Germany (Nordrhein-Westfalen) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

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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

Dortmund Hbf (Abzw Lütgendortmund) – Witten Hbf (Abzw Stockumer Straße)

[427, 455] (ERA-E 46C5; ERA-R 98A4; S+W 138D3) DE21/351

This east to south curve is used by trains running non-stop between Dortmund Hbf and Witten Hbf, Hagen Hbf or Wuppertal Hbf. There are hourly IC/ICE services to and from Hagen or Wuppertal and hourly RE trains to/from Witten.

Dortmund Aplerbeck Süd (Abzw Schwerte Heide) – Fröndenberg (Schwerte Ost)

[438] (ERA-E 46C5; ERA-R 98B3; S+W 139C3) DE21/352

This north to east curve connects the Dortmund and Brilon Wald lines east of Schwerte (Ruhr). It is used by through trains between Dortmund Hbf and Bestwig, Brilon Stadt or Winterberg (Westf), approximately hourly, except for trains at 21:23, 22:23 and 23:23 from Dortmund Hbf, also 00:23 SSuO and 01:23 SSuO, which reverse at Schwerte (Ruhr).

Hagen-Vorhalle – Abzw Hagen-Hengstey – Schwerte (Ruhr) (Westhofen(Westf))

[438] (ERA-E 46C4; ERA-R 98A3-98B3; S+W 139A4-139B4) DE21/353

This line allows trains to run between the Witten and Schwerte lines without reversing at Hagen Hbf. It is used by winter sports trains to Winterberg (Westf). In 2020 these trains were scheduled to run from 29 February to 14 March 2020, plus additional Saturdays if snow conditions were suitable. It is believed that these trains did not run in 2021 owing to Covid-19 restrictions.

Hohenlimburg (Hagen-Kabel) - Schwerte (Ruhr) (Westhofen (Westf.))

[440] (ERA-E 46C4; ERA-R 98A3-98B3; S+W 139B4) DE21/353A

This curve allows trains to run between the Siegen and Schwerte lines avoiding Hagen Hbf. It is used by a summer weekend Frankfurt (Main) to Norddeich Mole IC service.

D6 FSSuO IC2220 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - 12:41 Letmathe - Norddeich Mole

D6: 3,4 July; 20-22, 27-29 August

From December 2021, a regular IC service between Frankfurt and Norddeich will run via this route.

Bochum Hbf (Abzw Prinz von Preußen) – Abzw Dortmund-Dorstfeld – Dortmund Signal Iduna Park (Abzw Schnettkerbrücke)

(ERA-E 46B5-46C5; ERA-R 98A4; S+W 138C3-139A3) DE21/354

These connections (lines 2151 and 2120), providing direct access to Dortmund Signal Iduna Park from the west, connect only with the goods lines west of Dortmund (and not the main or S-Bahn lines) and thus avoid Dortmund Hbf.

Specials operate between Duisburg and Dortmund Signal Iduna Park when Borussia Dortmund are playing at home. They are shown in the journey planner as well as on posters at relevant stations. Normal VRR fares apply. If platform 2 at Bochum Hbf is used, this would suggest joining the goods lines immediately east of Bochum Hbf before they pass under the main lines.

Kick-off times vary. See the Borussia Dortmund website for dates and times of home matches.

This route is also used by the following service:

D1 FSuO IC1952 Leipzig Hbf - 21:40 Unna - Köln Hbf

D1: 2 July - 10 December

Neuss avoiding line: Neuss Am Kaiser (Abzw Erftkanal) – Meerbusch-Osterath (Abzw Weißenberg)

[495] (ERA-E 46A4; ERA-R 97A1; S+W 140C3) DE21/355

This east to north curve is used by trains between Düsseldorf Hbf and Krefeld not calling at Neuss Hbf. These are the half-hourly (hourly at weekends) service between Düsseldorf Hbf and Kleve.

Neuss Pbf - Neuss Am Kaiser (Abzw Erftkanal)

[450.8/11/28, 485, 488] (ERA-E 46A3 not shown; ERA-R 97A1; S+W 140C3-140C4) DE21/356

Neuss station is in two parts, east and west, with separate approach tracks to each from the Düsseldorf, Grevenbroich and Köln lines. All S-Bahn trains, as well as all trains to/from Mönchengladbach, use the west side. Other trains, including all of those to and from Krefeld, use the east side. Therefore, most trains between Düsseldorf and Neuss use the west side, the exceptions using the east side being SSuX RB39 trains to and from Grevenbroich.

Hilden - Opladen

[415] (ERA-E 46B3-47A1; ERA-R 97B1-104A2; S+W 141B4-147C2) DE21/357

This freight line forms part of an alternative route between Düsseldorf and Köln, and is frequently used for diversions.

It is used by diverted RE6 services between Düsseldorf Hbf and Köln Messe/Deutz for the whole 2020/2021 timetable period.

It is also used by the following IC service:

FSuO IC1952 Leipzig Hbf - 22:59 Düsseldorf Hbf - Köln Hbf

Köln Südbrücke

[472] (ERA-E 42A5-B4; ERA-R 104A1; S+W 146A3-148D2) DE21/358

The Südbrücke provides an alternative route across the Rhein to the Hohenzollernbrücke at Köln Hbf. It has north- and south-facing connections to the main lines on both sides of the river. It is mainly used by freight.

Köln Süd – Troisdorf (via Köln-Bonntor and Gremberg Rbf): This north-west to south-east route enables trains via Troisdorf, but not Köln/Bonn Flughafen, to arrive and depart at the west end of Köln Hbf. Between Abzw Steinstraße (where the line from Südbrücke joins) and Troisdorf, trains from Südbrücke that do not use the Schnellfahrstrecke will use the goods line to the west of the high-speed line, rather than the local passenger line to the east of it.

The following services run this way. The trains to and from Amsterdam Centraal and from Aachen Hbf use the curve from Köln West to Köln-Ehrenfeld (DE21/359), calling at Köln-Ehrenfeld instead of Köln Hbf.

ICE522 München Hbf - 00:14 Siegburg/Bonn - Dortmund Hbf
SSuX ICE712 Mainz Hbf - 07:21 Siegburg/Bonn - Köln Hbf
D2 ICE156 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - 11.43 Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen Fernbahnhof - Amsterdam Centraal
D2 ICE154 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - 13.43 Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen Fernbahnhof - Amsterdam Centraal
SSuX ICE711 06:02 Köln Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
D4 SSuX RE10965 Aachen Hbf - 08:10 Köln-Süd - Siegen Hbf
D2 ICE155 Amsterdam Centraal - 15:15 Köln-Ehrenfeld - Frankfurt (Main) hbf
D2 ICE157 Amsterdam Centraal - 17:15 Köln-Ehrenfeld - Frankfurt (Main) hbf

D2: Daily 27 March - 9 April and 26 June - 23 July; SSuO 23/24 January, 20/21 February, 22/23 May, 14/15 August, 11/12 September, 9/10 October; ThFO 12/13 August

D4: From 30 March

Köln Süd – Troisdorf (via Köln-Bonntor and Köln-Kalk): This alternative north-west to south-east route enables trains via Köln/Bonn Flughafen to arrive and depart at the west end of Köln Hbf. It is used by the following service:

SSuX ICE710 Mannheim Hbf - 17:49 Köln/Bonn Flughafen - Köln Hbf

Köln Süd – Köln-Mulheim (via Köln-Bonntor and Köln-Kalk): This north-west to north-east route enables trains via Leverkusen Mitte or Solingen Hbf to arrive and depart at the west end of Köln Hbf. No services are currently known to be routed this way.

Troisdorf - Hürth-Kalscheuren (Köln Eifeltor) (via Köln-Kalk and Köln Bonntor): This south-east to south-west route is rarely used by passenger trains. It was last used by diverted passenger trains in October 2020.

Köln-Mülheim - Hürth-Kalscheuren (Köln Eifeltor) (via Köln-Kalk and Köln Bonntor): This north-east to south-west route is rarely used by passenger trains. It was last used by diverted passenger trains in October 2020.

Köln-Ehrenfeld – Köln West

(ERA-E 42A5; ERA-R 104A1; S+W 146A2-146A3) DE21/359

This west to south curve links the Aachen and Koblenz lines west of Köln Hbf. It was formerly used by Alpen Express winter sports trains between Den Haag and Alpine resorts but these now run via, and call at, Köln Hbf. It is often used to enable trains which have been diverted over the Südbrücke to reach the Aachen line when they are unable to run via Köln Hbf. It is used by the following scheduled services:

D3 MWFO NJ50490 Wien Hbf - 06:01 (TThSO) Bonn Hbf - Bruxelles-Midi
D2 ICE156 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - 11.43 Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen Fernbahnhof - Amsterdam Centraal
D2 ICE154 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - 13.43 Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen Fernbahnhof - Amsterdam Centraal
D4 SSuX RE10965 Aachen Hbf - 07:59 Köln-Ehrenfeld - Siegen Hbf
D2 ICE155 Amsterdam Centraal - 15:15 Köln-Ehrenfeld - Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
D2 ICE157 Amsterdam Centraal - 17:15 Köln-Ehrenfeld - Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
D3 MWFO NJ425 Bruxelles-Midi - 21:39 Aachen Hbf - Wien Hbf

D2: Daily 27 March - 9 April and 26 June - 23 July; SSuO 23/24 January, 20/21 February, 22/23 May, 14/15 August, 11/12 September, 9/10 October; ThFO 12/13 August

D3: NJ services to/from Bruxelles suspended until at least Easter. Not 9 July - 13 August

D4: From 30 March

Köln-Longerich – Köln West

(ERA-E 42A5; ERA-R 104A1; S+W 146A2-146A3) DE21/359A

This line links the Neuss and Koblenz routes to the west of Köln Hbf. It is used by the following RE5 services during 2021, which run via Neuss Hbf and do not call at Köln Hbf.

RE28534 Koblenz Hbf - 21:22 Köln Süd - Emmerich/Wesel
FSO RE28536 Koblenz Hbf - 22:22 Köln Süd - Duisburg Hbf/Oberhausen
RE28533 Wesel - 21:12 Neuss Hbf - Koblenz Hbf
RE28535 Wesel - 22:12 Neuss Hbf - Koblenz Hbf

Horrem

[481] (ERA-E 52C5; ERA-R 104C4; S+W 63A2) DE21/360

There is a triangular junction at Horrem station. Bedburg trains terminating and starting at Horrem use platform 10 on the north to west curve. These run hourly, Mondays to Fridays. Trains between Bedburg and Köln Hbf use platform 19 on the north to east curve. These run hourly every day.

Bonn-Beuel – Hangelar

(ERA-E 53A5; ERA-R 105A4; S+W 149A4-149B4) DE21/361

Trains operated by Rhein-Sieg-Eisenbahn usually provide a passenger service over this line in connection with the annual Pützchens Markt early in September. The 2021 event takes place from 9-14 September and timings are expected to be published on the Rhein-Sieg-Eisenbahn site in due course. This entry will be updated with the timings once they are available.

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

Buke - Langeland (Altenbeken Kurve)

[360.5, 430] (ERA-E 48A2; ERA-R 99B3; S+W 53C1) DE21/381

This south to east curve enables trains to run between the Warburg and Hameln lines without reversing at Altenbeken. It is used, particularly by overnight trains, when the classic line from Hannover via Göttingen is unavailable. The following daytime trains are scheduled to run this way:

D2 SSuX ICE1197 Hamburg-Altona - 07:28 Hannover Hbf - Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
D3 IC2083/IC2085 Hamburg-Altona - 07:45 Hannover Hbf - Berchtesgaden Hbf (IC2083) / Oberstdorf (IC2085)
D4 FO ICE1079 Hamburg-Altona - 15:34 Hannover Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
D3 IC2082/IC2084 Berchtesgaden Hbf (IC2082) / Oberstdorf (IC2084) - 15:56 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe - Hamburg-Altona
D5 SX ICE776 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf - 18:52 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe - Oldenburg (Oldb) Hbf

D2: 26 April - 16 July

D3: 24 April - 16 July. Trains join/split at Augsburg

D4: 30 April - 16 July

D5: 25 April - 16 July

Münster (Westf) avoiding line: Südmühle - Münster Kanal - Münster-Lechtenberg

[385, 410] (ERA-E 47B3; ERA-R 96B3; S+W 134C1-134C2) DE21/382

This line passes to the east of Münster and enables trains between the Osnabück and Hamm lines to avoid the Hauptbahnhof. It is used occasionally by diverted IC/ICE services between Hamburg and Köln.

Minden (Westf) – Hamm (via Goods Line)

[370, 400] (ERA-E 48A4-47B2 not shown; ERA-R 99B5-96B3 not shown; S+W 41C1-52B1) DE21/383

Hamm to Minden is the longest quadruple line in Germany. Between Bielefeld and Gütersloh the goods lines fly over the passenger lines, and between Heessen and Ahlen they dive under. The goods lines are sometimes used by relief trains between Hannover and the Ruhr in order to overtake stopping services. They are also used when engineering work is taking place on the main line, which may be indicated by stopping trains being advertised not to call at certain stations. Numerous crossovers allow trains to switch between the passenger and goods lines, so the full length of the goods lines is rarely used by diverted passenger trains.

Hamm (Westf) (Hamm Rbf Hso) – Welver (Abzw Hamm Gallberg)

[415] (ERA-E 47B2; ERA-R 98C5; S+W 134B4) DE21/384

This curve (line 2921) links the lines from south and west of Hamm with the line to Soest and enables trains to run between the Dortmund area and Soest without reversing at Hamm (Westf) Bf.

Hamm (Westf) (Hamm Rbf Hde) - Horstmar - Recklinghausen Ost (Abzw Recklinghausen Blumenthal) [- Gelsenkirchen-Buer Nord]

[415, 450.9] (ERA-E 47B2-46B5; ERA-R 98C5-97C5; S+W 52B1-51B2) DE21/385

This east-west freight line runs to the north of the Ruhr conurbation. Trains between Hamm and Dortmund may be diverted via Abzw Horstmar and Lünen Preußen when the main line via Kamen is blocked.

Trains between Hamm and Gelsenkirchen may be diverted via Recklinghausen Ost and Wanne-Eickel. Trains not stopping between Hamm Hbf and Bottrop Hbf or Oberhausen Hbf are likely to run via Gelsenkirchen-Buer Nord.

From 11 September 2020, S9 services commenced running between Recklinghausen Hbf and Gladbeck West, thus restoring passenger service over the western end of this line between Abzw Recklinghausen Blumenthal and Gelsenkirchen-Buer Nord.

Dortmund-Mengede (Dortmund-Nette) - Dortmund-Deusen - Dortmund-Kirchderne

[411, 416] (ERA-E 46C5; ERA-R 98A4-98B4; S+W 139A1-139B2) DE21/386

This freight line round the north side of Dortmund links the lines to Wanne-Eickel and Münster. It may be used by trains diverted away from Dortmund Hbf.

Oberhausen West - Duisburg-Wedau - Düsseldorf-Rath - Düsseldorf-Eller

[415] (ERA-E 46A5-46A3; ERA-R 97B4-97B1; S+W 141A4-137A2) DE21/387

This line, together with Hilden – Opladen, forms a freight route between Köln and Oberhausen, only limited sections of which are used by passenger trains. From Oberhausen West trains may run to a variety of places, including the Emmerich line, Bottrop Hbf, Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck and Essen-Bergeborbeck. The following routes, among others, are possible:

Essen-Bergeborbeck - Oberhausen West - Duisburg Hbf

Used by diverted trains between Gelsenkirchen Hbf and Duisburg Hbf, omitting Oberhausen Hbf.

Bottrop Hbf – Essen Prosper-Levin – Oberhausen West – Duisburg Hbf

Used by diverted trains between Hamm, Dortmund, Recklinghausen or Münster, running via DE21/385, and Duisburg Hbf, omitting calls in the Ruhr up to Oberhausen Hbf.

Essen-Bergeborbeck – Oberhausen West - Duisburg-Wedau – Düsseldorf-Rath

Used by diverted trains between Gelsenkirchen Hbf and Düsseldorf Hbf, omitting both Oberhausen Hbf and Duisburg Hbf.

Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck – Essen Prosper-Levin – Oberhausen West - Duisburg-Wedau – Düsseldorf-Rath

Used by diverted trains between Wanne-Eickel Hbf and Düsseldorf Hbf, omitting Gelsenkirchen Hbf, Oberhausen Hbf and Duisburg Hbf.

Bottrop Hbf – Essen Prosper-Levin – Oberhausen West - Duisburg-Wedau – Düsseldorf-Rath

Used by diverted trains running via DE21/385, not stopping until Düsseldorf Hbf.

Bottrop Hbf/Oberhausen Hbf - Oberhausen West - Moers (Meerbeck) and Trompet - Krefeld-Uerdingen

[415, 490] (ERA-E 46B5-46A4; ERA-R 97B4-97A4; S+W 137A2-136C4) DE21/388

This route which crosses the Rhein by the Haus-Knipp-Brücke avoids the Duisburg area and is only occasionally used for passenger trains. At its eastern end it has connections towards Bottrop Hbf and Oberhausen Hbf. It was last used in summer 2020 by diverted RB35 services from Oberhausen Hbf.

Meerbusch-Osterath (Krefeld-Lohbruch) – Krefeld-Linn

(ERA-E 46A4; ERA-R 97A2; S+W 140C1) DE21/389

This part of the line from Neuss to Duisburg does not have a regular passenger service. When engineering work restricts the available paths between Köln Hbf and Düsseldorf Hbf, trains running non-stop from Köln Hbf to Duisburg Hbf may either run via Neuss and this line or run via Hilden (DE21/357). Trains starting or terminating in Köln Hbf may use either route but ones coming up the Rhein valley from Koblenz without sufficient time to reverse in Köln Hbf are more likely to use DE21/357.

Witten Hbf - Hagen-Vorhalle

(ERA-E 46C4; ERA-R 98A3; S+W 138D4-143A1) DE21/390

There are two routes between Witten Hbf and Hagen-Vorhalle. Passenger trains normally use the line via Wetter (Ruhr) to the east of the River Ruhr but may occasionally be diverted via the freight line west of the river.

Köln-Ehrenfeld – Köln-Nippes

(ERA-E 42A5; ERA-R 104A1; S+W 146A2) DE21/391

This west to north curve links the Aachen and Neuss lines west of Köln Hbf. It is used by services between Aachen and Düsseldorf if they are unable to run via Köln Hbf.

Köln-Mülheim (Abzw Berliner Straße) – Köln Messe/Deutz

(ERA-E 42A5 not shown; ERA-R 104A1; S+W 146C2-146C3) DE21/392

There is an alternative route between Köln-Mülheim and Köln Messe/Deutz, east of the S-Bahn tracks at Köln-Mülheim, then flying over most of the layout to the high-level platforms at Köln Messe/Deutz. No trains have been identified as using it in the current timetable.

Köln Frankfurter Straße (Abzw Vingst) – Köln-Kalk Nord - Köln-Mülheim

(ERA-E 42A5; ERA-R 104A1-104B1; S+W 146C4-146C2) DE21/393

This is an alternative route route between Porz-Wahn and Köln-Mülheim which is more direct than that via Köln Messe/Deutz. No services have been identified as using it in the current timetable.

See also