Germany (Hessen) - 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
Routes are ordered geographically. In the Frankfurt area, routes in and out of the Hauptbahnhof are considered first and then the various avoiding lines. In both cases, routes are ordered clockwise round the city, from Frankfurt am Main Süd to Frankfurt am Main West.
Eichenberg avoiding line: Friedland (Han) (Abzw Eichenberg Nordkopf) – Arenshausen (Abzw Eichenberg Ostkopf)
[540.1] (ERA-E 48B1; ERA-R 100A1; S+W 55B3) DE25/501
This north to east curve links the Göttingen and Nordhausen lines and is used by through RE1 trains between Göttingen, Leinefelde and Glauchau (Sachs), generally every two hours. Note that between Göttingen and Leinefelde, these trains stop only at Heilbad Heiligenstadt.
Bad Sooden-Allendorf (Abzw Eschwege-Wehre) – Wehretal-Reichensachsen (Abzw Eschwege-Stegmühle)
(ERA-E 48B1; ERA-R 107A5; S+W 55B4) DE25/502
Since the reopening of Eschwege Stadtbahnhof in 2009, all local trains between Eichenberg and Bebra reverse there, leaving and returning to the main line at a triangular junction at Eschwege West. Daytime expresses normally use the Schnellfahrstrecke, so the only passenger trains to use the main line bypassing Eschwege regularly are overnight ones. Daytime trains are occasionally diverted on to the 'classic' line and run this way if the Schnellfahrstrecke is unavaialble.
| NJ471 | Hamburg-Altona – 01:32 Göttingen - Zürich HB | ||
| NJ490 | Wien Hbf – 00:19 Karlsruhe Hbf – Hamburg-Altona |
Urlaubs Express trains to and from Hamburg are also likely to use this route.
Bebra avoiding line: Ludwigsau-Friedlos (Abzw Blankenheim) – Ronshausen (Abzw Faßdorf)
[no table] (ERA-E 54B5; ERA-R 107A4; S+W 67 inset) DE25/503
This south to east curve enables trains between Fulda and Eisenach to avoid reversal at Bebra. It is used at least hourly by ICE services between Frankfurt am Main and Leipzig, which run non-stop between Fulda or Bad Hersfeld and Eisenach.
Gießen avoiding line: Dutenhofen – Großen Linden (Gießen Bergwald Stw Gs)
[445] (ERA-E 53C4; ERA-R 106A3; S+W 65A4) DE25/504
This west to south curve enables trains to run between Wetzlar and Friedberg (Hess) without reversing at Gießen. It is used by IC trains between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Dortmund or Münster via Siegen and also by:
| SSuX | HLB RE24531 | Siegen – 05:47 Wetzlar – Frankfurt am Main Hbf | |
| SSuX | HLB RE24530 | Frankfurt am Main Hbf – 17:14 Bad Nauheim – Siegen |
Fulda area
[615] (ERA-E 54B4 not shown; ERA-R 107A3; S+W 78C1) DE25/505
Neuhof (Kr Fulda) (Fulda-Bronnzell) – Fulda via flyover
The flyover south of Fulda station allows trains northbound from Flieden access to the low-numbered platforms at Fulda without crossing the Schnellfahrstrecke on the level. It is used by most RE50 trains from Frankfurt am Main Hbf terminating at Fulda which run hourly.
Southbound RE50 services to Frankfurt am Main Hbf starting from Fulda platform 1 use the same track as inbound terminating services via the flyover and rise as if heading that way, but then drop down to run underneath the flyover parallel with the southbound main line. Some travellers may consider this to be a separate route.
Neuhof (Kr Fulda) via southbound platform loop
The southbound platform (no. 3) at this station is on a separate alignment well to the west of the main line. All local hourly RB50 stopping services from Fulda towards Frankfurt am Main Hbf must use this loop as there is no platform on the southbound main line.
Flieden – Sterbfritz (Elm Bbf)
(ERA-E 54A4-54B4; ERA-R 107A2; S+W 78C1-78C2) DE25/506
This is part of the former main line between München and Hamburg. Daytime expresses use the Schnellfahrstrecke and diversion of Gemünden local trains to Schlüchtern, instead of Fulda, has left the route with regular passenger trains only during the night, plus occasional diversions.
| NJ491 | Hamburg-Altona – 23:03 Kassel-Wihelmshöhe – Wien Hbf | ||
| NJ421 | Amsterdam Centraal – 00:02 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe – Innsbruck Hbf | ||
| NJ420 | Innsbruck Hbf - 02:32 Würzburg Hbf - Amsterdam Centraal | ||
| NJ490 | Wien Hbf – 02:36 Würzburg Hbf – Hamburg-Altona |
Hanau West (Weiche 403/404) – Hanau Hbf (Nordseite)
[640] (ERA-E 54A3 not shown; ERA-R 122B4 not shown; S+W 153D2) DE25/507
This route is used by trains between the Maintal and Fulda lines. There are two spurs linking the Maintal line to Hanau Hbf Nordseite (Fulda line). The southerly one is for eastbound trains via platform 7 only. The other is reversible and links with platforms 2 to 7. Most local trains via Maintal Ost terminating or starting at Hanau Hbf normally use the reversible connection and platform 5. Trains from beyond Hanau that use platform 6 may use this connection if they call at Maintal Ost or run non-stop to Frankfurt am Main Süd.
Most IC and ICE trains run via Offenbach (Main), but some are routed via Maintal. Unfortunately details of trains that run via Maintal are not currently available to the compilers.
Hanau West (Weiche 403/404) – Hanau Hbf (Südseite)
[640] (ERA-E 54A3; ERA-R 122B4 not shown; S+W 153D2) DE25/508
This route is used by RB trains between Aschaffenburg and Frankfurt am Main via the Maintal line. These generally comprise an hourly RE54/RE55 service between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and alternately Bamberg (RE54) and Würzburg (RE55) plus hourly RB58 services between Rüsselsheim Opelwerk and Laufach via Frankfurt am Main Süd.
Offenbach (Main) Hbf - Offenbach (Main) Ost
[645.8-9] (ERA-E 57C2; ERA-R 122B3; S+W 153B2) DE25/509
This 1.7 km connecting line links the main Frankfurt - Hanau line at Offenbach Hbf with the S-Bahn line at Offenbach Ost. The early Monday morning S8 trains between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Offenbach Ost via this line no longer run, but between 30 September and 12 December 2025, a weekday morning and evening peak S2 service runs between Offenbach Hbf and Dietzenbach via Offenbach Ost, therefore using this line.
From 30 September 2025:
From Offenbach (Main) Hbf (SSuX): 06:39, 07:39, 08:09, 08:39, 09:09, then 15:39 and every 30 minutes until 20:09
From Offenbach (Main) Ost (SSuX): 05:48 and every 30 minutes until 09:48, then 15:18 and every 30 minutes until 19:48
Frankfurt am Main Hbf
Trains between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Frankfurt am Main Stadion, Neu Isenburg or Frankfurt am Main Süd may use two routes over the River Main, crossing the Niederräder Brücke or the Main-Neckar-Brücke, about 2 km further upstream. The line over the Niederräder Brücke gives access to platforms 1a to 8 on the south side (via Abzw Gutleuthof), platforms 15 to 24 on the north side of the Hauptbahnhof and the S-Bahn underground station. The Main-Neckar-Brücke gives access to platforms 4 to 13. Platforms 4 to 8 are accessible from both bridges.
Trains via Frankfurt am Main Süd and Neu Isenburg mainly use the Main-Neckar-Brücke and those via Frankfurt am Main Stadion mainly the Niederräder Brücke. There is little difference in journey time between Frankfurt am Main Stadion and the Hauptbahnhof via either bridge. However, there is a significant difference between Frankfurt am Main Süd and the Hauptbahnhof, with trains via Niederräder Brücke being scheduled at least 10 minutes, rather than 6 or 7 minutes for the Main-Neckar-Brücke route.
Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Süd
[615, 615.1, 640] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2-122B3; S+W 151C3-151D3) DE25/510
Almost all IC/ICE trains between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Hanau run via Main-Neckar-Brücke. Occasionally a few trains are scheduled via Niederräder Brücke and Abzw Forsthaus but unfortunately details of any such workings are not currently available to the compliers.
Local trains taking longer than ten minutes between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Frankfurt am Main Süd can be expected to run via Frankfurt Niederrad.
Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Neu Isenburg via Abzw Forsthaus
[650, 650.2] (ERA-E 57B2-57C2; ERA-R 122B2-122B3; S+W 151C3-151C4) DE25/511
Most trains to and from Neu Isenburg, other than S-Bahn, run via Main-Neckar-Brücke, but a very few IC/ICE trains occasionally run via Niederräder Brücke. No details of any such workings are currently known to the compilers.
Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Stadion
[471, 472, 655, 655.1] (ERA-E 57C2-57B2 not shown; ERA-R 122B3-122B2; S+W 151C3-151B4) DE25/512
Most trains (and particularly RE and RB ones) run via Niederräder Brücke. Most RE and RB trains use platforms 15–24 on the north side of the Hauptbahnhof. Most S-Bahn S7 services and many IC and ICE trains run via Abzw Gutleuthof and use platforms 1–8 on the south side of the Hauptbahnhof.
The following trains can be expected to run via Main-Neckar Brücke, although this is not guaranteed.
- ICE trains from Frankfurt am Main Hbf to Mannheim Hbf: hourly from 05:50 to 20:50
- ICE trains from Frankfurt am Main Hbf to Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof: hourly 07:08, then 08:09 to 22:09
- ICE trains from Mannheim Hbf to Frankfurt am Main Hbf: hourly 06:32 to 22:32 and every two hours 07:17 to 19:17.
Other trains are likely to run via Main-Neckar Brücke but such information is not currently available to the compilers.
Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Frankfurt-Höchst
[466, 627, 646] (ERA-E 57B2 not shown; ERA-R 122B3-122B2 not shown; S+W 151C3-151B3 partly shown) DE25/513
Most trains, other than S-Bahn, between Frankfurt-Höchst and Frankfurt am Main Hbf run via Abzw Mainzer Landstraße.
Most of those to and from Koblenz and Wiesbaden use the connection between Abzw Mainzer Landstraße and platforms 15–24 on the north side of Frankfurt am Main Hbf. A new westbound alignment to the north of the carriage sidings at Frankfurt Außenbahnhof, including a flyover over the western exit lines from the Außenbahnhof, came into use on 29 November 2021. The previously bidirectional single line is now used only for trains heading towards Frankfurt am Main Hbf.
Most trains to and from Limburg (Lahn) run via Abzw Gutleuthof to use platforms 1–8 on the south side of the Hauptbahnhof.
Generally only S-Bahn services to and from the low-level station at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf use the route via Frankfurt-Griesheim.
Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Frankfurt-Rödelheim (via Abzw Mainzer Landstraße)
[637] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 151C3-152D2) DE25/514
This route is used by the through trains between Brandoberndorf, Grävenwiesbach and Frankfurt am Main Hbf, all of which arrive and depart at the north side platforms. These run on Mondays to Fridays, peak hours only. S-Bahn trains between Frankfurt-Rödelheim and Frankfurt am Main Hbf run via Frankfurt West. A new westbound alignment to the north of the carriage sidings at Frankfurt (Main) Außenbahnhof, including a flyover over the western exit lines from the Außenbahnhof, came into use on 29 November 2021. The previously bidirectional single line is now used only for trains heading towards Frankfurt am Main Hbf.
Frankfurt am Main Süd (Abstellbahnhof) – Frankfurt-Louisa
[650, 650.2] (ERA-E 57C2; ERA-R 122B3; S+W 151D3-151C4) DE25/515
This east to south curve provides a link between Frankfurt am Main Süd and Neu-Isenburg or Frankfurt am Main Stadion. There is a frequent S-Bahn service towards Neu-Isenburg over tracks parallel to this route.
The following overnight services run this way:
| TThSuO | NJ424 | Berlin Ostbahnhof – 00:26 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Bruxelles-Midi | |
| NJ471 | Hamburg-Altona – 01:32 Göttingen – Zürich HB | ||
| MWFO | NJ425 | Bruxelles-Midi – 00:36 Mainz Hbf – Berlin Hbf | |
| NJ470 | Zürich HB – 01:53 Darmstadt Hbf – Hamburg-Altona |
Frankfurt am Main Stadion – Neu Isenburg (via Abzw Forsthaus)
[471, 650] (ERA-E 57B2-57C2; ERA-R 122B2-122B3; S+W 151B4-151C4) DE25/516
This route is used by trains between Frankfurt am Main Stadion and Neu Isenburg if not booked to call at Frankfurt am Main Hbf.
Frankfurt am Main Stadion – Frankfurt am Main Süd (via Abzw Forsthaus)
[640] (ERA-E 57B2-57C2; ERA-R 122B2-122B3; S+W 151B4-151D3) DE25/517
This route is used by trains between Frankfurt am Main Stadion and Frankfurt am Main Süd if not booked to call at Frankfurt am Main Hbf. It is used by the hourly RB58 services between Rüsselsheim Opelwerk and Laufach and on Mondays to Fridays by the two-hourly RB59 services between Frankfurt am Main Flughafen and Hanau Hbf. It is also used by the following overnight services:
| D1 | SSuO | NJ421 | Amsterdam Centraal – 00:24 (MSuO) Mainz Hbf – Innsbruck Hbf |
| EC458 | Praha hl.n. – 03:41 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Zürich HB | ||
| EC459 | Zürich HB – 23:42 Mannheim Hbf – Praha hl.n. |
D1: 11 and 12 January 2025
See route DE25/515 (above) for details of any trains that run via Frankfurt-Louisa, instead of the direct route via line 3650.
Limburg Süd (Abzw Breckenheim) - Wiesbaden Hbf (Wiesbaden-Wäschbach)
[472] (ERA-E 57A2; ERA-R 122B1; S+W 151B1 - 151D1) DE25/518
This branch off the Köln - Frankfurt Schnellfahrstrecke is used by ICE trains between Köln and Wiesbaden Hbf. Note that only the trains shown below as starting or terminating at Köln Hbf call there; the others run via Köln Messe/Deutz low level.
| SSuX | ICE711 | Köln Hbf – 06:54 Limburg Süd – Stuttgart Hbf | |
| ICE115 | Münster (Westf) Hbf – 08:57 Siegburg/Bonn – Schwarzach-St. Veit | ||
| ICE119 | Dortmund Hbf – 10:14 Montabaur – Innsbruck Hbf | ||
| SX | ICE713 | Köln Hbf - 18:20 Limburg Süd - Frankfurt am Main Hbf | |
| SSuX | ICE1223 | Frankfurt am Main Hbf – 07:10 Wiesbaden Hbf – Dortmund Hbf (continues to Nürnberg Hbf via Kassel) | |
| SSuX | ICE710 | Stuttgart Hbf - 16:45 Wiesbaden Hbf - Köln Hbf | |
| ICE118 | Innsbruck Hbf – 17:11 Wiesbaden Hbf – Münster (Westf) Hbf | ||
| ICE114 | Schwarzach-St. Veit – 18:10 Wiesbaden Hbf – Dortmund Hbf |
Wiesbaden avoiding line: Wiesbaden-Biebrich - Wiesbaden Ost
[466] (ERA-E 57A2; ERA-R 122B1; S+W 151C3-151B3) DE25/519
This line allows trains to run between Frankfurt am Main and the Rechte Rheinstrecke via Rüdesheim without reversal at Wiesbaden Hbf. It is used by Monday to Friday RE peak trains between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Eltville which do not call at Wiesbaden Hbf. The north and southbound routes differ significantly south of Wiesbaden Ost.
From Mainz-Kastel towards Eltville: 07:34/35, 08:35, 15:35, 16:35, 17:35, 18:35 all SSuX
From Wiesbaden-Biebrich towards Frankfurt: 06:15, 07:15, 08:15, 09:15 and 16:15 all SSuX
Note that not all of these trains are shown in Table 466.
Mainz-Bischofsheim (Abzw Kostheim Ost) – Mainz-Kastel (Abzw Kostheim)
[645.8-9, 651] (ERA-E 57A1-57A2; ERA-R 122C1; S+W 151D2-151C2) DE25/520
This connection across the Main splits in two parts at Abzw Kostheim Ost just north of the river. The two main tracks fly over the Höchst line and turn west to touch it briefly (Abzw Kostheim) before turning north to become route DE25/521 to the Kaiserbrücke over the Rhein. There is also a single-track south-to-west curve (line 3531) that avoids the flyover and diverges from the Höchst line to the south at Abzw Kostheim. This is used by trains from Mainz-Kastel to Bischofsheim, but all trains from Bischofsheim use the main track until Abzw Kostheim. The eastbound main track from Abzw Kostheim to Abzw Kostheim Ost is only used by trains coming from the Mainz Kaiserbrücke via route DE25/521.
Hochheim (Main) (Abzw Kostheim) – Mainz Hbf (Abzw Kaiserbrücke Ost)
[471] (ERA-E 57A2; ERA-R 122C1; S+W 151C2) DE25/521
This route allows trains from the north bank of the River Main to access the Kaiserbrücke over the River Rhein to Mainz, so trains can run between Mainz Hbf and the Frankfurt area via Frankfurt-Höchst. This line can also be used to allow trains to run between Mainz-Bischofsheim and Mainz-Mombach without passing through Mainz Hbf.
The line is used by RE4 services, generally every two hours with peak extras, between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Mainz Hbf via Hochheim (Main).
Kelsterbach – Frankfurt am Main Stadion
[471] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 152C3-152D3) DE25/522
This is part of the original main line and is used by trains between Mainz Hbf and the Frankfurt area via Kelsterbach, which stop at neither of the stations at Frankfurt am Main Flughafen.
| D1 | SSuO | NJ421 | Amsterdam Centraal – 00:24 Mainz Hbf – Innsbruck Hbf |
| SSuX | RB31 29243 | Kirchheimbolanden – 06:56 Rüsselsheim – Frankfurt am Main Hbf | |
| SSuX | RE13 29205 | Alzey – 07:41 Rüsselsheim – Frankfurt am Main Hbf |
D1: 11 and 12 January 2025
Frankfurt am Main Gateway Gardens - Frankfurt am Main Stadion
[471] (ERA-E 57B2 not shown; ERA-R 122B2 not shown; S+W 152D3) DE25/523
Where the new line from Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Regionalbahnhof converges with the old main line via Kelsterbach west of Frankfurt am Main Stadion, two routes are possible. Trains to and from the S-Bahn tunnel route under the city centre cross the Kelsterbach line on a flyover. There is also a single track connection directly to the line from Kelsterbach which is used by certain RE trains to the Hauptbahnhof high-level station.
It is used additionally by the hourly RB58 services between Rüsselsheim Opelwerk and Laufach via Hanau, also on Mondays to Fridays by the two-hourly RE59 services between Frankfurt Flughafen Regionalbf and Hanau Hbf. These trains run via platforms 4 and 5 at Frankfurt am Main Stadion, where RE59 makes a call, and Frankfurt am Main Süd, avoiding Frankfurt am Main Hbf.
Raunheim (Abzw Mönchwald) – Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf (Abzw Mönchhof)
[471] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122C2; S+W 152B4) DE25/524
This spur connects the old main line from Mainz Hbf to the Schnellfahrstrecke from Köln. It is used by trains calling at both Mainz Hbf and Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf. There is a generally hourly ICE service for most of the day.
Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – Zeppelinheim
[655.1] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 152D3) DE25/525
This grade-separated south to west curve is from Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf to the line to Mannheim via Biblis. It is used by trains running direct between Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf and Mannheim. There are ICE services at least hourly.
Weiterstadt (Abzw Darmstadt Stockschneise) – Darmstadt Nord – Darmstadt-Kranichstein
(ERA-E 57B1; ERA-R 122C2-122C3; S+W 154C2) DE25/526
This west to east route connects the Mainz and Aschaffenburg lines north of Darmstadt Hbf. Between Darmstadt Nord and Darmstadt-Kranichstein it has its own alignment, different from the one used by local passenger trains. The Darmstadt-Kranichstein railway museum sometimes runs a shuttle service between Groß-Gerau and Kranichstein during its annual Bahnwelttage event in May.
The route is also occasionally used for diversion of RB75 trains between Mainz and Aschaffenburg if they are unable to run into and out of Darmstadt Hbf.
Arheilgen – Darmstadt-Nord
[641] (ERA-E 57B1; ERA-R 122C2-122C3; S+W 154C2) DE25/527
This north to east curve connects the Frankfurt am Main and Aschaffenburg lines north of Darmstadt Hbf. It is used by through trains between Frankfurt (Main) Hbf and Groß-Umstadt Wiebelsbach via Darmstadt Nord, generally hourly.
Darmstadt Hbf – Weiterstadt (Abzw Darmstadt Bergschneise and Abzw Weiterstadt Stockschneise)
[651] (ERA-E 57B1 partly shown; S+W 154C3-154C2) DE25/528
Darmstadt Hbf is connected to the line towards Mainz by three geographically separate tracks, of which two constitute a widely separated double track flying junction and the third is reversible.
The Darmstadt to Mainz track diverges from the main track towards Frankfurt (line 3605) north of Darmstadt Hbf, at about the the place where it passes over the Aschaffenburg – Mainz line. It then makes a 135° curve to the left and joins the Aschaffenburg – Mainz line from the north at Abzw Stockschneise. It was formerly numbered as line 3537 but is now numbered as 3530 as the Mainz-bound track of the double-track Darmstadt to Mainz line. The Mainz to Darmstadt track of line 3530 diverges to the south at Abzw Stockschneise directly to the Hauptbahnhof, where it eventually becomes platform 9.
Between these two tracks, there is a reversible track (line 3541) which splits from the Mainz - Aschaffenburg line on the flat at Abzw Bergschneise, 1 km east of Abzw Stockschneise. At Darmstadt Hbf it arrives between the tracks from/to Darmstadt Nord, which eventually become platforms 7 and 8.
Trains from Mainz use the short curve of line 3530. Trains towards Mainz from platforms 8 and 9 (which are most of them) can only use the reversible Bergschneise route as line 3605 and therefore the Stockschneise route cannot be reached from these platforms.
The 04:38 SSuX service to Wiesbaden Hbf via Mainz departs from platform 4 so must use the Stockschneise route. Two services to Wiesbaden at 06:12 and 08:12 (both SSuX) depart from platform 7 and so may also use this route. The Stockschneise route is longer but allows higher speeds. Reports in the last couple of years have confirmed that both trains took the Stockschneise route and therefore the 'long curve'. Which route is used can be seen from the position of the scissors crossover points just north of the platforms – left for the Bergschneise route, right for the Stockschneise route.
Obscure services: Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions
Hanau avoiding line: Großkrotzenburg - Hanau Nord (Rauschwald)
(ERA-E 54A3; ERA-R 122B4; S+W 151D2) DE25/541
This line is used occasionally, particularly by overnight trains, to allow trains to run between the Aschaffenburg and Fulda or Friedberg lines without reversal at Hanau Hbf.
Frankfurt am Main Hbf avoiding line: Frankfurt am Main West (Galluswarte) – Frankfurt-Louisa (Main-Neckar Brücke)
(ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B3; S+W 151C3) DE25/542
This line provides a link between Frankfurt West and lines to the south, but particularly via Darmstadt, for trains not required to call at the Hauptbahnhof. Use of this route is indicated by trains calling at Frankfurt am Main West instead of the Hauptbahnhof.
Frankfurt am Main Hbf avoiding line: Frankfurt West (Galluswarte) – Frankfurt-Niederrad / Frankfurt Griesheim
(ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 151C3-151B3) DE25/543
This line provides a link between Frankfurt West and lines to the south via Niederräder Brücke or to the west via Griesheim, for trains not required to call at the Hauptbahnhof.
This route is sometimes also used by IC trains when there is engineering working in the Hauptbahnhof area. However, as most IC trains via Frankfurt West also run via Darmstadt, use of route DE25/542 is more likely.
Frankfurt am Main Hbf avoiding line: Frankfurt-Niederrad – Frankfurt-Höchst
(ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 151C4-152C2) DE25/544
There are two possible routes between Niederräder Brücke and Frankfurt-Höchst – a south to east curve to the S-Bahn line via Frankfurt-Griesheim and a south to north link to the main line at Abzw. Mainzer Landstraße. Occasionally trains, particularly overnight services, are diverted this way if they do not need to call at Frankfurt am Main Hbf.
Limburg Süd (Caltex) - Kelsterbach (Brunnenschneise)
(ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122C2-122B2; S+W 152B3) DE25/545
This north to east curve allows trains to run between the Köln - Frankfurt Schnellfahrstrecke and the old main line between Mainz and Frankfurt. Use by passenger trains is extremely rare and further diversions are unlikely soon, but are indicated by a stop at Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf being omitted.
Groß Gerau – Groß Gerau-Dornberg
[660] (ERA-E 47B1; ERA-R 122C2; S+W 154A2) DE25/546
This west to south curve links the Mainz to Darmstadt line with the Frankfurt am Main to Mannheim Riedbahn.
ICE and EC trains between Mainz and Mannheim not calling at Frankfurt am Main Flughafen normally run via Worms, but are sometimes diverted via this curve. Relief ICE trains may also run this way, and it has been used at short notice when there is an operating or infrastructure problem on the Worms route. If local trains via Worms are replaced by buses, it is likely that ICE and EC trains will use this route.
Groß Gerau-Dornberg – Klein Gerau (Abzw Klein Gerau Eichmühle)
[655] (ERA-E 47B1; ERA-R 122C2; S+W 154A2) DE25/547
This is the east to south curve at Groß Gerau. Occasionally, RE70 services between Mannheim Hbf and Frankfurt are diverted to/from Frankfurt am Main Süd via this curve, reversing at Darmstadt Hbf, with a public call there.
