Germany (Niedersachsen and Bremen) - 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
Emden Hbf – Emden Außenhafen
[395,396] (ERA-E 42A1; ERA-R 87B4; S+W 18B4) DE25/151
This branch line is used by trains connecting with the ferry to and from Borkum. Dates and times of operation vary considerably. There are several RE services, mainly to and from Münster, and a few IC services with various origins and destinations. Times and dates are shown in Kursbuch Table 396 (currrently missing, so use the DB journey planner) or, for regional trains only, the WestfalenBahn website.
Hamburg-Harburg – Buchholz (Nordheide) via Jesteburg
[120, 123] (ERA-E 45C4-43B1; ERA-R 89A4-89B4; S+W 21D2-21C2) DE25/152
This is an alternative route between Hamburg-Harburg and Buchholz (Nordheide). It is used by RB38 trains from Hamburg-Harburg to Hannover Hbf via Soltau (Han) hourly from 07:51 to 21:51 on Saturdays and Sundays only, with additional short workings at 22:51 to Soltau and 23:50 to Buchholz, both also SSuO. This is so that these trains can be overtaken by an IC or ICE train leaving Hamburg-Harburg for Bremen at 57 minutes past the hour.
Bremen-Sebaldsbrück – Bremen Hbf (via Abzw. Vahr)
[126] (ERA-E 43A1 not shown; ERA-R 88B3 not shown; S+W 9C2-9B2) DE25/153
Trains from the Hannover line to platforms 1, 2 or 3 on the Oldenburg side at Bremen Hbf have been known to use this spur which crosses from the north side of the line to the south side by passing under both the main Hannover and Osnabrück lines, but they may, alternatively, use crossovers at the approach to Bremen Hbf. The only trains from the Hannover line to arrive in platforms 1 - 3 are the two-hourly RE1 services from Hannover Hbf to Norddeich Mole. These depart Bremen-Mahndorf at 31 minutes past each even hour (the odd-hour services to Bremerhaven-Lehe use platform 7).
RE1 trains in the opposite direction normally use the flat junction at Hastedt but, if the departure signal at Bremen Hbf platforms 1, 2 or 3 shows speed restriction 4 (= 40 km/h), that may indicate use of this route.
There is no passenger use of the connections between Bremen-Hemelingen and Bremen Hbf via Abzw. Vahr known to the compilers.
Bremen avoiding line: Ottersberg (Han.) (Abzw. Sagehorn) – Dreye (Abzw. Bremen-Gabelung)
[120, 385] (ERA-E 43A1; ERA-R 88B3-88B2; S+W 9D1-9C3) DE25/154
Most trains between Hamburg and Osnabrück call at Bremen Hbf, but this route enables those that do not to avoid a lengthy detour. Trains that run this way generally take around 2h04 between Münster (Westf) Hbf and Hamburg Hbf, rather than the 2h17/18 taken by trains via Bremen.
The following trains are the only ones currently known to the compilers to run this way. These trains run most days, but not every day, and times of departure from Münster in particular are variable, so a check with the online journey planner is recommended before attempting to do this route. Services are particularly subject to alteration in February and March 2025.
| D | ICE1038 | Köln Hbf – 07:06 Essen Hbf – Hamburg-Altona | |
| D | IC2310 | Köln Hbf – 10:47/10:50 Münster (Westf) Hbf – Westerland (Sylt) | |
| D | ICE1020 | Passau Hbf – 13:47-14:13 Münster (Westf) Hbf – Hamburg-Altona/Hamburg-Harburg | |
| D | ICE928 | Passau Hbf – 15:47/16:12 Münster (Westf) Hbf – Hamburg-Altona | |
| D | ICE1030 | Köln Hbf – 16:57 Essen Hbf – Hamburg-Altona | |
| D | FSSuX | ICE1031 | Hamburg-Altona – 06:11 Hamburg Hbf – Köln Hbf |
| D | ICE1021 | Hamburg-Altona (SSuX)/Stralsund Hbf (SSuO) – 16:10 Hamburg Hbf – Nürnberg Hbf |
Lüneburg Westseite (West station)
[110] (ERA-E 43C1 not shown; ERA-R 89B3; S+W 22C3) DE25/155
This is a separate station to the west of the main station. Connections to north and south link the Westseite station to the main Hamburg to Hannover line.
The north-end connection is used by most Hamburg local trains (RB31) starting or terminating at Lüneburg. A few late evening and early morning trains run to and from the main station. Services using the Westseite are those shown as using platforms 6 or 7 in the DB journey planner.
Both connections are used by the following service:
| SSuX | RB31 81607 | Hamburg Hbf – 05:16 Bardowick – Uelzen (continues to Hannover Hbf as RE3 82857) |
Note: The Westseite is also used to by all trains to and from Dannenberg Ost.
Osnabrück Schinkel and Löhner Curves: Osnabrück ob Bf – Wissingen (Bbf Lüstringen)
[385] (ERA-E 47B4; ERA-R 96C5; S+W 40C3) DE25/156
This is a curve from the high level station at Osnabrück to the Hannover line. It is used all year round by the following services. It is also occasionally used by trains diverted away from the Münster to Rheine line or the main line through Bielefeld.
Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.
| D1 | ICE741 | Münster (Westf) Hbf – 06:52 Osnabrück Hbf – Berlin Ostbahnhof | |
| D1 | ICE759 | Köln Hbf – 13:52 Osnabrück Hbf – Berlin Ostbahnhof | |
| D1 | ICE1053 | Aachen Hbf – 17:53 Osnabrück Hbf – Berlin Ostbahnhof | |
| D1 | ICE1050 | Berlin Ostbahnhof – 10:56 Hannover Hbf – Köln Hbf | |
| D1 | ThFO/various | ICE756 | Berlin Ostbahnhof – 14:56 Hannover Hbf – Aachen Hbf |
| D1 | ICE742 | Berlin Ostbahnhof – 20:43 Bünde (Westf) – Münster (Westf) Hbf | |
| D1 | FSuO | ICE740 | Berlin Ostbahnhof – 22:43 Bünde (Westf) – Münster (Westf) Hbf |
D1: Does not run on various dates; in particular none of these trains runs between 6 January and 7 February, 4 and 14 April or between 7 June and 23 September 2025. A check with the journey planner is recommended.
Ahlten (Abzw. Lehrte West) – Aligse (Lehrte Nordgruppe, former Stw Lnf)
[360.6,360.7] (ERA-E 48B4; ERA-R 100A5; S+W 122D4) DE25/157
This west to north curve is used by the hourly S6 service between Hannover and Celle which runs non-stop between Hannover Karl-Wiechert-Allee and Aligse. Note that the S7 service which alternates with the S6 reverses at Lehrte and thus does not use this curve.
Lehrte (Abzw Lehrte West) – Misburg – Abzw Waldheim – Hannover Messe/Laatzen (Hannover Wülfel)
(ERA-E 48B4; ERA-R 100A5; S+W 122D4-122D3) DE25/158
This route forms the eastern part of the ring line round the south side of Hannover. It is used by trains to avoid reversal at Hannover Hbf. In the current timetable period, only the following overnight service is known to use this line.
| TThSuO | NJ424 | Berlin Ostbahnhof – 19:06/19:08 Berlin Hbf – Bruxelles-Midi |
Any daytime trains between Göttingen and Berlin that run this way can be discerned by their not calling at Hildesheim or Braunschweig Hbf, nor running via Hannover Hbf.
Lehrte – Sehnde / Hämelerwald (Abzw Ramhorst) / Immensen-Arpke
[360.3] (ERA-E 48B4 partly shown; ERA-R 100A5; S+W 122D4) DE25/159
East of Lehrte, the lines from Hildesheim and Braunschweig join with the line from Wolfsburg in a complex flying junction.
Lehrte station is in two parts, with the south-side platforms 1 to 3 reached by different routes from those to the north-side platforms 11-14.
To/from Sehnde (Hildesheim line)
(S3: hourly with weekday peak extras)
Trains towards Hildesheim
Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram
Trains towards Hildesheim at 51 minutes past each hour from Lehrte depart from platform 11 on the north side of the main station island. They pass under the Wolfsburg line and then use a ladder crossing to the south side of the Braunschweig line to reach the west to south curve to the Hildesheim line.
Additional peak-hour trains start from Lehrte platform 3 and run directly from the Wolfsburg line onto the Braunschweig line and then the curve to the Hildesheim line. These trains depart Lehrte at 06:30, 07:36 and hourly from 14:34 until 17:34, all SSuX.
Trains from Hildesheim
Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram
Trains from Hildesheim arriving at Lehrte at 05 minutes past each hour fly over the eastbound Braunschweig line, joining the westbound flyover from Braunschweig shortly before it crosses over the Wolfsburg line, then diverge to the north to run into platform 13.
Peak-hour trains from Hildesheim that terminate at Lehrte platform 3 can either use the south side of the flying junction in the westbound direction, or use the flyover and the connection to the Wolfsburg line as used by trains from Braunschweig. These depart Hildesheim at 07:01, then hourly from 14:04 to 17:04, all SSuX.
To/from Hämelerwald (Braunschweig line)
(RE60/RE70: generally twice per hour; occasionally hourly, especially on weekend mornings)
Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram
Trains towards Braunschweig leave from platform 2 and head in a straight alignment onto the Braunschweig line, following this line's original route.
Trains from Braunschweig diverge to the north at Abzw Ramhorst and fly over the Wolfsburg line about 500 m further north of the eastbound line, taking a connection onto the Wolfsburg line to arrive in platform 1.
There are no trains between the Braunschweig line and the north-side platforms.
To/from Immensen-Arpke (Wolfsburg line)
(RE30: hourly with occasional extras)
Local services arrive and depart from platforms 1 and 2 respectively, using the main line connection to the Wolfsburg route. There is also a flying junction from the Wolfsburg line to the high-numbered platforms, with the eastbound line passing under the main line. Regular IC/ICE services between Berlin and Amsterdam or the Ruhr also use the main line route, but it is likely that any train to or from the Hannover ring line (DE25/158) would use the flying junction as the ring line can only be accessed from the north side platforms. Alternatively, trains to and from the ring line could gain or leave the north side platforms by crossing from and to the main line just east of the station. Reports on which route is taken would be welcomed by the compilers.
Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe (Abzw Siekweg) – Göttingen east side platforms
(ERA-E 48B2 not shown; S+W 55A2-55B2) DE25/160
This 2 km link (line 1803) leaves the Kassel Schnellfahrstrecke south of Göttingen and then crosses the Eichenberg line before joining the eastern platforms at Göttingen. It is normally used by northbound trains stopping at platform 4 at Göttingen. Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram
The following train is booked to call at platform 4 at Göttingen on Mondays to Fridays only.
| SSuX | ICE272 | Zürich HB – 22:45 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe – Hamburg-Altona |
Göttingen east side platforms – Friedland(Han) (Abzw Grone) [– Eichenberg]
(ERA-E 48B2 not shown; ERA-R 100A2; S+W 55A2-55B2) DE25/161
This previously freight-only connection (line 1800) diverges south of Göttingen station from the line to Abzw Siekweg (DE25/160) and runs to the west of the main line to Eichenberg, joining it at Abzw Grone, 2.3 km from Göttingen.
Trains to the Eichenberg line at Göttingen which depart from platforms 5 and 6 generally use this route, in the southbound direction only.
Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.
Obscure services: Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions
Osnabrück Schinkel and Stahlwerks Curves: Osnabrück ob Bf – Osnabrück unt Bf
[385] (ERA-E 47B4; ERA-R 96C5; S+W 40C3) DE25/181
These curves allow trains to run between the Münster and Rheine lines, passing through both the high-level and low-level platforms at Osnabrück. The route may be used by IC trains if the direct line between Münster (Westf) and Rheine is blocked. This is indicated by an extended journey time and local trains being replaced by buses. Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.
Osnabrück Münster Curve: Wissingen (Lüstringen Bbf) – Hasbergen (Osnabrück ob Bf Süd)
[375] (ERA-E 47B4; ERA-R 96C5; S+W 40C3) DE25/182
This is an alternative route from the Hannover line to the Münster line at Osnabrück, instead of via the Löhner and Schinkel curves (DE25/156). Use of this route means that trains cannot call at Osnabrück Hbf.
Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.
Lehrte (Abzw Lehrte West) – Misburg – Abzw Waldheim – Hannover-Linden - Wunstorf
(ERA-E 48B4; ERA-R 100A5; S+W 31D4-31B4) DE25/183
This is a ring line around the south side of Hannover. It is occasionally used by diverted IC trains between the Lehrte and Minden lines, this being indicated by omission of the usual stop at Hannover Hbf.
Hannover Hbf (Hannover Kurve) – Ahlem – Empelde
[360.5] (ERA-E 48B4; ERA-R 100A5; S+W 122B2-122D3) DE25/184
This route forms part of the ring line round the south side of Hannover, with the curve to the Hameln line. The hourly S5 trains between Hannover Hbf and Paderborn may be diverted this way if the route via Hannover-Linden is blocked. This has occurred a few times in recent years.
Also, ICE trains towards Hamm (Westf) Hbf may be diverted non-stop via Hameln, Paderborn and Soest. While such diversions are in place, if trains depart Hannover Hbf in the westward direction they will probably use this route. Any ICE services towards Hamm which leave Hannover Hbf heading east will use the regular passenger line via Hannover Linden/Fischerhof to reach the Hameln line. Note that if a train is booked to call at Osnabrück Hbf it will not run via Hameln.
Hannover Messe/Laatzen (Hannover-Wülfel) – Hannover Linden/Fischerhof
(ERA-E 48B4; ERA-R 100A5; S+W 122D3-122C3) DE25/185
This south to west curve links the main line from Göttingen (either via the high-speed line or the 'classic' line) and the Hannover southern ring line towards the west. It was used in October 2024 by diverted IC services between Göttingen and Altenbeken.
Northeim (Han) – Edesheim (Leine)
(ERA-E 48B2; ERA-R 100A2; S+W 55B1) DE25/186
Connections between the old main line and the Schnellfahrstrecke at Edesheim (Leine), north of Northeim (Han), are sometimes used by ICE trains during engineering work. Use of the old main line instead of the Schnellfahrstrecke results in an extended journey time between Göttingen and Hannover, but it is not normally possible to tell from public information which connection is being used.
Nörten-Hardenberg – Northeim (Han)
(ERA-E 48B2 not shown; ERA-R 100A2; S+W 55B1-55B2) DE25/187
Connections between the old main line and the Schnellfahrstrecke at Nörten-Hardenberg, south of Northeim (Han), are sometimes used by ICE trains during engineering work. Use of the old main line instead of the Schnellfahrstrecke results in an extended journey time between Göttingen and Hannover, but it is not normally possible to tell from public information which connection is being used.
Uelzen W750 – Uelzen W23 (Veerßer Kurve)
[305] (ERA-E 48C5; ERA-R 89C2; S+W 32C1) DE25/188
The Stendal – Salzwedel – Uelzen – Bremen line crosses under the Hannover – Hamburg main line just south of Uelzen and curves north to serve the west side of Uelzen station. A direct curve (the Veerßer Kurve) from the Stendal line to the east side of Uelzen station was opened in November 2013 giving a non-conflicting connection towards Hamburg. This curve was used by IRE services between Berlin and Hamburg but as these no longer run there are no permanently scheduled services booked to use it.
When EC/ICE trains between Berlin and Hamburg are diverted via Stendal and Uelzen they can be expected to use this curve in this direction only. This occurs between 4 August and 12 December 2025.
Bremen Hbf – Bremen-Oslebshausen via Bremen Rbf
[127] (ERA-E 43A1; ERA-R 88B3 S+W 9B2-9A1) DE25/189
The route through Bremen Rbf (Rangierbahnhof = marshalling yard) is rarely used by passenger trains. Its use can be discerned, at least for local RS1 stopping trains, by the call at Bremen-Walle being omitted. Trains can either run via single Line 1410 to the east and north of Bremen Rbf, which runs close to the passenger lines but diverges onto a separate alignment towards the north end of the yard, or on double track Lines 1401/1422 which run on the far side of the yard from the passenger lines.
Hamburg-Harburg – Ashausen via Maschen Rbf
[110] (ERA-E 45C4; ERA-R 89A4; S+W 120C1-D2 (inset)) DE25/190
This route round the back of Maschen Rbf is occasionally used for diverting trains between Hamburg, Winsen (Luhe) and Lüneburg when the main line through Maschen Pbf is unavailable. It is common with entry DE25/153 as far as Maschen Rbf Süd, although the route taken through Hamburg-Harburg to Meckelfeld may be different as trains may also use the goods lines through Hamburg-Harburg and the flyover to reach Maschen Rbf.
