Germany (Thüringen) - 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

Grimmenthal – Ritschenhausen [– Wölfershausen / Mellrichstadt Bf]

[570, 570.7, 815] (ERA-E 54C4; ERA-R 107B3; S+W 79C1) DE25/551

This line is used by RE7 services between Erfurt Hbf, Schweinfurt Hbf and Würzburg Hbf, also by RB40 services between Meiningen, Schweinfurt Hbf and (SSuX) Schweinfurt Stadt, which now run via a reversal at Grimmenthal. Both these services run every two hours, thus giving a generally hourly service over this route. RE7 trains run non-stop between Grimmenthal and Mellrichstadt Bf, and RB40 services generally omit Ritschenhausen, which has a very sparse service.

Meiningen – Ritschenhausen

[815] (ERA-E 54C4; ERA-R 107B3; S+W 79C1) DE25/552

With the diversion at the start of the 2023/24 timetable of most RB40 Schweinfurt – Meiningen services to run via Grimmenthal, only the following RB40 services at the extremities of the day now use the direct connection between Meiningen and the Schweinfurt line at Ritschenhausen.

	SSuX	RB80723	04:13 Meiningen – Ebenhausen (Unterfr) – Hammelburg
		RB80727	05:21 Meiningen – Schweinfurt Stadt
	SSuX	RB80729	06:42 Meiningen – Schweinfurt Stadt
	SSuO	RB80731	07:19 Meiningen – Schweinfurt Hbf
	SuX	RB80724	Schweinfurt Hbf – 07:24 Ritschenhausen – Meiningen
		RB80726	Schweinfurt Stadt – 08:03 Ritschenhausen – Meiningen
	FSX	RB80760	Schweinfurt Hbf – 23:30 Ritschenhausen – Meiningen

Grimmenthal: connections at west and east ends of station

[570] (ERA-E 54C4 not shown; ERA-R 107C3 not shown; S+W 67D4) DE25/553

Just west of Grimmenthal station, the Meiningen – Eisfeld line crosses over the Schweinfurt – Suhl line, each route having its own platforms at Grimmenthal. It is not possible for trains to run directly between Schweinfurt and Eisfeld, but connections at each end of the station enable through running between Meiningen and Suhl. Note that the western connection is used between Meiningen and Grimmenthal and the eastern one between Grimmenthal and Suhl. Which connection is used can be worked out by which platform is used at Grimmenthal: platforms 1 & 2 for the eastern connection and 3 & 4 for the western one.

Most trains which run between Meiningen and Suhl use the eastern connection, except the following which use the western one.

	SSuX	RE81082	05:03 Meiningen – Erfurt Hbf
		RB81274	05:24 Meiningen – Erfurt Hbf
		RE81084	07:10 Meiningen – Erfurt Hbf
	SSuX	RE81086	13:36 Meiningen – Erfurt Hbf
	SSuX	RE81088	15:36 Meiningen – Erfurt Hbf
	SSuX	RE81090	17:36 Meiningen – Erfurt Hbf
		RB81289	Erfurt Hbf – 01:25 Grimmenthal – Meiningen
	SSuX	RE81083	Erfurt Hbf – 14:11 Grimmenthal – Meiningen
	SSuX	RE81085	Erfurt Hbf – 16:11 Grimmenthal – Meiningen
	SSuX	RE81087	Erfurt Hbf – 18:11 Grimmenthal – Meiningen
	FSO	RB80764	Schweinfurt Hbf – 23:36 Grimmenthal (reverse) – Meiningen
		RE81093	Erfurt Hbf – 23:57 Grimmenthal – Meiningen

For most of the day there is also a two-hourly service between Meiningen and Schweinfurt Stadt (Schweinfurt Hbf at weekends) via a reversal at Grimmenthal. Departures are generally at 01 minutes past each odd hour from Meiningen and 42 minutes past each even hour from Grimmenthal. These all use the western connection to arrive and depart in platform 4. In addition, the 06:28 Grimmenthal – Erfurt Hbf starts from platform 4, therefore using neither connection.

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

Gotha Ost – Seebergen (Gotha Abzw Gk W)

[604, 605] (ERA-E 54C5; ERA-R 107C4; S+W 68A2) DE25/581

This north to east curve enables trains between Göttingen or Bad Langensalza and Erfurt to run directly between Bad Langensalza and Neudietendorf without needing to reverse at Gotha. In such cases trains normally call at Gotha Ost instead of Gotha. The route may also be used on occasions when there is engineering work between Erfurt and Bad Langensalza via Döllstädt.

Hopfgarten (b Weimar) – Oßmannstedt (Weimar Stw W1) via Weimar Gbf

[580] (ERA-E 55A5 not shown; ERA-R 108A5 not shown; S+W 68C1) DE25/582

This line, which avoids Weimar Hbf to the north, is very occasionally used by RE services if there is engineering work blocking Weimar Hbf.

Großheringen – Camburg (Abzw Großheringen Ghs)

[560] (ERA-E 49A1; ERA-R 108b5; S+W 69A1) DE25/583

Occasionally RB25 services between Naumburg (Saale) Hbf and Saalfeld (Saale) are diverted via a reversal at Großheringen station and this curve.