Germany (Hamburg) - 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
Hamburg-Altona avoiding line: Pinneberg (Hamburg-Langenfelde Bbf) – Hamburg Dammtor (Abzw Rainweg)
[103, 130] (ERA-E 45B5; S+W 119A3) DE22/051
This north to east curve is used by trains between the Elmshorn line and Hamburg Dammtor which are not booked to call at Hamburg-Altona. Most trains between Hamburg Hbf and Kiel Hbf or Flensburg use this route. RE services to Westerland mostly start and terminate at Hamburg-Altona. It is intended to close Hamburg-Altona station, replacing it with a new through station to the north, which is planned to open in 2027. That will result in this curve being replaced by a new line to the south.
Hamburg-Wandsbek – Hamburg Hbf (via Horn, Hamburg-Rothenburgsort and Abzw Ericus)
[104] (ERA-E 45C5; ERA-R 82B4; S+W 119D2-119C3) DE22/052
This is an alternative route between Hamburg Hbf and the Lübeck line, using part of the Hamburg Ring line. It is common with DE22/053 between Hamburg Hbf and Hamburg Rothenburgsort Ro.
D1 | SuO | IC2414 | 06:55 Hamburg Hbf – Fehmarn-Burg |
D2 | IC2416 | 12:20 Hamburg Hbf – Fehmarn-Burg | |
IC2408 | Köln Hbf – 13:59 Hamburg Hbf – Lübeck Hbf | ||
D2 | IC2415 | Fehmarn-Burg – 16:42 Lübeck Hbf – Hamburg Hbf |
D1: 3 April – 28 August
D2: 2 April – 31 August
Hamburg-Bergedorf (Rothenburgsort Rop) – Hamburg Hbf (via Abzw Ericus)
[100, 102] (ERA-E 45C5; ERA-R 82B4; S+W 119C3-119D3) DE22/053
This is an alternative route between Hamburg Hbf and the Büchen line, and is the only one available for trains using platforms on the west side of Hamburg Hbf (numbered 11 and higher). It is common with DE22/052 between Rothenburgsort Ro and Hamburg Hbf. The following trains are scheduled to use this route:
SuX | ICE535/1577 | Stralsund Hbf – 07:19 Schwerin Hbf – Karlsruhe Hbf/München Hbf | |
IC2217 | Greifswald/Stralsund Hbf – 09:20 Schwerin Hbf – Wiesloch-Walldorf/Karlsruhe Hbf/Stuttgart Hbf | ||
D3 | ICE639/1671 | Ostseebad Binz – 11:19 Schwerin Hbf – München Hbf/Karlsruhe Hbf | |
IC2213 | Ostseebad Binz – 13:37 Schwerin Hbf – Karlsruhe Hbf/Stuttgart Hbf | ||
D | SSuO | ICE1021 | Ostseebad Binz (SO)/Stralsund Hbf (SuO) – 15:07/15:08 Schwerin Hbf – Nürnberg Hbf |
D4 | ICE1675 | Ostseebad Binz/Stralsund Hbf – 15:19 Schwerin Hbf – Frankfurt (M) Hbf | |
D4 | SuX/Daily | ICE635/1677 | Stralsund Hbf – 17:19 Schwerin Hbf – Hamburg Hbf/Hannover Hbf/Frankfurt (M) Hbf |
SuO | ICE679/1679 | Stralsund Hbf – 19:19 Schwerin Hbf – Hannover Hbf/Göttingen | |
ICE1003 | Hamburg-Altona – 05:52 Hamburg Hbf – München Hbf | ||
ICE507 | Hamburg-Altona – 08:34 Hamburg Hbf – München Hbf | ||
D4 | ICE1676 | Frankfurt (Main) Hbf/Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe/Hannover Hbf – 09:43 Hamburg Hbf – Stralsund Hbf | |
D5 | ICE636 | 09:43 Hamburg Hbf – Stralsund Hbf | |
ICE509 | Hamburg-Altona – 10:34 Hamburg Hbf – München Hbf | ||
IC2212 | Koblenz Hbf – 11:13/11:42 Hamburg Hbf – Ostseebad Binz | ||
D6 | ICE1205/1211/1601 | Hamburg-Altona – 12:04 Hamburg Hbf – Nürnberg Hbf/München Hbf/Innsbruck Hbf (FO)/Schwarzach-St. Veit (D FO) | |
ICE1601 | Hamburg-Altona – 12:34 Hamburg Hbf – München Hbf | ||
ICE632/1672 | München Hbf/Frankfurt (M) Hbf – 13:41 Hamburg Hbf – Stralsund Hbf/Ostseebad Binz(SuX) | ||
IC2216 | Offenburg (SSuX)/Stuttgart Hbf – 15:17 Hamburg Hbf – Stralsund Hbf/Greifswald(SX) | ||
ICE1605/1705 | Hamburg-Altona – 16:34 Hamburg Hbf – Berlin Hbf/München Hbf(SX)/Jena-Göschwitz (1705 SX) | ||
ICE538/1578 | München Hbf – 17:41 Hamburg Hbf – Stralsund Hbf/Greifswald (D SuO) | ||
D | Daily/FX | ICE536/976/1576 | München Hbf/Karlsruhe Hbf/Hamburg-Altona (FO) – 19:43 Hamburg Hbf - Rostock Hbf/Stralsund Hbf (SuO) |
D3 | SuO | ICE874/1574 | München Hbf /Karlsruhe Hbf – 21:43 Hamburg Hbf – Rostock Hbf |
ICE905 | Hamburg-Altona – 21:51 Hamburg Hbf – Berlin Südkreuz |
D3: 12 December – 22 September
D4: 12 December – 10 June; 23 September – 10 December
D5: 11 June – 22 September
D6: 16 April – 10 December
Hamburg-Harburg (Abzw Oberhafen) – Hamburg-Bergedorf (Rothenburgsort)
[100, 120] (ERA-E 45C5 not shown; ERA-R 82B4; S+W 119C3-119D3) DE22/053A
This line is used by trains between the Hamburg-Harburg and Büchen lines, if not calling at Hamburg Hbf. Trains may join or leave the main line to Büchen by line 1280 at Hamburg-Rothenburgsort Tk (Tiefstack) or further west, via line 1291, at Hamburg-Rothenburgsort Rop. Details of services over this route will be posted shortly.
Hamburg Hbf – Hamburg-Harburg (Abzw Oberhafen/Abzw Norderelbbrücke) (via goods line)
[110, 120, 121] (ERA-E 45C5 not shown; ERA-R 82B4 not shown; S+W 119C3-120D4) DE22/054
Between Hamburg Hbf and Hamburg-Harburg there are, in addition to the S-Bahn tracks, two pairs of tracks - one designated Pz-Gl (passenger line) and the other Gz-Gl (goods line), the latter being located between the S-Bahn tracks and the Pz-Gl.
All four tracks are used for passenger trains as operating convenience requires, although use of the Pz-Gl is more usual. They share common alignment south of Abzw Oberhafen (where the goods line from Rothenburgsort joins), but north-west of there, the Pz-Gl are at higher level, whereas the Gz-Gl follow a slightly different alignment at ground level via Abzw Ericus. A single-track connection from Abzw Ericus passes under the Pz-Gl and joins the southbound Pz-Gl at Abzw Norderelbbrücke.
The Gz-Gl are used, as required, by passenger trains to avoid conflicting moves at Hamburg Hbf. The connection to Abzw Norderelbbrücke, in particular, enables trains from platforms 8, 11 & 12 at Hamburg Hbf to reach the southbound Pz-Gl without crossing the northbound track on the level.
Route indicators associated with signals at the south end of Hamburg Hbf show the line to be used. 'P' indicates use of the Pz-Gl and 'H' the Gz-Gl.
One IC service is booked to use the connection from Abzw Ericus to Abzw Norderelbbrücke. It departs Hamburg Hbf at various times throughout the year so the timetable should be checked for the date of intended travel.
D4 | IC2083/2085 | Hamburg Altona – 05:34/06:04/06:24/07:29 Hamburg Hbf – Augsburg Hbf/München Hbf/Berchtesgaden Hbf/Oberstdorf |
D4: 12 December – 10 June; 23 September – 10 December
Hamburg Hbf (Abzw Wilhelmsburg) – Hamburg-Harburg (via harbour line)
[121] (ERA-E 45C5-45C4 not shown; ERA-R 82B4 not shown; S+W 120D3-120D4) DE22/055
South of Abzw Wilhelmsburg an additional pair of tracks, designated Hafen-Gl (harbour line), run broadly parallel to the main line on the approach to Hamburg-Harburg. They are normally used by RE5 Cuxhaven line trains, which now run through to and from Hamburg Hbf every day.
Obscure services: Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions
Pinneberg (Hamburg-Eidelstedt En) – Hamburg Hbf (via Hamburg-Lokstedt and Hamburg-Rothenburgsort)
[131] (ERA-E 45B5-45C5; ERA-R 82B5-82B4; S+W 120B1-119C3) DE22/061
This route comprises the Hamburg Ring line from the Elmshorn line around the north and east sides of the city. Trains between Hamburg Hbf and Elmshorn may be diverted this way if the main line via Dammtor is blocked. Between 5 and 17 March 2022, RE70 services between Kiel, Elmshorn and Hamburg Hbf are diverted this way.
Hamburg-Wandsbek – Hamburg-Harburg (Abzw Oberhafen) (via Horn and Hamburg-Rothenburgsort)
[104] (ERA-E 45C5 part shown; ERA-R 82B4; S+W 119D2-119C3) DE22/062
This route, via part of the Hamburg eastern ring line, allows trains to run between the Lübeck and Hamburg-Harburg lines without reversal at Hamburg Hbf. It is common with route DE22/052 between Hamburg-Wandsbek and Hamburg-Rothenburgsort and with route DE22/063 between Hamburg-Rothenburgsort and Abzw Oberhafen. No services have been identified as using it in the current timetable period.
Hamburg-Harburg (Abzw Oberhafen) – Hamburg-Bergedorf (Rothenburgsort)
[100, 120] (ERA-E 45C5 not shown; ERA-R 82B4; S+W 119C3-119D3) DE22/063
See main Obscure Services section under entry DE22/053A
Pinneberg (Hamburg-Eidelstedt En) – Hamburg-Harburg (Abzw Oberhafen) (via Hamburg-Lokstedt and Hamburg-Rothenburgsort)
[131] (ERA-E 45B5-45C5; ERA-R 82B5-82B4; S+W 120B1-119C3) DE22/064
This route comprises the Hamburg Ring line from the Elmshorn line around the north and east sides of the city (DE22/061) with the connection towards Hamburg-Harburg, avoiding Hamburg Hbf (DE22/053A). Between 5 and 17 March 2022, ICE trains between southern Germany and Kiel are diverted this way, running non-stop between Hamburg-Harburg and Neumünster. It is also used between the same dates by a pair of IC trains to and from Westerland (Sylt) wich run non-stop between Hamburg-Harburg and Itzehoe:
D | IC2310 | Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – 13:03 Hamburg-Harburg – Westerland (Sylt) | |
D | IC2311 | Westerland (Sylt) – 11:56 Itzehoe – Stuttgart Hbf |