Germany (Baden-Württemberg) - 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
Mannheim-Waldhof – Mannheim Hbf (via Mannheim-Käfertal)
[655] (ERA-E 53C2-53C1; ERA-R 111A2-111B2; S+W 159A1-159A2) DE24/601
Most trains between Mannheim-Waldhof and Mannheim Hbf run via Mannheim-Luzenberg. However, several weekday S8 trains run via Mannheim-Käfertal.
Note During the closure of the Riedbahn between Frankfurt am Main and Mannheim via Biblis, this route will not be served between 1 and 19 January and between 16 July and 14 December 2024.
D1 | SSuX | S38767 | Biblis – 06:39 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf – Groß Rohrheim |
D1 | SSuX | S38769 | Biblis – 07:36 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf |
D1 | SSuX | S38771 | Biblis – 08:38 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf |
D1 | SSuX | S38773 | Biblis – 17:20 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf |
D1 | SSuX | S38775 | Biblis – 18:28 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf |
D1 | SSuX | S38777 | Biblis – 19:31 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf – Groß Rohrheim |
D1 | SSuX | S38766 | 05:11 Mannheim Hbf – Biblis |
D1 | SSuX | S38768 | 06:13 Mannheim Hbf – Biblis |
D1 | SSuX | S38770 | Mainz Hbf – 07:08 Mannheim Hbf – Biblis |
D1 | SSuX | S38774 | 17:08 Mannheim Hbf – Biblis |
D1 | SSuX | S38776 | Groß Rohrheim – 18:12 Mannheim Hbf – Biblis |
D1: Not 1-19 January or 16 July - 14 December 2024
A permanent hourly S-Bahn service is planned to run via this route from 2026, whereupon this entry will be removed.
The TGV and ICE trains between Frankfurt am Main and Paris via Saarbrücken and the Nightjet services NJ424/425 between Berlin and Bruxelles also run via Mannheim-Käfertal in order to avoid reversal at Mannheim Hbf. This does not occur on certain dates, including during the closures of the Riedbahn between 1 and 19 January and 16 July and 14 December 2024.
In addition, the following ICE service runs this way and reverses at Mannheim Hbf on certain days.
D1 | ICE775 | Berlin-Gesundbrunnen - 23:24 Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen Fernbf - Karlsruhe Hbf / Basel Bad Bf (MO) |
D1: 22 January - 29 February 2024
Appenweier – Legelshurst (Appenweier Kurve)
[719] (ERA-E 58B4; ERA-R 117C5; S+W 102C1) DE24/602
This north to west curve forms part of the triangular junction between the Karlsruhe – Basel main line and the line to Kehl and Strasbourg. It is used by through trains between Karlsruhe and Strasbourg, which are
- TGV/ICE between Paris and Stuttgart
- TGV/ICE between Paris or Marseille and Frankfurt am Main via Karlsruhe.
Local trains between Kehl and Offenburg stopping at Appenweier use platform 9 on the south curve.
The curve is also used by the Paris Est <=> Berlin sleeper service on the dates it runs via Strasbourg.
Ubstadt-Weiher (Abzw Ubstadt) – Vaihingen (Enz) (Abzw Rollenberg)
[771.Fv] (ERA-E 53C1; ERA-R 82A2; S+W 161B1) DE24/603
This north to east curve connects the Heidelberg to Karlsruhe main line with the Mannheim to Stuttgart Schnellfahrstrecke. It is used by frequent EC/IC/ICE/RJX trains non-stop between Heidelberg Hbf or Wiesloch-Walldorf and Vaihingen (Enz) or Stuttgart Hbf.
Bruchsal (Abzw Bruchsal Nord) – Vaihingen (Enz) (Abzw Rollenberg)
[770, 771.Fv] (ERA-E 53C1; ERA-R 82A2; S+W 161B1) DE24/604
This south to east curve connects the Heidelberg to Karlsruhe main line with the Mannheim to Stuttgart Schnellfahrstrecke. It is used by EC/IC/ICE/TGV trains non-stop between Karlsruhe Hbf or Bruchsal and Vaihingen (Enz) or Stuttgart Hbf.
Bruchsal – Bruchsal Tunnelstraße (Abzw Bruchsal Ost)
[771] (ERA-E 53C1; ERA-R 82A2; S+W 161A2-161B2) DE24/605
There are two routes into Bruchsal from Abzw Bruchsal Ost. The 'long curve' (Strecke 4131) can only be accessed from Platforms 4 and 5 at Bruchsal. All platforms can be accessed from the 'short curve' (Strecke 4130).
All trains to and from the Bretten line now run to and from Bruchsal only and mainly arrive and depart from platform 2b or bay platform 6, which is adjacent to platform 1, so must use the 'short curve'.
RE17b trains to Mühlacker departing at 30 minutes past each even hour between 09:30 and 21:30 leave from platform 5b so can be expected to use the 'long curve' to avoid conflicting with RE73 departures towards Karlsruhe which are booked to depart platform 4 at the same time. The exception to the pattern is the 11:28 (rather than 11:30) service which has been reported to use either curve. Note that the 19:30 departure runs MTWX except between 11 December 2023 and 15 January 2024, when it runs daily.
The following RE17b trains, departing from Bretten at the times shown, arrive in platform 5b so may use the 'long curve': 07:14 SX, 18:16 daily and 20:16 MTWX (daily 11 December 2023 - 15 January 2024)
Enzberg (Abzw Mühlacker Süd) – Ötisheim (Abzw Mühlacker Nord)
[772] (ERA-E 58C5; ERA-R 82B3; S+W 94A2) DE24/606
This west to north curve links the Pforzheim and Bretten lines, avoiding Mühlacker, and is used on Sundays and public holidays from 1 May to 20 October 2024 by trains between Pforzheim Hbf and Maulbronn Stadt/Kloster shown in Kursbuch Table 772.
- From Pforzheim Hbf: 10:32, 13:32, 16:32
- From Maulbronn West: 11:09, 16:08, 17:08
Leopoldshafen Frankfurter Straße – KIT-Campus Nord
[710.1 not shown] (ERA-E 58C5 not shown; ERA-R 82A1; S+W 160C2) DE24/607
This branch off the S1/S11 Hochstetten line of the Albtalbahn is used by services for workers at KIT Campus, part of Karlsruher Institut für Technologie. Although trains to and from KIT-Campus Nord are shown in the KVV timetable, downloadable as a PDF, note C states that entry to the establishment is permitted only with an official identification card.
Reports indicate that passengers without authority to enter the complex will be removed from the train at a makeshift concrete platform in the woods outside the perimeter fence, and collected on the train's return.
However on 17 June 2023, as part of "Tag der offenen Tür" (Open Doors Day), the Institute was open to the general public between 10:00 and 19:00. A shuttle S-Bahn service ran from Leopoldshafen Frankfurter Straße to the Campus. If a similar event is organised for 2024, details will be added here.
Laupheim Stadt avoiding line: Laupheim West – Schemmerberg
[751] (ERA-E 59B3; ERA-R 119A4; S+W 105A3) DE24/608
The Laupheim Stadt branch is connected to the Ulm – Friedrichshafen main line by a triangular junction at Laupheim West. Through services calling at Laupheim Stadt use the north and south curves whereas those not calling at Laupheim Stadt use the main line avoiding the branch. For most of the day there is an hourly service in each direction via Laupheim Stadt and three trains each hour (two at weekends) between Ulm and Biberach (Riß) direct.
Ettlingen West – Ettlingen Erbprinz
[710.1] (ERA-E 58C5; ERA-R 82B1; S+W 161B4) DE24/609
This line links the the DB Karlsruhe – Rastatt line with the AVG-operated Albtalbahn to Bad Herrenalb at Ettlingen. It is used by the following services on Sundays and public holidays only.
Note | SuO | S85699 / S FEX | Odenheim / Menzingen (Baden) – Karlsruhe Hbf – 09:24 Ettlingen West – Bad Herrenalb |
Note | SuO | S85697 / S FEX | Odenheim / Menzingen (Baden) – Karlsruhe Hbf – 16:24 Ettlingen West – Bad Herrenalb |
Note | SuO | S FEX / S85696 | Bad Herrenalb – 10:25 Ettlingen Stadt – Karlsruhe Hbf – Odenheim / Menzingen (Baden) |
Note | SuO | S FEX / S85698 | Bad Herrenalb – 17:25 Ettlingen Stadt – Karlsruhe Hbf – Odenheim / Menzingen (Baden) |
Note: These trains run as S FEX between Karlsruhe Hbf and Bad Herrenalb and as S31/S32 between Karlsruhe Hbf and Odenheim / Menzingen respectively.
Ulmer Eisenbahnfreunde operate a number of steam excursions between Karlsruhe Hbf and Bad Herrenalb which also use this connection. These run approximately monthly, May to October.
Schlatt (Hohenz.) (Walkenmühle) – Hechingen Landesbahn
[768] (ERA-E 59A4; ERA-R 118B4; S+W 104A2) DE24/610
Trains to and from Gammertingen use the DB station at Hechingen except for:
SSuX | HzL86309 | 06:59 Hechingen Landesbahn - Gammertingen | |
SSuX | HzL86344 | Sigmaringen - 20x45 Schlatt (Hohenz) - Hechingen Landesbahn |
Schliengen – Haltingen
[702] (ERA-E 58A2-58B2; ERA-R 117B2; S+W 110A2-110A3) DE24/611
Trains with no stops between Müllheim (Baden) and Weil am Rhein run via the new Katzenberg Tunnel. These are mainly EC/IC/ICE trains non-stop between Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf and Basel Bad Bf, and certain RE7 trains. Stopping trains (RB27 and slower RE7 services) follow the old main line via Bad Bellingen.
Obscure services: Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions
Diversions in the Stuttgart area are particularly likely while Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof is being rebuilt.
Connections from high speed line to Stuttgart northern avoiding line: Vaihingen (Enz) (Abzw. S-Zuffenhausen Em - Abzw. S-Zazenhausen) – Stuttgart-Zazenhausen
[750, 770] (ERA-E 61C3 not shown; ERA-R 111A4; S+W 168B1-168B2) DE24/631
This route enables enables trains to run between the Schnellfahrstrecke from Mannheim and the line to Ulm without reversal at Stuttgart Hbf. Diversions this way are indicated by calls at Stuttgart Hbf being omitted. Note that the eastbound and westbound lines are quite widely separated at the Zazenhausen end.
Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.
Between 15 March and 4 April 2024, certain IC/ICE trains between Mannheim, Karlsruhe or Heidelberg and Ulm were diverted this way, calling at Esslingen (Neckar) instead of Stuttgart Hbf.
D | WThO | ICE561 | Karlsruhe Hbf – 06:16 Bruchsal – München Hbf |
D | TSSuX | RJX897 | Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – 07:04 Wiesloch-Walldorf – Flughafen Wien |
D | EC217 | Saarbrücken Hbf – 07:11 Mannheim Hbf – Graz Hbf | |
D | ICE267 | Basel SBB – 08:17 Bruchsal – München Hbf | |
D | MSSuX | ICE913 | Dortmund Hbf – 08:43 Mannheim Hbf – München Hbf |
D | EC113 | Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – 09:13 Heidelberg Hbf – Klagenfurt Hbf | |
D | ICE563 | Saarbrücken Hbf – 10:02 Mannheim Hbf – München Hbf | |
D | ICE915 | Dortmund Hbf – 10:43 Mannheim Hbf – München Hbf | |
D | ICE115 | Köln Hbf – 11:37 Vaihingen (Enz) – Klagenfurt Hbf | |
D | MTX | ICE565 | Karlsruhe Hbf – 12:17 Bruchsal – München Hbf |
D | ICE119 | Dortmund Hbf – 12:06 Heidelberg Hbf – Innsbruck Hbf | |
D | ICE917 | Düsseldorf Hbf – 12:43 Mannheim Hbf – München Hbf | |
D | EC219 | Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – 13:13/13:15 Heidelberg Hbf – Graz Hbf | |
D | MTX | ICE567 | Karlsruhe Hbf – 14:17 Bruchsal – München Hbf |
D | ICE117 | Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – 15:13/15:16 Heidelberg Hbf – Klagenfurt Hbf | |
D | ICE1011 | Düsseldorf Hbf – 16:43 Mannheim Hbf – München Hbf | |
D | IC1291 | Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – 17:13/17:15 Heidelberg Hbf – Salzburg Hbf | |
D | MTX | ICE1069 | Karlsruhe Hbf – 18:17 Bruchsal – München Hbf |
D | TWThO | TGV9577 | Paris Est – 18:28 Karlsruhe Hbf – München Hbf |
D | ICE1211 | Berlin Hbf – 18:30 Mannheim Hbf – Innsbruck Hbf | |
D | ICE1013 | Düsseldorf Hbf – 18:43 Mannheim Hbf – München Hbf | |
D | MWThO | ICE1099 | Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – 19:13/19:16 Heidelberg Hbf – München Hbf |
D | SuO | TGV9579 | Paris Est – 20:27 Karlsruhe Hbf – München Hbf |
D | SSuX | ICE1015 | Düsseldorf Hbf – 20:43 Mannheim Hbf – München Hbf |
D | ThFO | ICE1098 | München Hbf – 07:59 Esslingen (Neckar) – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf |
D | MSSuX | ICE1012 | München Hbf – 08:25 Esslingen (Neckar) – Düsseldorf Hbf |
D | ThFO | TGV9576 | München Hbf – 08:55 Esslingen (Neckar) – Paris Est |
D | IC1296 | Salzburg Hbf – 09:52 Esslingen (Neckar) – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf | |
D | ICE1010 | München Hbf – 10:25 Esslingen (Neckar) – Düsseldorf Hbf | |
D | ICE568 | München Hbf – 10:56/10:58 Esslingen (Neckar) – Karlsruhe Hbf | |
D | IC1290 | Salzburg Hbf – 11:51/11:57/12:07 Esslingen (Neckar) – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf | |
D | ICE918 | München Hbf – 12:25/12:27 Esslingen (Neckar) – Düsseldorf Hbf | |
D | ICE1218 | Innsbruck Hbf – 12:37 Esslingen (Neckar) – Berlin Hbf | |
D | ICE566 | München Hbf – 12:56/12:58 Esslingen (Neckar) – Karlsruhe Hbf | |
D | EC218 | Graz Hbf – 13:57/14:08 Esslingen (Neckar) – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf | |
D | ICE118 | Innsbruck Hbf – 14:53 Esslingen (Neckar) – Köln Hbf | |
D | ICE564 | München Hbf – 14:58 Esslingen (Neckar) – Karlsruhe Hbf | |
D | ICE114 | Klagenfurt Hbf – 15:57 Esslingen (Neckar) – Dortmund Hbf | |
D | ICE914 | München Hbf – 16:27 Esslingen (Neckar) – Dortmund Hbf | |
D | ICE562 | München Hbf – 16:58 Esslingen (Neckar) – Saarbrücken Hbf | |
D | EC112 | Klagenfurt Hbf – 17:56 Esslingen (Neckar) – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf | |
D | ICE912 | München Hbf – 18:26 Esslingen (Neckar) – Dortmund Hbf | |
D | ICE266 | München Hbf – 18:58 Esslingen (Neckar) – Karlsruhe Hbf | |
D | EC216 | Graz Hbf – 19:53/19:56 Esslingen (Neckar) – Saarbrücken Hbf | |
D | RJX860 | Flughafen Wien/Bregenz – 20:03 Esslingen (Neckar) – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf | |
D | ICE910 | München Hbf – 20:26 Esslingen (Neckar) – Köln Hbf | |
D | ICE560 | München Hbf – 20:58 Esslingen (Neckar) – Karlsruhe Hbf |
Ludwigsburg – Stuttgart-Zazenhausen via Kornwestheim Rbf
[790.11] (ERA-E 61C3 not shown); ERA-R 111A4; S+W 168B1-168B2) DE24/632
The weekday peak-time RB11 services between Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and Kornwestheim Pbf are sometimes diverted via Kornwestheim Rbf (Rangierbahnhof / marshalling yard) omitting the call at Kornwestheim and running to and from Ludwigsburg.
Stuttgart Nürnberger Straße – Stuttgart-Untertürkheim
[750, 785, 786] (ERA-E 61C3; ERA-R 111A4-111B4; S+W 168C2-168C3) DE24/633
This route enables trains to run between the Ulm and Aalen lines without reversal at Stuttgart Hbf. It is very rarely used by passenger trains but was used in March, June and July 2023 by the two-hourly IC services between Karlsruhe and Nürnberg (and v.v.) which ran via Stuttgart Langes Feld – Zazenhausen (DE24/631) to Esslingen (Neckar) and reversed there to travel via this curve towards Crailsheim.
Stuttgart-Feuerbach (Abzw Stuttgart Nord Rbf) – Stuttgart-Vaihingen (Stuttgart Hbf Em Nord)
(ERA-E 61C3; ERA-R 111A4; S+W 168B2) DE24/634
This curve via Stuttgart Nord Gbf connects the S-Bahn line from Stuttgart-Feuerbach with the Gäubahn towards Horb, avoiding Stuttgart Hbf. An additional S15 service between Bietigheim-Bissingen and Böblingen was scheduled during recent years as a result of extensive "Stuttgart-21" engineering works but the service did not run as often as expected owing to staff and rolling stock shortages.
Beimerstetten (Ulm Hbf Em Nord) – Ulm Rbf
[750] (ERA-E 59B4; ERA-R 119B4; S+W 163C2-163D2) DE24/635
This route enables trains to run between the Stuttgart line and Ulm Rbf (adjacent to the line to Sigmaringen) without reversal at Ulm Hbf and is very rarely used by passenger services, however occasionally in the last few years IRE and RB trains between Ulm and Stuttgart have been diverted via Ulm Rbf, where they reversed.