Germany (Rheinland-Pfalz) - 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

Mainz-Mombach – Mainz Abzw Kaiserbrücke West

[680] (ERA-E 57A2; ERA-R 122C1; S+W 151B2) DE23/401

This west to north curve links the line from Koblenz via Bingen with the Kaiserbrücke over the Rhein. It may be used by trains to Hochheim (Main) or Mainz-Bischofsheim if not calling at Mainz Hbf. Various types of older carriages are not permitted through the tunnels at Mainz, so any trains including such vehicles are likely to be diverted this way. This should not affect regular passenger trains operating through Mainz; excursions and other special trains are more likely to use this route.

The following train is the rear portion of a service that divides at Budenheim.

SSuX

RB29681

Bad Kreuznach – 07:14 Budenheim – Wiesbaden Hbf

On various dates the following overnight services are booked to run via this curve. Whether these trains run this way can be confirmed by their omitting calls at both Mainz Hbf and Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf.

D2	Daily / MWFX	NJ420	Innsbruck Hbf – 03:47 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Amsterdam Centraal
D2	Daily / MWFX	NJ421	Amsterdam Centraal – 23:46 Koblenz Hbf – Innsbruck Hbf

D2: Daily 31 March - 25 May and 21 August - 27 September 2023; MWFX 28 September - 10 December 2023 (one day later from Frankfurt Süd)

Ludwigshafen (Rhein) Hbf – Ludwigshafen BASF Nord

[670.1] (ERA-E 53C1-61C2; ERA-R 111A2; S+W 159A2-158D1) DE23/402

Trains operate between Ludwigshafen Hbf and the BASF chemical works. These are shown in table 670.1 in the DB Kursbuch. There are very few trains on Saturdays and Sundays.

Use of the trains is officially restricted to those with works passes. Smoking and photography are strictly forbidden within the works.

Ludwigshafen west curve: Ludwigshafen-Oggersheim (Überleitung Nord) – Ludwigshafen-Mundenheim

[659] (ERA-E 53C1 not shown; ERA-R 111A2; S+W 158D2) DE23/403

This pair of curves, via the low level west side platforms at Ludwigshafen (Rhein) Hbf, is used by through trains between the Worms and Schifferstadt lines. There is an RE service between Mainz and Karlsruhe via Germersheim every two hours for most of the day. Northbound trains run via platform 6 and the diveunder route to the Worms line, whereas southbound trains run via the direct curve to platforms 8 or 9.

Schifferstadt avoiding line: Limburgerhof (Limburgerhof Abzw.) – Böhl-Iggelheim (Böhl-Iggelheim Abzw.)

[670] (ERA-E 53C1; ERA-R 111A1; S+W 158D3-158C4) DE23/404

This line is used by trains between Mannheim / Ludwigshafen and Neustadt (Weinstraße) / Kaiserslautern not calling at Schifferstadt.

Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf

[672.2] (ERA-E 53B1; ERA-R 112C4; S+W 155C4-155D3) DE23/405

Most services between Enkenbach and Kaiserslautern Hbf are not booked to call at Hochspeyer, so run on the direct line via Eselsfürth. Only the following trains run via Hochspeyer.

Enkenbach – Hochspeyer – Kaiserslautern Hbf:
Mondays to Fridays: 05:55, 06:26, 06:56, 08:21, 13:57, 18:28, 19:21
Saturdays: 06:56, 08:21
Sundays: none

Kaiserslautern Hbf – Hochspeyer – Enkenbach:
Mondays to Fridays: 06:37, 07:07, 17:36, 21:50
Saturdays and Sundays: 21:50

Hochspeyer curve: Frankenstein (Pfalz) (Hochspeyer Ost) – Enkenbach (Hochspeyer Nord)

[672.2, 676] (ERA-E 53B1; ERA-R 112C4; S+W 155D4) DE23/406

This east to north curve links the Neustadt (Weinstraße) and Bingen (Rhein) lines east of Hochspeyer.

D1	SuO	RE WX81493	Koblenz Hbf – 11:06 Rockenhausen – Wissembourg
D1	SuO	RE4098	Koblenz Hbf – 19:23 Enkenbach – Karlsruhe Hbf
D1	SuO	RE4099	Karlsruhe Hbf – 08:53 Neustadt (Weinstraße) Hbf – Koblenz Hbf
D1	SuO	RE WX81494	Wissembourg – 18:17 Neustadt (Weinstraße) Hbf – Koblenz Hbf

D1: 2 April to 29 October 2023, plus holidays

Trier Hbf - Ehrang Ort / Kordel

[690] (ERA-E 52C2 not shown; ERA-R 111C5; S+W 155D1) DE23/407

There are two routes between Trier Hbf and the Moselstrecke to Koblenz, or the Eifelstrecke towards Köln. The main line runs via Ehrang Bahnhof, but there is also a single line that runs on the far (east) side of the marshalling yard (Rbf) at Ehrang. The eastern route is sometimes used by RE trains from Trier to Koblenz, non-stop to Schweich.

On the weekends of 28/29 January, 11/12 and 18/19 February, 4/5 and 11/12 March 2023, RB22 trains from Kyllburg to Trier Hbf (in that direction only) were diverted, then again by RB81/82/83 services in both directions between Trier and Wittlich / Koblenz Hbf between 18 March and 10 April 2023 but a check of the DB journey planner in mid-March showed the trains being diverted from 1 April onwards only. A journey on 5 April was diverted via Ehrang Rbf as suggested. Whether trains are due to take this route can be ascertained by calls at Pfalzel and Ehrang being omitted by RB services.

Koblenz-Moselweiß (Koblenz Mosel Gbf) - Koblenz-Lützel

[470,690] (ERA-E 53B4; ERA-R 105B2; S+W 150C2) DE23/408

This west to north curve links the Moselstrecke from Trier to the Linke Rheinstrecke via Bonn Hbf, avoiding Koblenz Hbf. It is used by a pair of RE12 services between Trier and Köln.

		RE13942	Trier Hbf – 19:36 Wittlich Hbf – Köln Messe/Deutz
		RE13943	Köln Messe/Deutz – 07:19 Koblenz-Lützel – Trier Hbf

Note that once the Eifelstrecke via Gerolstein is fully reopened, planned for the December 2023 timetable change, these workings are expected to cease.

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

Koblenz-Ehrenbreitstein (Pfaffendorf) - Niederlahnstein

[465] (ERA-E 53B4; ERA-R 105B2; S+W 150D2) DE23/431

If trains are diverted via the Rechte Rheinstrecke they normally cross back to the left bank to call at Koblenz Hbf. Exceptionally, they may use this route and not call at Koblenz. Diverted trains can be readily identified because they stop at Bonn-Beuel and Neuwied instead of Bonn Hbf and Koblenz Hbf.

From 17 August 2021 until 10 June 2023 there is an hourly local service between Neuwied and Niederlahnstein via this line. This is because of work in the Horchheimer Tunnel, on the curve from Koblenz Pfaffendorf to the Horchheimer Brücke.