Germany (Sachsen) - 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

Kyhna (Delitzsch Gbf) – Delitzsch unt Bf

[501.9] (ERA-E 49B2; ERA-R 102A2; S+W 58B2) DE24/301

This west to north curve connects the Halle (Saale) – Eilenburg and Leipzig – Bitterfeld lines.

	SSuO	S9 37930	05:56 Delitzsch unt Bf – Halle (Saale) Hbf
		S9 37929	Halle (Saale) Hbf – 22:59 Kyhna – Delitzsch unt Bf

This line is also used occasionally by diverted ICE services between Bitterfeld and Halle (Saale) Hbf when the line via Landsberg (b. Halle) is closed for engineering work.

It may also be used to terminate and start S9 Halle (Saale) Hbf – Eilenburg services at Delitzsch unt Bf if the line between Delitzch and Eilenburg is unavailable.

Leipzig Hbf (tief) (Leipzig Berliner Straße) – Leipzig Messe (Leipzig Nordkopf)

[501.2, 501.5, 501.6] (ERA-E 57B4-57B5 not shown; ERA-R 84C5; S+W 131C3-131C2) DE24/302

There are two routes available for S-Bahn trains between Leipzig Hbf (tief) and platforms 1 and 2 on the Bitterfeld line at Leipzig Messe. These are via Leipzig Nord on the Eilenburg line (6396) or via single line 6411, parallel to the main line to Bitterfeld. All S2 and S6 trains to and from Leipzig Messe or beyond run via and call at Leipzig Nord and so use line 6396 and the connections between Leipzig Nordkopf, on line 6411, and Leipzig Nord in both directions. The southbound connection, in particular, follows a separate alignment of its own, outside the flyover carrying the line to and from Thekla. The only S-Bahn trains likely to use the southern end of line 6411 are S5/S5X services to and from the Leipzig/Halle Flughafen line, via platforms 3 and 4 at Leipzig Messe.

Mügeln (b Oschatz) Bf – Glossen (b Oschatz)/Kemmlitz (b Oschatz) (Döllnitzbahn GmbH)

(ERA-E 50A1-49C1; ERA-R 102B1; S+W 59B3) DE24/303

The Döllnitzbahn operates a limited service beyond Mügeln over this 750mm gauge line. The following diesel trains are the only regular services to run to Glossen or Kemmlitz:

Schooldays only:

	SSuX	DBG106	Oschatz Hbf – 13:47 Mügeln (b Oschatz) Bf – Glossen (b Oschatz)
	SSuX	DBG101	06:48 Glossen (b Oschatz) – Oschatz Hbf
	SSuX	DBG107	14:14 Glossen (b Oschatz) – Oschatz Hbf

School holidays only:

	MTWX	DBG102	Oschatz Hbf – 11:30 Mügeln (b Oschatz) Bf – Glossen (b Oschatz)
	MTWX	DBG104	Oschatz Hbf – 14:34 Mügeln (b Oschatz) Bf – Kemmlitz (b Oschatz) Bf
	MTWX	DBG105	11:52 Glossen (b Oschatz) – Oschatz Hbf
	MTWX	DBG109	15:05 Kemmlitz (b Oschatz) Bf – Oschatz Hbf

In addition, steam trains operate to Glossen and Kemmlitz on certain weekends.

The Döllnitzbahn website has a calendar showing schooldays, school holidays and days with a steam service.

Zabeltitz/Nünchritz (Radebeul Abzw Az) – Radebeul-Naundorf

[500] (ERA-E 50A1; ERA-R 110A3; S+W 72C2) DE24/304

Fast trains between Dresden and Leipzig or Berlin generally run via Radebeul Ost but occasionally the route via Cossebaude is used. No use of the Cossebaude route, and hence this connection, has been identified in the current timetable period; however services may be diverted this way as operating convenience dictates.

Zabeltitz (Großenhain Berliner Bf W16) – Radebeul-Kotzschenbroda

[240] (ERA-E 50A1; ERA-R 102C1; S+W 59D3-59D4) DE24/305

EC/IC trains between Dresden and Berlin run direct via this route, except when engineering work causes diversions via routes DE24/333 or 24/337. RB and RE trains between Dresden and Elsterwerda run via Priestewitz and Großenhain Cottbuser Bf.

Dresden-Plauen (Abzw Freital Ost) – Tharandt

[510, 510.3] (ERA-E 50A1 not shown; ERA-R 110B1-110A1; S+W 72D4-72C4) DE24/306

A single-track line runs to the north of the main line at a lower level between Freital Ost and Tharandt. At Freital-Hainsberg it is on the opposite side of the narrow-gauge station and yard to the main line. It is used by all westbound trains not stopping between Dresden Hbf and Tharandt.

Arnsdorf (b Dresden) – Kleinröhrsdorf (Abzw Arnsdorf Nord)

[227] (ERA-E 50B1; ERA-R 110A5; S+W 60B4) DE24/307

Most trains between Dresden and Kamenz use the west to north connecting curve west of Arnsdorf. Trains calling at Arnsdorf reverse there and use the east to north curve. These are departures from Arnsdorf at 03:08, 1 January only (S8 16653) and from Kamenz at 03:46 SSuX (S8 16640) and 04:22 SuX (S8 16642).

Werdau (Werdau Bogendreieck, Werdauer Spitz) – Neumark (Sachsen) (Werdau Bogendreieck, Neumarker Spitz)

[544] (ERA-E 55C5; ERA-R 109A4; S+W 132A4) DE24/308

This north to south side of the Werdau triangle is part of the main line from Leipzig to München via Hof, but most trains now run to and from Zwickau. This side of the triangle is used by Vogtlandbahn trains which run between Zwickau Zentrum and Adorf (Vogtl), Bad Brambach or Cheb via reversal at Werdau, generally every hour.

Kamenz (Sachs) – Hosena

[227.1] (ERA-E 50B1-50B2; ERA-R 103A1-103A2; S+W 60C3-60B2) DE24/309

This freight line is used every summer by a weekend train pair between Dresden and Senftenberg. The north end of this line is within Land Brandenburg.

D1	SSuO	RB16657	Dresden Hbf – 10:28 Kamenz (Sachs) – Senftenberg
D1	SSuO	RB16656	Senftenberg – 17:08 Hosena – Dresden Hbf

D1: 22 June to 4 August 2023

Normal VVO and DB tickets apply, including the Sachsen-Ticket and the Deutschland-Ticket.

Note that these services run as S8 between Dresden Hbf and Kamenz (Sachs) and as RB34 between Kamenz and Senftenberg.

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

Kyhna (Delitzsch Gbf) – Zschortau (Delitzsch Abzw Ah)

[501.4] (ERA-E 49B2; ERA-R 102A2; S+W 58B2) DE24/331

This west to south curve connects the Halle (Saale) – Eilenburg and Leipzig – Bitterfeld lines, providing an alternative route between Leipzig and Halle. The opening of the main line via Leipzig/Halle Flughafen in 2003 gave two possible routes between Leipzig and Halle via Gröbers, which has meant that this route has been little used.

It is however occasionally used by diverted S4 services between [Leipzig Hbf (tief) -] Leipzig Nord and Eilenburg, reversing at Delitzsch Gbf.

Horka – Bielawa Dolna (PL) – Węgliniec

[PKP260] (ERA-E 50C2; ERA-R 103C1; S+W 61B3-61C3) DE24/332

The weekend-only Kulturzug trains between Berlin Lichtenberg amd Wrocław Główny have occasionally been diverted via the curve from the Cottbus line and this recently-electrified and reopened freight cross-border line over the last few years.

After having been suspended since January 2023, Kulturzug trains resumed on 16 June 2023 via this route and ran this way until 1 January 2024. When they resume after their winter break, expected on 19 April 2024, they are expected to continue to use this route. Details of timings will be posted here once they become available.

As a guide, the December 2023 timings were as follows:

D2	SO	IRE5837 / IRE69026	Berlin Lichtenberg – 10:04 Weißwasser (Oberlausitz) – Wrocław Główny
D1	FO	IRE5839 / IRE69024	Berlin Lichtenberg - 16:46 Weißwasser (Oberlausitz) - Wrocław Główny
D3	SuO	IRE69007 / IRE5836	Wrocław Główny – 19:06 Węgliniec – Berlin-Lichtenberg
D1	FO	IRE69005 / IRE5838	Wrocław Główny – 21:07 Węgliniec – Berlin-Lichtenberg / Berlin Ostkreuz

D1: Fridays only 15-29 December 2023
D2: Saturdays 16 and 30 December 2023 only
D3: Sundays 10 and 17 December only, plus Monday 1 January 2024

Special tickets, valid for these trains only, are required. Regular DB and InterRail tickets are not accepted. Kulturzug tickets can be purchased from DB ticket machines (under "Gesamtes Angebot / Spar- und Freizeitangebote" > "Freizeit und Aktionen") or at ticket offices or the DB Regio website. Tickets can also be bought on board the train for a small supplement.

Further information is at the VBB website.

Note that Wrocław is still often referred to in Germany by its German name, Breslau.

See also entry PL24/168.

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

(ERA-E 50A2-50A1; ERA-R 102C2-102C1; S+W 59C1-59C3) DE24/333 [The northern part of this route is in Land Brandenburg]

This part of the original rail route from Berlin to Dresden links Falkenberg with the Leipzig – Dresden main line near Riesa. The local passenger service was withdrawn in 2004, but when there is engineering work on the main line to/from Berlin via Elsterwerda, all EC and IC trains between Berlin and Dresden are diverted by this route. The Warnemünde – Chemnitz via Dresden IC services are also diverted this way as far as Röderau, then by the curve to Riesa station (DE24/334, below).

These diversions occurred frequently in the last few years while the main line was upgraded. Although the upgrade has now been completed, further occasional diversions still occur.

[Falkenberg (Elster) –] Röderau – Riesa (Abzw. Röderau Bogendreieck)

(ERA-E 50A2-50A1; ERA-R 102C2-102C1; S+W 59C1-59C3) DE24/334

This north to west curve links the line from Falkenberg (Elster) with Riesa station, thence the lines to Chemnitz or Leipzig. When Berlin - Dresden IC/EC trains are diverted via Falkenberg (Elster) (see entry DE24/333, above), the IC services between Warnemünde and Chemnitz, introduced in December 2022, are diverted via DE24/333 as far as Röderau, then over this curve.

Taucha (b. Leipzig) (Leipzig-Heiterblick) – Leipzig-Stötteritz (Leipzig-Schönefeld)

[209.43] (ERA-E 57C5-57C4; ERA-R 84C5; S+W 131B3) DE24/335

This line links the Eilenburg line with the route to Leipzig Hbf (tief) or Markkleeberg via Leipzig-Stötteritz. It is used when the usual route to Leipzig Hbf via Leipzig-Thekla is unavailable. RE10 services between Cottbus, Eilenburg and Leipzig are occasionally diverted this way to/from Leipzig-Stötteritz instead of the Hauptbahnhof.

Schkeuditz (Leipzig-Wahren Westkopf) – Wiederitzsch – Leipzig Hbf (Leipzig-Mockau)

(ERA-E 57B5-57C5; ERA-R 84B5-84C5; S+W 131B3-131C3) DE24/336

This is a longer route between Schkeuditz and Leipzig Hbf via the freight ring line. It is common with route DE24/339 between Wiederitzsch and Leipzig-Mockau. No services have been identified as using this route in the current timetable.

Leipzig Hbf (Leipzig-Mockau) – Rackwitz (Abzw Leipzig Messe Nord)

[250] (ERA-E 57C5-57B5 not shown; ERA-R 84C5; S+W 131C3-131C2) DE24/337

A single line (6388) runs to the east of the flyovers carrying the Wiederitzsch and Flughafen lines. It no longer has regular services, but may be used when the main line is unavailable.

Engelsdorf (b. Leipzig) Hp (Engelsdorf KV Bft) – Rackwitz (Abzw Leipzig Messe Nord)

(ERA-E 57C4-57B5; ERA-R 84C5; S+W 131D3-131C2) DE24/338

This line joins the Dresden and Bitterfeld lines via the eastern end of the Leipzig freight ring line. It connects into DE24/337 at Leipzig-Mockau. It is used by IC/EC trains between Dresden and Berlin when the main line via Elsterwerda is not available, as an alternative to route DE24/333 via Falkenberg (Elster).

Leipzig-Leutzsch – Wiederitzsch – Leipzig Hbf (Leipzig-Mockau)

[250, 580] (ERA-E 57B5-57C5; ERA-R 84B5-84C5; S+W 131C3-131B3) DE24/339

This is a longer route between Leipzig-Leutzsch and Leipzig Hbf via the freight ring line. No use of this route has been identified in the current timetable but it may be used when the direct route via Leipzig-Gohlis is not available.

Dresden Hbf avoiding curve (Dresden Friedrichstadt – Dresden Mitte)

[245] (ERA-E 50A1; ERA-R 110B2; S+W 73 A3) DE24/340

This curve links the Cossebaude and Dresden-Neustadt lines, avoiding Dresden Hbf to the north-west. Because of engineering work at Dresden Hbf, RB31 services between Dresden and Elsterwerda-Biehla via Cossebaude were diverted to and from Dresden-Neustadt via this curve between June and October 2023. These diversions were planned to last until well into 2024 but ended early; however it is not known if further use of this curve is planned in the near future.

Löbau (Sachs) – Ebersbach (Sachs)

[235] (ERA-E 50C1; ERA-R 103C1-110C5; S+W 61 A4) DE24/341

This line links the [Dresden –] Bischofswerda – Görlitz and Bischofswerda – Zittau lines. It lost its regular passenger service in 2002; however it is occasionally used by special trains and diversions.

It was used in the summer of 2023 by diverted RE2 services between Dresden Hbf and Zittau, owing to bridge works on the direct line via Wilthen.