Slovakia - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
Introduction
This list is based on the timetable dated from 10 December 2023, unless otherwise shown. Standard abbreviations are explained here. Trains running only certain days of the week are shown using ISO 8601 weekday numbers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_week_date).
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 3) by M.G. Ball.
IMPORTANT NOTE: in the Slovak Railways timetable (Cestovný poriadok), the ⚒ working days symbol means ① to ⑤ not, as for most other railways, ① to ⑥.
Obscure services
Zbehy – Jelšovce
[140,141] (ERA-E 89C2; ERA-R 204A3) SK24/1
This curve is used by trains running directly between Prievidza and Bratislava, avoiding Lužianky. There are regular trains throughout the day and these can be readily identified in the ZSSK timetable as follows: For northbound trains use timetable 140 and look for trains starting from Bratislava hl.s. or Leopoldov with blanks against stations until a black line "|" starts at Jelšovce plus calls at Topoľčany and Prievidza. For southbound services use timetable 140 and look for trains starting from Prievidza calling at Topoľčany with a black line as far as Jelšovce and destination Bratislava hl.s.
Kysak avoiding line: Veľká Lodina (Kysak výh. č 35/36) – Obišovce (Kysak výh. č 39/40)
[180, 188] (ERA-E 91A4; ERA-R 202A3) SK24/2
This curve is used by trains between Prešov and Margecany which are not booked to call and reverse at Kysak.
| LE1263 | Praha hl.n. – 03:09 Spišská Nová Ves - Prešov | ||
| ⑤ | Ex15621 | Bratislava hlavná stanica – 19:17 Margecany - Humenné | |
| LE1259 | Praha hl.n. – 20:52 Spišská Nová Ves - Prešov | ||
| D | ⑥⑦ | REX1689 | 21:56 Margecany – Prešov |
| LE1254 | 05:50 Prešov - Praha hl.n. | ||
| D | ⑦ | REX1682 | 09:21 Prešov - Margecany |
| ⑦ | Ex17630 | Humenné - 16:05 Prešov - Bratislava hlavná stanica | |
| LE1250 | 23:22 Prešov - Praha hl.n. |
Ružomberok – Zápalkáreň
(ERA-E 90A4; ERA-R 200B3) SK24/3
It appears that shuttles ran along this 3 km freight line in July-August 2020 - 2023 see dates and times for 2023.
It is expected that dates and times for 2024 shuttles will appear here.
Bratislava Vajnory to Bratislava Vinohrady via Bratislava východ (line 127a)
(ERA-E 89A5; ERA-R 205C1) SK24/4
Due to construction works in Bratislava-Vinohrady (single-track operation, platform 1 closed, only platform 2 in use in direction Bratislava Vajnory) westbound services between Bratislava Vajnory and Bratislava Vinohrady are diverted via Line 127a which passes Bratislava východ yard. This diversion will probably last until the timetable change in December 2023. It has been left in here until reports that the diversion has ceased are seen/received.
Obscure services: Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions
Zvolen avoider
[160, 170] (ERA-E 90A3; ERA-R 200B1) SK24/5
This north to east curve was last used between 5 - 23 November 2021 by trains to/from Banska Bystrica and Zvolen reversing at Zvolen nákladná stanica due to local engineering works.
Hodonín ČD - Holíč nad Moravou ŽSR
[Ex ČD 332/Ex ŽSR 115] (ERA-E 95C3; ERA-R 197C2; 88 ČD section only) SK24/6
This electrified single track cross border line closed to passengers at the December 2004 timetable change but is used by freight services and as a diversionary passenger route, fairly regularly in recent years due to upgrade work taking place on the main line between Břeclav and Kúty (SK). Suggested to be in use between 24th to 29th August & 7th to 9th September 2024, following 20-22/27-29 January, 24-26 February, 16-21 March, 25-28 May, 8-11/22-25 June & 29 June-2 July 2024. previously 13th to 25th October 2023, with details on the ČD or ŽSSK engineering work listings.
Žilina – Od. Skupina - Odb Potok
(ERA-E 90A4-A5, ERA-R 200A3) SK24/7
Click on thumbnails for 2 maps of Žilina station and area to the east:-
Extensive engineering works have been taking place east of Žilina since July 2022 and there has been reported use of various combinations of goods lines and associated flyovers since, some route options limited if the service had a booked call at Varin. The diversions were believed to have stopped in late 2023, but an October 2024 report was received of a westbound R train diverging at Odb. Vah to run on goods lines alongside the Container Depot and via the flyover to the separate bridge over the River Vah north of the main lines to the new northbound side platforms at Žilina.
Click on this thumbnail for the diagram highlighting the lines reported to have been used through the yard.
The ZSSK real time trains map shows the diversion.
Trams
See Slovakia - Tram services over obscure routes
Other sparse services
The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) - fewer than three trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run each weekday.
| 122 | Trenčianska Teplá - Trenčianske Teplice | Included in National PDFs but to confirm operating dates of this NG electric tramway see the operators' website Trez |
| 123 | Horné Srnie - Vlárský průsmyk(CD) | 1 return train ⑤ and ⑦ (at different times) |
| 153 [part] | Šahy - Čata | Two pairs ①-⑤, No service ⑥ or ⑦ |
| 154 | Hronská Dúbrava - Banská Štiavnica | Only ⑥ or ⑦ 23 December 2024 - 6 January 2025, daily from 30 June - 31 August 2025 |
| 160 | Fiľakovo - Fiľakovo zastávka | No service ⑥ or ⑦ |
| 174 | Brezno-Halny - Tisovec | One pair ①-⑤ EXCEPT 23 December 2024 - 6 January 2025, 4 pairs daily from 30 June - 31 August 2025 |
| 185 | Stará Ľubovňa - Plaveč | ⑤,⑦ plus additional Winter and summer ⑥ and ⑦, see PDF for details |
| 185 | Studený Potok - Tatranská Lomnica | ⑥ and ⑦ plus daily between 23 December 2024 - 6 January/30 June - 31 August 2025 |
| 188 | Lipany - Plaveč - Muszyna (Poland) | Only Winter and summer ⑥ and ⑦, see Cross Border entry for details |
| 191 | Medzilaborce mesto - Łupków (Poland) | Summer only ⑥ and ⑦ |
Deletions since previous edition
Fiľakovo avoiding line: Fiľakovo Zastávka (Fiľiakovo Stavědlo 3) – Šíd (Výhybna Urbánka)
[160] (ERA-E 90B2; ERA-R 205B4) SK23/2
All services passing through Fiľakovo, both local and fasts, were diverted via the avoiding line 115B from 11 December 2022, calling instead at Fiľakovo Zastávka.
Lipany – Plaveč
[188] (ERA-E 91A5; ERA-R 201C4) SK23/4
This is part of the former international route between Kraków and Košice but now has a very restricted service. This is listed in sparse services.
Plaveč – Čirč – Muszyna [PL]
[188] (ERA-E 91A5; ERA-R ERA-R 201C4) SK23/5
This west to north curve is part of the former international route between Kraków and Košice. Two seasonal ⑥ & ⑦ train pairs are the only trains to use this curve, since local trains, which used to continue only to Čirč, stopped in 2022. This is listed in sparse services.
Žilina – Od. Skupina - Odb Potok
(ERA-E 90A4-A5, ERA-R 200A3) SK23/6
Now re-instated to main section as SK24/7 as Oct-24 use reported.
Deletions from sparse services
| 165 | Plešivec - Muráň | ⑦ train from Košice 5 July - 13 September 2020 plus 1 & 15 September 2020. See for details | |
| 166 | Plešivec - Slavošovce | ⑥ train from Košice on 4, 18 July, 8, 22, 29 August, 12 September 2020. See here for details | |
| 167 | Rožňava - Dobšiná | ⑥ train from Košice on 11, 25 July, 1, 15 August, 5 September 2020. See here for details | |
| 173 | Červená Skala - Dobšinská Ľadová Jaskyňa | at least 3 services every day (except some holidays) | |
| 186 | Spišská Nová Ves - Levoča | Numerous return journeys were scheduled for 2 & 3 July 2022 in connection with a Religious event. This table no longer appears in the timetable PDF. | |
| 190 | Čierna nad Tisou - Čop | With RegioJet commencing now four pairs a day |
Lines without services
The 2024/25 timetable as at early December 2024 contains a section saying "Carriers have not ordered passenger trains on the lines listed"
| 112 Zohor – Plavecký Mikuláš except seasonal trains |
| 113 Zohor – Záhorská Ves |
| 115 Holíč nad Moravou – Hodonín |
| 117 Brezová pod Bradlom – Jablonica |
| 122 Trenčianska Teplá – Trenčianske Teplice except seasonal trains |
| 124 Nemšová – Lednické Rovne |
| 133 úsek Sereď – Leopoldov |
| 134 Šaľa – Neded |
| 136 Komárno – Kolárovo |
| 141 Dražovce – Kozárovce |
| 142 Zbehy – Radošina |
| 144 Prievidza – Nitrianske Pravno |
| 161 Lučenec – Kalonda |
| 163 Katarínska Huta – Breznička |
| 164 Fiľakovo – Somosköújfalu |
| 165 Plešivec – Muráň |
| 166 Plešivec – Slavošovce |
| 167 Dobšiná – Rožňava |
| 168 Moldava nad Bodvou – Medzev |
| 186 Spišská Nová Ves – Levoča except seasonal trains |
| 187 Spišské Vlachy – Spišské Podhradie except seasonal trains |
| 192 Trebišov – Vranov nad Topľou |
| 195 Bánovce nad Ondavou – Veľké Kapušany |
Most have been closed for many years so the ability to run any services is doubted, but some, especially those reachable from Košice in a day are known to have occasional excursion services.
The following lines have no passenger service, are not in the above list but are still included in the Cestovný poriadok:
| 114 | Skalica na Slovensku - Sudoměřice nad Mor. |
| 135 | Komárno - Komárom (Hungary) |
| 190 | Slovenské Nové Mesto - Sátoraljaújhely (Hungary) |
