Germany (Schleswig-Holstein) - 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: Lines used on a regular basis

Niebüll

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Niebüll – Niebüll neg

[136](ERA-E 43A5; ERA-R 83B4; S+W 1D3) DE21/001A

DB and neg Niebüll GmbH have separate stations in Niebüll. The only passenger service over the section of the branch to Dagebüll between the neg station and the junction with the main line is provided by a few through workings. These workings run throughout the year at varying times, which can be ascertained from DB Kursbuch timetable 130 or the neg website.

Niebüll station avoiding line

[136](ERA-E 43A5; ERA-R 83B4; S+W 1D3) DE21/001B

DB operate car shuttles between Niebüll and Westerland (Sylt). At Niebüll these run to/from sidings alongside the station and a loading/unloading facility south of the station. All DB shuttles have a class 628 diesel multiple unit (dmu) attached to the back before departure and these convey passengers wishing to travel Westerland - Niebüll and vice versa, though at the InterCity fare rather than the local fare. Interrails are valid. For southbound shuttles arriving at Niebüll the dmu is detached in the sidings and runs to Niebüll station. The fastest route is simply to run north to the road crossing and reverse into platform 4 which is the easternmost platform and the only one accessible without crossing the road. However, sometimes the dmu reverses at the road crossing and runs south down the station avoiding line east of the shuttle terminal to reverse again onto the main line and enter Niebüll station from the south. This is probably for operational reasons, most likely occupation of platform 4 by another train.

Kiel-Oppendorf - Schönberg (Holstein)

(ERA-E 43B4-43C4; S+W 3C4-3D4) DE21/002

Tourist trains usually run every Saturday and Sunday during the summer between Schönberg (Holst) and Schönberger Strand, plus some other days. Through trains from Schönberger Strand to Schönkirchen operate on certain days, and during the Kieler Woche sailing festival between 18 and 26 June, trains run through on Fridays to Sundays between Schönberg (Holstein) and Kiel Hbf with connections to/from Schönberger Strand. See nah.sh (the Schleswig-Holstein public transport site) for Kieler Woche times.

Work is under way to upgrade the line to allow reintroduction of a regular passenger service between the current terminus of Kiel-Oppendorf and Schönberger Strand, which may restrict operations meantime.

Burg (Fehmarn) West

[140] (ERA-E 44A4; ERA-R 85A3; S+W 4C3) DE21/003

This triangular junction connects Fehmarn-Burg station with the main line between Lübeck and Puttgarden.

With the withdrawal of through EC services via the Rødby - Puttgarden train ferry, only a two-hourly RB service operates to and from Puttgarden. All trains run into and out of Fehmarn-Burg station, leaving the direct north-to-south line avoiding the station without passenger services. One IC train pair runs to and from Fehmarn-Burg TWThX between 26 March and 1 November, therefore only using the south-to-east curve.

Tarp (Flensburg Weiche Süd) - Padborg (Abzw Flensburg Friedensweg)

(ERA-E 43A5; ERA-R 83C4; S+W 3C2) DE21/004

This south-to-north curve links the Neumünster and Padborg lines, avoiding Flensburg station.

Three IC train pairs per day run between Hamburg and København via this route. The dated night trains between Stockholm and Berlin also run this way.

D1		IC396	08:55 Hamburg Hbf / 09:01 Hamburg-Altona - København H
D1		IC394	12:53 Hamburg Hbf / 12:59 Hamburg-Altona - København H
D1		IC392	16:54 Hamburg Hbf / 17:03 Hamburg-Altona - København H
D2	Daily/WSO	D300	Berlin Hbf - 23:26 Hamburg Hbf - Stockholm C
D1		IC393	København H - 10:02 Padborg - Hamburg Hbf / Hamburg-Altona
D1		IC395	København H - 14:02 Padborg - Hamburg Hbf / Hamburg-Altona
D1		IC397	København H - 18:02 Padborg - Hamburg Hbf / Hamburg-Altona
D3	Daily/WSO	D301	Stockholm C - 22:45 Høje Taastrup - Berlin Hbf

D1: Between 17 July and 13 August runs to or from Hamburg-Altona instead of Hamburg Hbf

D2: Daily 28 June - 5 September; WSO 8 September - 2 October. Departure time from Hamburg Hbf is subject to change because of engineering work.

D3: Daily 27 June - 5 September; WSO 8 - 29 September.

Other services via Padborg call at Flensburg and so use the loop line via Flensburg Süd.

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

Kiel avoiding line: Flintbek (Meimersdorf) - Kiel-Hassee Cittipark

[103, 146] (ERA-E 43B4; ERA-R 84B2; S+W 118B2) DE21/031

This north to south curve allows trains to run between the Neümunster and Flensburg lines at Kiel without reversal at the Hauptbahnhof. It is used by passenger trains when engineering work blocks the main line between Neümunster and Flensburg.