Germany (Thüringen) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

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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) DE24/551

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) DE24/551A

With the diversion 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) – Gemünden (Main)
RB80727 05:21 Meiningen – Schweinfurt Stadt
SSuX RB80729 06:42 Meiningen – Schweinfurt Stadt
SSuO RB80731 07:19 Meiningen – Schweinfurt Stadt
SSuX 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) DE24/552

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.

The majority of trains which run between Meiningen and Suhl use the eastern connection, with the exception of the following which use the western one.

RB81289 Erfurt Hbf – 01:21 Grimmenthal – Meiningen
SSuX RE81082 05:04 Meiningen – Erfurt Hbf
RB81274 Eisenach – 05:24 Meiningen – Erfurt Hbf
SuX RE81084 Eisenach – 07:10 Meiningen – Erfurt Hbf
SSuX RB81273 Erfurt Hbf – 08:13 Grimmenthal – Meiningen
SSuX RE81083 Erfurt Hbf – 14:13 Grimmenthal – Meiningen
SSuX RE81085 Erfurt Hbf – 16:13 Grimmenthal – Meiningen
SSuX RE81087 Erfurt Hbf – 18:13 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 or 43 minutes past each even hour from Grimmenthal. These all use the western connection to arrive and depart in platform 4 with the exception of the 21:10 from Meiningen which terminates in platform 1. 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;68A2) DE24/581

This north to east curve enables trains between Göttingen and Erfurt to run directly between Bad Langensalza and Neudietendorf without needing to reverse at Gotha. This diversion does not happen very often, but the route may also be used on occasions when there is engineering work between Erfurt and Bad Langensalza via Döllstädt.

It was used in February 2023 by RE1 Glauchau (Sachs) – Erfurt – Göttingen services which called at Gotha Ost instead of Gotha.

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

[580] (ERA-E 55A5 not shown; ERA-R 108A5 not shown; S+W 68C1) DE24/582

This line, which avoids Weimar Hbf to the north, is 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) DE24/583

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

See also