Germany (Hessen) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services: Difference between revisions

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(→‎Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Frankfurt-Rödelheim (via Abzw Mainzer Landstraße): Services suspended until end Sep because of bridge damage)
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[637] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W ''151C3-152D2'') DE22/515
[637] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W ''151C3-152D2'') DE22/515


This route is used by the through trains between Brandoberndorf, Grävenwiesbach and Frankfurt am Main Hbf, all of which arrive and depart at the north side platforms. These run on Mondays to Fridays, peak hours only. ''S-Bahn'' trains between Frankfurt-Rödelheim and Frankfurt am Main Hbf run via Frankfurt West. A new westbound alignment to the north of the carriage sidings at Frankfurt (Main) Außenbahnhof, including a flyover over the western exit lines from the Außenbahnhof, came into use on 29 November 2021. The previously bidirectional single line is now used for trains heading towards Frankfurt am Main Hbf.
This route is used by the through trains between Brandoberndorf, Grävenwiesbach and Frankfurt am Main Hbf, all of which arrive and depart at the north side platforms. These run on Mondays to Fridays, peak hours only. ''S-Bahn'' trains between Frankfurt-Rödelheim and Frankfurt am Main Hbf run via Frankfurt West. A new westbound alignment to the north of the carriage sidings at Frankfurt (Main) Außenbahnhof, including a flyover over the western exit lines from the Außenbahnhof, came into use on 29 November 2021. The previously bidirectional single line is now used only for trains heading towards Frankfurt am Main Hbf.
 
'''Note that because of bridge damage between Frankfurt-Rödelheim and Oberursel, these through services are suspended until 30th September 2022.'''


===Frankfurt am Main Süd (Abst Anlage) – Frankfurt-Louisa===
===Frankfurt am Main Süd (Abst Anlage) – Frankfurt-Louisa===

Revision as of 21:59, 21 July 2022

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

Routes are ordered geographically. In the Frankfurt area, routes in and out of the Hauptbahnhof are considered first and then the various avoiding lines. In both cases, routes are ordered clockwise round the city, from Frankfurt am Main Süd to Frankfurt am Main West.

Eichenberg avoiding line: Friedland (Han) (Abzw Eichenberg Nordkopf) – Arenshausen (Abzw Eichenberg Ostkopf)

[540.1] (ERA-E 48B1; ERA-R 100A1; S+W 55B3) DE22/501

This north to east curve links the Göttingen and Nordhausen lines and is used by through trains between Göttingen and Leinefelde (generally every two hours).

Bad Sooden-Allendorf (Abzw Eschwege-Wehre) – Wehretal-Reichensachsen (Abzw Eschwege-Stegmühle)

(ERA-E 48B1; ERA-R 107A5; S+W 55B4) DE22/502

Since the reopening of Eschwege Stadtbahnhof in 2009, all local trains between Eichenberg and Bebra reverse there, leaving and returning to the main line at a triangular junction at Eschwege West. Daytime expresses normally use the Schnellfahrstrecke, so the only passenger trains to use the main line, bypassing Eschwege, regularly are overnight ones.

ICE1689 Hamburg Hbf - 01:13 Göttingen - München Hbf
NJ471 Berlin Ostbahnhof - 00:22 Göttingen - Zürich HB
D MO ICE1271 Hamburg-Altona - 03:07 Göttingen - Chur
NJ491 Hamburg-Altona - 22:59 Göttingen - Wien Hbf
NJ470 Zürich HB - 01:49 Fulda - Berlin Ostbahnhof
SuO ICE990 München Hbf - 02:24 MO Bad Hersfeld - Hamburg Hbf
ICE1688 München Hbf - 01:20 Würzburg Hbf - Hamburg-Altona
NJ490 Wien Hbf – 02:50 Würzburg Hbf – Hamburg-Altona

Urlaubs Express trains to and from Hamburg are likely to use this route.

Bebra avoiding line: Ludwigsau-Friedlos (Abzw Blankenheim) – Ronshausen (Abzw Faßdorf)

[605, 610] (ERA-E 54B5; ERA-R 107A4; S+W 66 inset [2020 edition: 67 inset]) DE22/503

This south to east curve enables trains between Fulda and Eisenach to avoid reversal at Bebra. It is used by trains (an ICE/IC service at least hourly) running non-stop between Fulda or Bad Hersfeld and Eisenach.

Gießen avoiding line: Dutenhofen – Großen Linden (Gießen Bergwald Stw Gs)

[445] (ERA-E 53C4; ERA-R 106A3; S+W 65A4) DE22/504

This west to south curve enables trains to run between Wetzlar and Friedberg (Hess) without reversing at Gießen. It is used by IC trains every two hours between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and destinations via Siegen and also by:

SSuX HLB24931 Siegen – 05:47 Wetzlar – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
SSuX HLB24930 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – 18:00 Bad Nauheim – Siegen

Fulda area

[615] (ERA-E 54B4 not shown; ERA-R 107A3; S+W 78C1) DE22/505

Neuhof (Kr Fulda) (Fulda-Bronnzell) – Fulda via flyover

The flyover south of Fulda station allows trains to run from the northbound line from Hanau into the low-numbered platforms at Fulda, without crossing the Schnellfahrstrecke on the level. It is used by most RE trains via Flieden terminating at Fulda. These run hourly on weekdays; two-hourly at weekends.

Neuhof (Kr Fulda) via southbound platform loop

Local hourly stopping services from Fulda towards Frankfurt (Main) Hbf must use the loop of the main line to call at Platform 3 as there is no platform on the southbound main line. This loop line is on a separate alignment well to the west of the main line.

Flieden – Sterbfritz (Elm Bbf)

(ERA-E 54A4-54B4; ERA-R 107A2; S+W 78C1-78C2) DE22/506

This is part of the former main line between München and Hamburg. Daytime expresses now use the Schnellfahrstrecke and diversion of Gemünden local trains to Schlüchtern, instead of Fulda, has left the route with regular passenger trains only during the night.

NJ491 Hamburg-Altona - 22:59 Göttingen - Wien Hbf
ICE1689 Hamburg Hbf - 01:13 Göttingen - München Hbf
ICE1688 München Hbf - 01:20 Würzburg Hbf - Hamburg-Altona
NJ490 Wien Hbf – 02:50 Würzburg Hbf – Hamburg-Altona

Urlaubs Express trains to and from Hamburg may use this route.

The Fulda - Würzburg Schnellfahrstrecke is closed between July and December 2022 for engineering work. During this period, daytime ICEs are diverted via the old main line and use this route, with an extended journey time.

Hanau West (Weiche 403/404) – Hanau Hbf (Nordseite)

[640] (ERA-E 54A3 not shown; ERA-R 122B4 not shown; S+W 153D2) DE22/507

This route is used by trains between the Maintal and Fulda lines. There are two spurs linking the Maintal line to Hanau Hbf Nordseite (Fulda line). The southerly one is for eastbound trains via platform 7 only. The other is reversible and links with platforms 2 to 7. Most local trains via Maintal Ost terminating or starting at Hanau Hbf normally use the reversible connection and platform 5.

Most IC and ICE trains run via Offenbach (Main), but some are routed via Maintal. The following are scheduled to run via Maintal Ost and Hanau Hbf Nordseite.

SSuX ICE1658 Erfurt Hbf - 06:44 Fulda - Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf
ICE791 Berlin Ostbf - 10:47 Fulda - Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf/Frankfurt am Main Hbf
ICE1285/1683 Hamburg-Altona - 15:15 Hanau Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
ICE795 Berlin Ostbf - 14:46 Fulda - Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf
ICE797 Berlin Ostbf - 16:46 Fulda - Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf
D SuO IC1085 Hamburg-Altona/Hannover Hbf - 19:25 Hanau Hbf - Karlsruhe Hbf
D ICE1590 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - 08:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Braunschweig Hbf/Berlin Ostbf
ICE992 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - 10:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Braunschweig Hbf/Berlin Ostbf
ICE798 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - 12:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Berlin Ostbf
ICE796 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - 14:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Berlin Ostbf
ICE794 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - 16:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Berlin Ostbf
D EC218 Graz Hbf - 16:14 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Erfurt Hbf
D ICE1594 16:14 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Hamburg-Altona/Kiel Hbf
D SuO IC2194 16:14 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Hamburg-Altona
D IC2398 München Hbf - 16:15 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Hamburg-Altona/Kiel Hbf
D ICE776 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - 17:15 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Oldenburg (Oldb) Hbf
D ICE776 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - 17:16 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Oldenburg (Oldb) Hbf
ICE792 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - 18:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Berlin Ostbf

Hanau West (Weiche 403/404) – Hanau Hbf (Südseite)

[640] (ERA-E 54A3; ERA-R 122B4 not shown; S+W 153D2) DE22/508

This route is used by RB trains between Aschaffenburg and Frankfurt am Main via the Maintal line.

Offenbach (Main) Hbf - Offenbach (Main) Ost

[645.8-9] (ERA-E 57C2; ERA-R 122B3; S+W 153B2) DE22/509

This 1.7km connecting line links the main Frankfurt - Hanau line at Offenbach Hbf with the S-Bahn line at Offenbach Ost. Early on Monday mornings certain S8 trains between Frankfurt (Main) Hbf and Offenbach Ost are diverted to run to and from Frankfurt am Main Hbf via Frankfurt am Main Süd and this line.

From Offenbach (Main) Hbf: 00:40 MO, 01:12 MO and 01:39 MO

From Offenbach (Main) Ost: 23:58 SuO, 00:28 MO and 00:58 MO

Frankfurt am Main Hbf

Trains between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Frankfurt am Main Stadion, Neu Isenburg or Frankfurt am Main Süd may use two routes over the River Main, crossing the Niederrader Brücke or the Main-Neckar-Brücke, about 2 km further upstream. The line over the Niederrader Brücke gives access to platforms 1a through 8 on the south side (via Abzw Gutleuthof), platforms 15 through 24 on the north side of the Hauptbahnhof and the S-Bahn underground station. The Main-Neckar-Brücke gives access to platforms 4 through 13, but following construction of a new spur it may be possible for trains to run to platforms 1 to 3 as well. Platforms 4 through 8 are accessible from both bridges.

Trains via Frankfurt am Main Süd and Neu Isenburg mainly use the Main-Neckar-Brücke and those via Frankfurt am Main Stadion mainly the Niederrader Brücke. There is little difference in journey time between Frankfurt am Main Stadion and the Hauptbahnhof via either bridge. However, there is a significant difference between Frankfurt am Main Süd and the Hauptbahnhof, with trains via Niederrader Brücke being scheduled at least 10 minutes, rather than 6 or 7 minutes for the Main-Neckar-Brücke route.

Many long-distance trains reverse at Frankfurt and, in the lists below, trains using a route inward are shown before those using it outward.

Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Süd

[615, 615.1, 640] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2-122B3; S+W 151C3-151D3) DE22/511

Most trains run via Main-Neckar-Brücke. The following trains are scheduled via Niederrader Brücke and Abzw Forsthaus:

D1 FO ICE1285 Hamburg-Altona/Hannover Hbf - 15:15 Hanau Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D ThFO ICE1683 Hamburg-Altona - 15:15 Hanau Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D2 SSuX ICE1598 05:53 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Berlin Ostbf
D SuO IC2194 16:14 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Hamburg-Altona
D ThFSuO ICE1594 16:14 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Hamburg-Altona/Kiel Hbf
D EC218 Graz Hbf - 16:15 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Erfurt Hbf
D FSSuX IC2398 München Hbf - 16:15 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Erfurt Hbf
D SX ICE776 17:01 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Oldenburg (Oldb) Hbf

D1: 17 June to 14 October 2022

D2: 27 May to 15 July 2022

Local trains taking longer than ten minutes between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Frankfurt am Main Süd can be expected to run via Frankfurt Niederrad.

Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Neu Isenburg (via Abzw Forsthaus)

[650, 650.2] (ERA-E 57B2-57C2; ERA-R 122B2-122B3; S+W 151C3-151C4) DE22/512

Most trains to and from Neu Isenburg, other than S-Bahn, run via Main-Neckar-Brücke, but the following are scheduled via Niederrader Brücke:

MO IC2286 Rottweil/Stuttgart Hbf - 08:47 Darmstadt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D3 EC218 Graz Hbf - 15:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf/Erfurt Hbf
D IC2398 München Hbf - 15:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf/Erfurt Hbf
D4 FO EC112 Klagenfurt Hbf - 19:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D5 FO IC2392 München Hbf - 19:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D6 SuO ICE1575 11:14 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Karlsruhe Hbf
D7 FO IC1291 16:10 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - München Hbf
D8 IC1995 16:51 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
D9 IC2183 17:50 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Karlsruhe Hbf

D3: Via Niederrader Brücke when continuing to Erfurt and on 6, 13 and 20 August 2022

D4: 5 to 26 August 2022

D5: 27 May to 29 July 2022

D6: 29 May to 6 June 2022

D7: 27 May to 26 August 2022

D8: Runs on an occasional basis in connection with trade fairs

D9: 30 May to 25 August, but not 6, 15 and 16 June 2022

Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Stadion

[471, 472, 655, 655.1] (ERA-E 57C2-57B2 not shown; ERA-R 122B3-122B2; S+W 151C3-151B4) DE22/513

Most trains (and particularly RE and RB ones) run via Niederrader Brücke. Most RE and RB trains use platforms 15–24 on the north side of the Hauptbahnhof. Most S-Bahn S7 services and many IC and ICE trains run via Abzw Gutleuthof and use platforms 1–8 on the south side of the Hauptbahnhof.

The following trains are scheduled via Main-Neckar Brücke:

  • ICE trains from Frankfurt am Main Hbf to Mannheim Hbf hourly 05:50 to 21:50
  • ICE trains from Frankfurt am Main Hbf to Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof hourly 07:10 to 22:10
  • ICE trains from Mannheim Hbf to Frankfurt am Main Hbf hourly 06:32 to 22:32, every two hours 06:41 to 20:41 and every two hours 07:16 to 19:16, but not when the 19:16 terminates at Frankfurt am Main Hbf

Timings from Mannheim may vary by a few minutes, because of engineering work.

The following trains are also scheduled to use this route:

NJ470 Zürich HB - 23:42/23:47 Mannheim Hbf - Berlin Ostbf
ICE698 München Hbf - 02:29 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof - Berlin-Gesundbrunnen
ICE672 Wiesbaden Hbf - 05:33 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof - Hamburg-Altona
MO ICE696 Karlsruhe Hbf - 05:28 Mannheim Hbf - Berlin-Gesundbrunnen
ICE1557 Wiesbaden Hbf - 09:02 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof - Dresden Hbf
ICE27 Dortmund Hbf - 12:02 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof - Wien Hbf
ICE887/1087 Hamburg-Altona - 00:13 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Wiesbaden Hbf
SuO ICE879 Berlin Ostbf - 00:50 MO Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Karlsruhe Hbf
ICE699 Hamburg-Altona - 02:25 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - München Hbf
NJ471 Berlin Hbf - 03:58/04:00 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Zürich HB
ICE826 05:40 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Essen Hbf
D FSSuX ICE1511 06:55 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
D SSuX IC1911 06:55 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
SSuX ICE1097 Hamburg-Altona/Hannover Hbf - 09:34 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf
SSuX ICE1128 München Hbf - 20:10 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Wiesbaden Hbf
ICE1554 Dresden Hbf - 20:42 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Wiesbaden Hbf

Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Frankfurt-Höchst

[466, 627, 646] (ERA-E 57B2 not shown; ERA-R 122B3-122B2 not shown; S+W 151C3-151B3 partly shown) DE22/514

Most trains, other than S-Bahn, between Frankfurt-Höchst and Frankfurt am Main Hbf run via Abzw Mainzer Landstraße. Most of those to and from Koblenz and Wiesbaden use the connection between Abzw Mainzer Landstraße and platforms 15–24 on the north side of Frankfurt am Main Hbf. Most trains to and from Limburg (Lahn) run via Abzw Gutleuthof to use platforms 1–8 on the south side of the Hauptbahnhof.

A new westbound alignment to the north of the carriage sidings at Frankfurt Außenbahnhof, including a flyover over the western exit lines from the Außenbahnhof, came into use on 29 November 2021. This enables trains to run between the northern platforms at Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Frankfurt-Höchst via Frankfurt-Griesheim.

Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Frankfurt-Rödelheim (via Abzw Mainzer Landstraße)

[637] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 151C3-152D2) DE22/515

This route is used by the through trains between Brandoberndorf, Grävenwiesbach and Frankfurt am Main Hbf, all of which arrive and depart at the north side platforms. These run on Mondays to Fridays, peak hours only. S-Bahn trains between Frankfurt-Rödelheim and Frankfurt am Main Hbf run via Frankfurt West. A new westbound alignment to the north of the carriage sidings at Frankfurt (Main) Außenbahnhof, including a flyover over the western exit lines from the Außenbahnhof, came into use on 29 November 2021. The previously bidirectional single line is now used only for trains heading towards Frankfurt am Main Hbf.

Note that because of bridge damage between Frankfurt-Rödelheim and Oberursel, these through services are suspended until 30th September 2022.

Frankfurt am Main Süd (Abst Anlage) – Frankfurt-Louisa

[650, 650.2] (ERA-E 57C2; ERA-R 122B3; S+W 151D3-151C4) DE22/521

This east to south curve provides a link between Frankfurt am Main Süd and the Darmstadt line. There is a frequent S-Bahn service over tracks parallel to this route.

Trains between Frankfurt am Main and Groß-Umstadt Wiebelsbach via Darmstadt Nord are diverted to start and terminate at Frankfurt am Main Süd, using this route, 12 June to 26 August 2022.

D10 IC2393 08:19 Frankfurt am Main Süd - München Hbf
D11 EC113 08:19 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Klagenfurt Hbf
ThFO ICE1079 Hamburg-Altona - 17:55 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Stuttgart Hbf
SuO IC1956 Leipzig Hbf - 17:55 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Karlsruhe Hbf
D12 SuX IC2375 Westerland (Sylt) - 19:18 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Karlsruhe Hbf
SuO ICE1085 Hamburg-Altona - 19:45 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Karlsruhe Hbf
D13 SSuX IC2298 Stuttgart Hbf - 07:42 Darmstadt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Süd
D12 SX IC2374 Karlsruhe Hbf - 10:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Westerland (Sylt)
ThFSuO IC1174 Basel SBB/Stuttgart Hbf - 13:46 Darmstadt Hbf - Berlin Ostbf
D14 SX ICE1570 Karlsruhe Hbf - 20:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Kassel Wilhelmshöhe/Hannover Hbf

D10: 1 & 2 August 2022

D11: 3 to 26 August 2022

D12: 27 May to 26 August 2022, also 28 May northbound and 29 May southbound

D13: 2 to 26 August 2022

D14: 27 May to 26 August 2022, not 5 June

Trains between Frankfurt am Main Süd and Frankfurt am Main Flughafen or Mannheim, without calling at Frankfurt am Main Hbf, normally run via line 3650. The following diverted services are scheduled to run via Frankfurt-Louisa, and do so 5 March to 4 May 2022 unless shown otherwise and with exceptions noted.

D15 ICE71 Hamburg-Altona - 10:03 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Chur
D16 IC928 Passau Hbf - 11:33 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Dortmund Hbf
D17 ICE73 Kiel Hbf/Hamburg-Altona - 12:03 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Zürich HB
D16 ICE228 Wien Hbf - 13:33 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Dortmund Hbf
D18 ICE75 Kiel Hbf/Hamburg-Altona - 14:03 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Chur
D ICE77 Kiel Hbf - 16:03 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Zürich HB
D ICE79 Hamburg-Altona - 18:03 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Zürich HB
D ICE1171 Kiel Hbf - 20:03 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Basel SBB
D19 ICE273 Hamburg-Altona - 22:03 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Karlsruhe Hbf/Basel SBB
D ICE474 Basel SBB - 07:24 Mannheim Hbf - Kiel Hbf
D ICE78 Zürich HB - 09:26/09:27 Mannheim Hbf - Hamburg Altona
D ICE76 Zürich HB - 11:26/11:27 Mannheim Hbf - Hamburg Altona
D ICE72 Chur - 15:26/15:27 Mannheim Hbf - Hamburg Altona
D ICE70 Chur - 17:26/17:27 Mannheim Hbf - Hamburg Altona
D20 ICE927 Hamburg-Altona - 18:01 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - Passau Hbf
D21 SX ICE376 Interlaken Ost - 19:26/19:27 Mannheim Hbf - Hamburg Hbf

D15: 3 March to 4 May 2022, not 15 April

D16: 27 May to 10 June 2022

D17: Not 16 April 2022

D18: Not 16, 23 & 30 April 2022

D19: Not 11 & 12 April 2022

D20: 27 May to 16 October 2022

D21: Not 15 & 17 April 2022

Frankfurt am Main Stadion – Neu Isenburg (via Abzw Forsthaus)

[471, 650] (ERA-E 57B2-57C2; ERA-R 122B2-122B3; S+W 151B4-151C4) DE22/522

This route is used by trains between Frankfurt am Main Stadion and Neu Isenburg if not booked to call at Frankfurt am Main Hbf.

SSuX ICE1223 06:47 Darmstadt Hbf - Düsseldorf Hbf (continues to München via Kassel)

Frankfurt am Main Stadion – Frankfurt am Main Süd (via Abzw Forsthaus)

[640] (ERA-E 57B2-57C2; ERA-R 122B2-122B3; S+W 151B4-151D3) DE22/523

This route is used by trains between Frankfurt am Main Stadion and Frankfurt am Main Süd if not booked to call at Frankfurt am Main Hbf. There are ICE and local trains that do so throughout the day.

See route DE22/521 (above) for details of trains that run via Frankfurt-Louisa, instead of the direct route via line 3650.

Limburg Süd (Abzw Breckenheim) - Wiesbaden Hbf (Wiesbaden-Wäschbach)

[472] (ERA-E 57A2; ERA-R 122B1; S+W 151B1 - 151D1) DE22/524

This branch off the Köln - Frankfurt Schnellfahrstrecke is used by ICE trains between Köln and Wiesbaden Hbf.

SSuX ICE711 Köln Hbf - 06:54/06:55 Limburg Süd - Stuttgart Hbf
SSuX ICE1224 Düsseldorf Hbf - 18:20 Limburg Süd - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
SSuX ICE712 Mainz Hbf - 06:23 Wiesbaden Hbf - Köln Hbf
SSuX ICE710 Stuttgart Hbf - 16:45 Wiesbaden Hbf - Köln Hbf/Köln Messe Deutz

Wiesbaden avoiding line: Wiesbaden-Biebrich - Wiesbaden Ost

[466] (ERA-E 57A2; ERA-R 122B1; S+W 151C3-151B3) DE22/525

This line allows trains to run between Frankfurt am Main and the Rechte Rheinstrecke (via Rüdesheim) without reversal at Wiesbaden Hbf. It is used by Monday to Friday RE peak trains between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Eltville or Rudesheim which do not call at Wiesbaden Hbf.

From Mainz-Kastel: 07:36, 08:34, 15:34, 16:34, 17:34, 18:34 all SSuX

From Wiesbaden-Biebrich: 06:15, 07:15, 08:15, 09:15, 16:15, 17:15 all SSuX

The following trains are diverted this way between 6 June and 29 August 2022.

D MSSuO NJ421 Amsterdam C - 23:46 Koblenz Hbf - Innsbruck Hbf
D MSSuO NJ403 Amsterdam C - 00:49 MTSuO Koblenz Hbf - Zürich HB
D MSSuO ICE1021 Ostseebad Binz/Stralsund Hbf - 20:48 Koblenz Hbf - Nürnberg Hbf
D MSSuO IC2215 Westerland (Sylt) - 21:28 Koblenz Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D MSSuO ICE1627 Dortmund Hbf - 22:48 Koblenz Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D MSSuO ICE920 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - 00:03 MTSuO Mainz Hbf - Hamburg-Altona
D MSSuO NJ402 Zürich HB - 03:33 MTSuO Mainz Hbf - Amsterdam C
D MSSuO NJ420 Innsbruck Hbf - 03:42 MTSuO Frankfurt am Main Süd - Amsterdam C
D SuO IC1910 München Hbf - 20:52 Mainz Hbf - Dortmund Hbf
D MSuO IC2210 Karlsruhe Hbf/Stuttgart Hbf - 21:20 Mainz Hbf - Dortmund Hbf
D MSSuO ICE22 Wien Hbf - 22:20 Mainz Hbf - Dortmund Hbf

Mainz-Bischofsheim (Abzw Kostheim Ost) – Mainz-Kastel (Abzw Kostheim)

[645.8-9, 651] (ERA-E 57A1-57A2; ERA-R 122C1; S+W 151D2-151C2) DE22/526

This connection across the Main splits in two parts at Abzw Kostheim Ost just north of the river. The two main tracks fly over the Höchst line and turn west to touch it briefly (Abzw Kostheim) before turning north to become route DE21/527 to the Kaiserbrücke over the Rhein. There is also a single-track south-to-west curve (line 3531) that avoids the flyover and diverges from the Höchst line to the south at Abzw Kostheim. This is used by used by trains from Mainz-Kastel to Bischofsheim, but all trains from Bischofsheim use the main track until Abzw Kostheim. The eastbound main track from Abzw Kostheim to Abzw Kostheim Ost is only used by trains coming from the Mainz Kaiserbrücke via route DE22/527.

Hochheim (Main) (Abzw Kostheim) – Mainz Hbf (Abzw Kaiserbrücke Ost)

[471] (ERA-E 57A2; ERA-R 122C1; S+W 151C2) DE22/527

This route allows trains from the north bank of the River Main to access the Kaiserbrücke over the River Rhein to Mainz, so trains can run between Mainz Hbf and the Frankfurt area via Frankfurt-Höchst. This line can also be used to allow trains to run between Mainz-Bischofsheim and Mainz-Mombach without passing through Mainz Hbf.

The line has been used since 9 December 2018 by an hourly RE service between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Mainz Hbf via Hochheim (Main).

Kelsterbach – Frankfurt am Main Stadion

[471] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 152C3-152D3) DE22/528

This is part of the original main line and is used by trains between Mainz Hbf and the Frankfurt area via Kelsterbach, which stop at neither of the stations at Frankfurt am Main Flughafen.

SSuX RE29553 Kirn – 06:56 Rüsselsheim – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
SSuX RE29205 Alzey – 07:41 Rüsselsheim – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D22 MSSuO NJ420 Innsbruck Hbf - 03:43 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Amsterdam C

D22: 6 June to 29 August 2022

Frankfurt am Main Gateway Gardens - Frankfurt am Main Stadion

[471] (ERA-E 57B2 not shown; ERA-R 122B2 not shown; S+W 152D3) DE22/529

Where the new line from Frankfurt Flughafen Regionalbf converges with the old main line via Kelsterbach west of Frankfurt am Main Stadion two routes are possible. Trains to the S-Bahn tunnel route under the city centre cross the Kelsterbach line on a flyover. Some RE trains to the Hauptbahnhof main station use a single track connection directly to the line from Kelsterbach.

Raunheim (Abzw Mönchwald) – Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf (Abzw Mönchhof)

[471] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122C2; S+W 152B4) DE22/530

This spur connects the old main line from Mainz Hbf to the Schnellfahrstrecke from Köln. It is used by trains calling at both Mainz Hbf and Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf. There is an hourly IC service for most of the day.

Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – Zeppelinheim

[655.1] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 152D3) DE22/531

This south to west curve is from Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf to the line to Mannheim via Biblis. It is used by trains running direct between Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf and Mannheim. These are ICE services at least hourly.

Weiterstadt (Abzw Darmstadt Stockschneise) – Darmstadt Nord – Darmstadt-Kranichstein

(ERA-E 57B1; ERA-R 122C2-122C3; S+W 154C2) DE22/532

This west to east route connects the Mainz and Aschaffenburg lines north of Darmstadt Hbf. Between Darmstadt Nord and Darmstadt-Kranichstein it has its own alignment, different from the one used by local passenger trains. The Darmstadt-Kranichstein railway museum sometimes runs a shuttle service between Groß-Gerau and Kranichstein during its annual Bahnwelttage event in May.

The route is also occasionally used for diversion of trains between Mainz and Aschaffenburg.

Arheilgen – Darmstadt-Nord

[641] (ERA-E 57B1; ERA-R 122C2-122C3; S+W 154C2) DE22/533

This north to east curve connects the Frankfurt am Main and Aschaffenburg lines north of Darmstadt Hbf. It is used by through trains between Groß-Umstadt Wiebelsbach and Frankfurt am Main Hbf via Darmstadt Nord, generally hourly.

Darmstadt Hbf – Weiterstadt (Abzw Darmstadt Bergschneise and Abzw Weiterstadt Stockschneise)

[651] (ERA-E 57B1 partly shown; S+W 154C3-154C2) DE22/534

Darmstadt Hbf is connected to the line towards Mainz by three geographically separate tracks, of which two constitute a widely separated double track flying junction and the third is reversible.

The Darmstadt to Mainz track diverges from the main track towards Frankfurt (line 3605) north of Darmstadt Hbf, at about the the place where it passes over the Aschaffenburg – Mainz line. It then makes a 135° curve to the left and joins the Aschaffenburg – Mainz line from the north at Abzw Stockschneise. It was formerly numbered as line 3537 but is now numbered as 3530 as the Mainz-bound track of the double-track Darmstadt to Mainz line. The Mainz to Darmstadt track of line 3530 diverges to the south at Abzw Stockschneise directly to the Hauptbahnhof, where it eventually becomes platform 9.

Between these two tracks, there is a reversible track (line 3541) which splits from the Mainz - Aschaffenburg line on the flat at Abzw Bergschneise, 1 km east of Abzw Stockschneise. At Darmstadt Hbf it arrives between the tracks from/to Darmstadt Nord, which eventually become platforms 7 and 8.

Trains from Mainz use the short curve of line 3530. Trains towards Mainz from platforms 8 and 9 (which are most of them) can only use the reversible Bergschneise route as line 3605 and therefore the Stockschneise route cannot be reached from these platforms.

Only two services at 06:12 and 08:12 (both SSuX) depart from platform 7 and so can use either route. The Stockschneise route is longer but allows higher speeds. A report in November 2021 confirmed that the 08:12 service took the Stockschneise route and therefore the 'long curve'. Which route is used can be seen from the position of the scissors crossover points just north of the platforms – left for the Bergschneise route, right for the Stockschneise route. The compilers would welcome any further reports of which route is taken by these two trains.

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

Hanau avoiding line: Großkrotzenburg - Hanau Nord (Rauschwald)

(ERA-E 54A3; ERA-R 122B4; S+W 151D2) DE22/541

This line is used occasionally to allow trains to run between the Aschaffenburg and Fulda or Friedberg lines without reversal at Hanau Hbf. Overnight trains between Hamburg and Wien were diverted this way during summer and autumn 2019.

Frankfurt am Main Hbf avoiding line: Frankfurt am Main West (Galluswarte) – Frankfurt-Louisa (Main-Neckar Brücke)

(ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B3; S+W 151C3) DE22/542

This line provides a link between Frankfurt West and lines to the south, but particularly via Darmstadt, for trains not required to call at the Hauptbahnhof. Use of this route is indicated by trains calling at Frankfurt am Main West instead of the Hauptbahnhof.

The following diverted services are scheduled to use this route from 27 May to 26 August 2022 unless shown otherwise and with exceptions noted.

D31 SSuX ICE1571 Kassel Wilhelmshöhe - 07:08 Frankfurt am Main West - Karlsruhe Hbf
D31 SuX ICE1573 Hannover Hbf/Kassel Wilhelmshöhe - 09:06 Frankfurt am Main West - Karlsruhe Hbf
D31 SuX IC2185 Oldenburg (Oldbg) Hbf/Hamburg-Altona - 11:06 Frankfurt am Main West - Karlsruhe Hbf
D32 ICE1577 Stralsund Hbf/Kassel Wilhelmshöhe - 13:06 Frankfurt am Main West - Karlsruhe Hbf
D33 ICE1577 Oldenburg (Oldbg) Hbf/Bremen Hbf - 13:06 Frankfurt am Main West - Karlsruhe Hbf
D ICE1579 Hamburg-Altona/Bremen Hbf - 15:06 Frankfurt am Main West - Karlsruhe Hbf
D ICE1671 Ostseebad Binz - 17:06 Frankfurt am Main West - Karlsruhe Hbf
D34 SuX IC2375 Hamburg-Altona - 18:43 Friedberg (Hess) - Karlsruhe Hbf
D SuO IC1999 Berlin Ostbf - 20:10 Frankfurt am Main West - Ulm Hbf
D35 ICE1672 Karlsruhe Hbf - 08:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Ostseebad Binz
D36 SX IC2374 Karlsruhe Hbf - 10:46 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Westerland (Sylt)
D ICE1578 Karlsruhe Hbf - 12:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Bremen Hbf/Stralsund Hbf
D ICE1576 Karlsruhe Hbf - 14:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Hamburg-Altona/Stralsund Hbf
D37 ICE1574 Karlsruhe Hbf - 16:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Hannover Hbf/Rostock Hbf
D31 SuX IC2184 Karlsruhe Hbf - 16:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Hannover Hbf/Hamburg-Altona
D ICE1572 Karlsruhe Hbf - 18:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Kassel Wilhelmshöhe/Hamburg-Altona

D31: Not 6 June 2022

D32: 27 May to 10 June 2022

D33: 11 June to 26 August 2022

D34: 27 May to 10 June 2022, not 3 June

D35: Not 29 May, 5 & 6 June 2022

D36: Also 28 May and 4 June 2022

D37: 29 May, 5 & 6 June 2022

Frankfurt am Main Hbf avoiding line: Frankfurt West (Galluswarte) – Frankfurt-Niederrad

(ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 151C3-151B3) DE22/543

This line provides a link between Frankfurt West and lines to the south via Niederrader Brücke, for trains not required to call at the Hauptbahnhof. It is sometimes used by IC trains when there is engineering working in the Hauptbahnhof area. However, as most IC trains via Frankfurt West also run via Darmstadt, use of route DE22/542 is more likely.

Limburg Süd (Caltex) - Kelsterbach (Brunnenschneise)

(ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122C2-122B2; S+W 152B3) DE22/544

This north to east curve allows trains to run between the Köln - Frankfurt Schnellfahrstrecke and the old main line between Mainz and Frankfurt. Some trains were, quite exceptionally, diverted this way during autumn 2019. Further diversions are unlikely soon, but are indicated by a stop at Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf being omitted.

Groß Gerau – Groß Gerau-Dornberg

[660] (ERA-E 47B1; ERA-R 122C2; S+W 154A2) DE22/545

IC and EC trains between Mainz and Mannheim (not calling at Frankfurt am Main Flughafen) normally run via Worms, but are sometimes diverted via Groß Gerau and Groß Gerau-Dornberg. Relief IC trains may also use this west to south curve, and it has been used at short notice when there is an operating or infrastructure problem on the Worms route. Following signalling alterations at Mannheim Hbf, it is no longer possible to determine there whether a train to Mainz is to run via Groß Gerau. If local trains via Worms are replaced by buses, it is likely that IC and EC trains will use this route.

Groß Gerau-Dornberg – Klein Gerau (Abzw Klein Gerau Eichmühle)

[655] (ERA-E 47B1; ERA-R 122C2; S+W 154A2) DE22/546

This is the east to south curve at Groß Gerau. On 13/14 and 19-21 March 2021, RE70 services between Mannheim Hbf and Frankfurt were diverted to/from Frankfurt am Main Süd via this curve, reversing at Darmstadt Hbf, where there was a public call.

See also