (east of Buschow) or from Abzw. Bamme (west of Nennhausen) to Rathenow. RB trains between Rathenow and Stendal use the parallel non-electrified single line. All others use the Schnellfahrstrecke. Between Hämerten (Abzw. Staffelde) and Vinzelberg (Abzw. Nahrstedt) the Schnellfahrstrecke follows a separate route to the south of Stendal, which is used by all trains not calling there. All RB trains west of Stendal use the single, non-electrified line. The two routes diverge slightly at a number of places, particularly at Oebisfelde.

Other lines fully outside the Außenring

Cottbus

The three lines into Cottbus from the west all split into separate routes to the south side platforms, 1 to 4, and to the higher-numbered middle and north side platforms.

Cottbus western approaches

Cottbus station – Stw W10 – Kolkwitz (Cottbus Abzw. Cbn)

[202] (30B1, 49B4) DE15/266

This spur (lines 6203 and 6201) links the Lübbenau line to the north side platforms.

Most arrivals from Lübbenau use the southern platforms at Cottbus. The arrivals at 02:21, 07:01 and 17:23 SSuX use the middle/northern platforms, and hence this spur

All departures from Cottbus use the middle/northern platforms, and hence this spur, except those at 03:50, 05:00, 05:36 SuX, 06:00 SuO, 06:05 SuX, 06:20 SSuX and 07:00.

Cottbus (Stw W9) – Kolkwitz Süd (Cottbus Abzw Cfw)

[209.43, 215] (30B1, 49B4) DE15/267

The main line from Leipzig leads to the middle and north platforms at Cottbus but this spur gives access to south side platforms. There is one train in the 2014-2015 timetable.

RB28887

Falkenberg (Elster) - 08:20 Kolkwitz Süd - Cottbus

Cottbus (Südseite Stw W20) – Leuthen (b Cottbus) (Cottbus Südwest Stw B2)

[208] (30B1 not shown, 49B4) DE15/272

The main line from Dresden leads to the middle and north platforms at Cottbus but a spur gives access to south side platforms. Some trains use the southern platforms, thus:

		RB28747	10:06 Cottbus - Falkenberg(Elster)
		RB28751	14:06 Cottbus - Falkenberg (Elster)
		RE18411	15:15 Cottbus - Dresden Hbf
		RE18413	17:15 Cottbus - Dresden Hbf
		RB28755	18:06 Cottbus - Falkenberg (Elster)
		RE18415	19:15 Cottbus - Dresden Hbf
		RB28744	Falkenberg (Elster) – 09:41 Leuthen (b Cottbus) – Cottbus
		RB28748	Falkenberg (Elster) – 13:41 Leuthen (b Cottbus) – Cottbus
		RE18410	Dresden Hbf – 14:28 Drebkau – Cottbus
	FX	RE18412	Dresden Hbf – 16:28 Drebkau – Cottbus
		RB28752	Falkenberg (Elster) – 17:41 Leuthen (b Cottbus) – Cottbus
		RE18414	Dresden Hbf – 18:28 Drebkau – Cottbus
		RE18418	Dresden Hbf – 22:28 Drebkau – Cottbus

Uebigau (Falkenberg (Elster) Stw B3) – Falkenberg (Elster) unt Bf (Stw W17)

[209.43, 215] (43B3, not shown, 59C1) DE15/273

This combination of curves provides an east to north route, on the south side of the Cottbus – Leipzig line, connecting that line with the low level station at Falkenberg (Elster). It is used by some trains to and from Cottbus via Finsterwalde starting or terminating at the low level platforms (1-5) at Falkenberg (Elster). The following trains take this route in the 2014-2015 timetable.

• Arrivals: 00:14 (RB28898); 19:10 SX (RB28894); 21:10 SX (RB28896)
• Departures: 04:23 SSuX (RB28881); 05:23 (RB28883); 06:23 (SSuX) (RB28885)

Bad Liebenwerda (Falkenberg (Elster) Stw W15) – Falkenberg (Elster) ob Bf (Stw W2)

[228] (43B3, not shown, 59C1) DE15/274

This south to west curve connects the line from Elsterwerda-Biehla with the high level platforms at Falkenberg (Elster) and is used by through trains between Leipzig and Hoyerswerda. All other trains between Elsterwerda-Biehla and Falkenberg (Elster) use the low level station.

Falkenberg (Elster) – Glaubitz (b Riesa) (Abzw. Zeithain Bogendreieck)

[240] (43B3, 59C1-59C3) DE15/275 [the southern portion of this line is in Sachsen]

This part of the original rail route from Berlin to Dresden links Falkenberg with the Leipzig – Dresden main line near Riesa. It no longer has a regular passenger service, but the following train is diverted from the Dresden main line from 27 September.

EN257

Oberhausen - 00:43 Bielefeld - Praha Hl