Germany (Hessen) - 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

Routes are ordered geographically. In the Frankfurt area, routes in and out of the Hauptbahnhof are considered first and then the various avoiding lines. In both cases, routes are ordered clockwise round the city, from Frankfurt am Main Süd to Frankfurt am Main West.

Eichenberg avoiding line: Friedland (Han) (Abzw Eichenberg Nordkopf) – Arenshausen (Abzw Eichenberg Ostkopf)

[540.1] (ERA-E 48B1; ERA-R 100A1; S+W 55B3) DE23/501

This north to east curve links the Göttingen and Nordhausen lines and is used by through trains between Göttingen, Leinefelde and Glauchau (Sachs), generally every two hours. Note that between Göttingen and Leinefelde, these trains stop only at Heilbad Heiligenstadt.

Bad Sooden-Allendorf (Abzw Eschwege-Wehre) – Wehretal-Reichensachsen (Abzw Eschwege-Stegmühle)

(ERA-E 48B1; ERA-R 107A5; S+W 55B4) DE23/502

Since the reopening of Eschwege Stadtbahnhof in 2009, all local trains between Eichenberg and Bebra reverse there, leaving and returning to the main line at a triangular junction at Eschwege West. Daytime expresses normally use the Schnellfahrstrecke, so the only passenger trains to use the main line, bypassing Eschwege, regularly are overnight ones. However between April and December 2023, the two-hourly daytime Hamburg – München ICEs, plus some additional services, run this way.

D1 NJ471/473 Hannover Hbf – 00:06 Göttingen - Zürich HB
ICE1689 Hamburg-Altona – 01:13 Göttingen – München Hbf
D2 NJ471 Hamburg-Altona – 01:32 Göttingen – Zürich HB
MO ICE1271 Hamburg-Altona – 03:07 Göttingen – Chur
D3 ICE783 Hamburg-Altona – 08:04 Göttingen – München Hbf
D3 ICE785 Hamburg-Altona – 10:04 Göttingen – Leipzig Hbf / München Hbf
D3 ICE787 Hamburg-Altona – 12:04 Göttingen – München Hbf
D3 ICE789 Hamburg-Altona – 14:04 Göttingen – München Hbf
D3 ICE881 Hamburg-Altona – 16:04 Göttingen – München Hbf
D3 SuO ICE1595 Berlin Ostbahnhof – 17:40 Göttingen – Stuttgart Hbf
D3 FO ICE1585 Lüneburg – 17:46 Göttingen – München Hbf
D3 ICE883 Hamburg-Altona – 18:04 Göttingen – München Hbf
D3 ICE885 Kiel Hbf – 20:04 Göttingen – München Hbf
NJ491 Hamburg-Altona / Hannover Hbf – 22:59 Göttingen – Wien Hbf
SuO ICE990 München Hbf – 01:47 MO Bad Hersfeld – Hamburg-Altona
D4 ICE1688 München Hbf – 01:20 Würzburg Hbf / 01:43 Erfurt Hbf – Hamburg-Altona
NJ470 Zürich HB – 02:31 Hanau Hbf – Hannover Hbf / Hamburg-Altona
NJ490 Wien Hbf – 01:22/01:42 Nürnberg Hbf (– 02:35 Würzburg Hbf, certain days) – Hannover Hbf / Hamburg-Altona
D3 IC886 München Hbf – 08:23 Eisenach – Kiel Hbf
D3 IC882 München Hbf – 10:23 Eisenach – Kiel Hbf
D5 IC880 München Hbf – 12:24 Eisenach – Hamburg-Altona
D3 IC788 München Hbf – 14:23 Eisenach – Hamburg-Altona
D3 IC2082/2084 Berchtesgaden Hbf / Oberstdorf – 15:27 Fulda – Hamburg Hbf
D3 IC786 München Hbf / Leipzig Hbf – 16:23 Eisenach – Hamburg-Altona
D3 IC784 München Hbf – 18:23 Eisenach – Hamburg-Altona
D3 IC782 München Hbf – 20:23 Eisenach – Hamburg-Altona

D1: 11 December 2022 - 3 March 2023; 19 March - 14 July, 28 July - 9 December 2023. Dates from Göttingen are one day later.

D2: 4-18 March. 15-27 July 2023. Dates from Göttingen are one day later.

D3: 1 April - 9 December 2023

D4: Runs via Erfurt Hbf 26 May - 11 September 2023

D5: 27 May - 11 September 2023

Urlaubs Express trains to and from Hamburg are likely to use this route.

Bebra avoiding line: Ludwigsau-Friedlos (Abzw Blankenheim) – Ronshausen (Abzw Faßdorf)

[615.1] (ERA-E 54B5; ERA-R 107A4; S+W 66 inset [2020 edition: 67 inset]) DE23/503

This south to east curve enables trains between Fulda and Eisenach to avoid reversal at Bebra. It is used by trains (an ICE/IC service at least hourly) running non-stop between Fulda or Bad Hersfeld and Eisenach.

Gießen avoiding line: Dutenhofen – Großen Linden (Gießen Bergwald Stw Gs)

[445] (ERA-E 53C4; ERA-R 106A3; S+W 65A4) DE23/504

This west to south curve enables trains to run between Wetzlar and Friedberg (Hess) without reversing at Gießen. It is used by IC trains every two hours between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and destinations via Siegen and also by:

SSuX HLB RE24531 Siegen – 05:47 Wetzlar – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
SSuX HLB RE24530 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – 18:00 Bad Nauheim – Siegen

Fulda area

[615] (ERA-E 54B4 not shown; ERA-R 107A3; S+W 78C1) DE23/505

Neuhof (Kr Fulda) (Fulda-Bronnzell) – Fulda via flyover

The flyover south of Fulda station allows trains to run from the northbound line from Hanau into the low-numbered platforms at Fulda, without crossing the Schnellfahrstrecke on the level. It is used by most RE50 trains from Frankfurt am Main Hbf terminating at Fulda. These run hourly.

Neuhof (Kr Fulda) via southbound platform loop

Local hourly stopping services from Fulda towards Frankfurt am Main Hbf must use the loop of the main line to call at Platform 3 as there is no platform on the southbound main line. This loop line is on a separate alignment well to the west of the main line.

Flieden – Sterbfritz (Elm Bbf)

(ERA-E 54A4-54B4; ERA-R 107A2; S+W 78C1-78C2) DE23/506

This is part of the former main line between München and Hamburg. Daytime expresses now use the Schnellfahrstrecke and diversion of Gemünden local trains to Schlüchtern, instead of Fulda, has left the route with regular passenger trains only during the night, plus occasional diversions.

NJ491 Hamburg-Altona / Hannover Hbf – 22:59 Göttingen – Wien Hbf
D6 IC634 Nürnberg Hbf – 05:44 Würzburg Hbf – Bremen Hbf
D7 ICE1689 Hamburg-Altona - 01:13 Göttingen - München Hbf
D7 ICE1688 München Hbf - 01:20 Würzburg Hbf - Hamburg-Altona
NJ490 Wien Hbf – 01:22/01:42 Nürnberg Hbf (– 02:35 Würzburg Hbf, certain days) – Hannover Hbf / Hamburg-Altona

D6: 9 October - 9 December 2023

D7: 11 December 2022 - 25 May 2023; 12 September- 9 December 2023

Hanau West (Weiche 403/404) – Hanau Hbf (Nordseite)

[640] (ERA-E 54A3 not shown; ERA-R 122B4 not shown; S+W 153D2) DE23/507

This route is used by trains between the Maintal and Fulda lines. There are two spurs linking the Maintal line to Hanau Hbf Nordseite (Fulda line). The southerly one is for eastbound trains via platform 7 only. The other is reversible and links with platforms 2 to 7. Most local trains via Maintal Ost terminating or starting at Hanau Hbf normally use the reversible connection and platform 5.

Most IC and ICE trains run via Offenbach (Main), but some are routed via Maintal. The following are scheduled to run via Maintal Ost and Hanau Hbf Nordseite.

SSuX ICE1658 Erfurt Hbf – 06:44 Fulda – Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf
D8 ICE791 Berlin Ostbahnhof – 11:24 Hanau Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf
D8 ICE793 Berlin Ostbahnhof – 13:25 Hanau Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf
D8 SSuO ICE1285/1683 Hamburg-Altona - 15:15/15:16 Hanau Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D8 ICE795 Berlin Ostbahnhof – 15:25 Hanau Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf
D8 ICE797 Berlin Ostbahnhof - 17:24 Hanau Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf
D8 SuO ICE1085 Hamburg-Altona – 19:29 Hanau Hbf – Karlsruhe Hbf
D8 ICE1699 Berlin Ostbahnhof – 18:47 Fulda – Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf
D9 ICE273 Berlin Gesundbrunnen – 21:34 Hanau Hbf – Basel SBB
NJ470 Zürich HB – 02:14 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Hamburg-Altona
D8 ICE1590 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – 08:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Berlin Ostbahnhof
D8 ICE992 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – 10:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Berlin Ostbahnhof
D8 ICE798 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – 12:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Berlin Ostbahnhof
D8 ICE796 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – 14:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Berlin Ostbahnhof
D8 ICE794 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – 16:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Berlin Ostbahnhof
D8 SuO ICE1594 16:14 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Hamburg-Altona
D10 SX ICE1733 16:15 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Berlin Gesundbrunnen
D8 FSSuX ICE1951 16:15 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Erfurt Hbf
D8 ICE776 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – 17:15 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Hannover Hbf / Oldenburg (Oldb) Hbf
D8 ICE792 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - 18:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Berlin Ostbahnhof
D8 ICE1690 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – 20:20 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Berlin Ostbahnhof

D8: 11 December 2022 - 31 March 2023

D9: 17 August - 27 September 2023

D10: 2 April - 8 December 2023

Hanau West (Weiche 403/404) – Hanau Hbf (Südseite)

[640] (ERA-E 54A3; ERA-R 122B4 not shown; S+W 153D2) DE23/508

This route is used by RB trains between Aschaffenburg and Frankfurt am Main via the Maintal line.

Offenbach (Main) Hbf - Offenbach (Main) Ost

[645.8-9] (ERA-E 57C2; ERA-R 122B3; S+W 153B2) DE23/509

This 1.7km connecting line links the main Frankfurt - Hanau line at Offenbach Hbf with the S-Bahn line at Offenbach Ost. Early on Monday mornings certain S8 trains between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Offenbach Ost run to and from Frankfurt am Main Hbf (high level) via Frankfurt am Main Süd and this line.

From Offenbach (Main) Hbf: 00:40 MO, 01:12 MO and 01:39 MO (Not 3 April to 1 May 2023)

From Offenbach (Main) Ost: 23:58 SuO, 00:28 MO and 00:58 MO (Not 2/3 April to 30 April/1 May 2023)

Frankfurt am Main Hbf

Trains between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Frankfurt am Main Stadion, Neu Isenburg or Frankfurt am Main Süd may use two routes over the River Main, crossing the Niederräder Brücke or the Main-Neckar-Brücke, about 2 km further upstream. The line over the Niederräder Brücke gives access to platforms 1a through 8 on the south side (via Abzw Gutleuthof), platforms 15 through 24 on the north side of the Hauptbahnhof and the S-Bahn underground station. The Main-Neckar-Brücke gives access to platforms 4 through 13, but following construction of a new spur it may be possible for trains to run to platforms 1 to 3 as well. Platforms 4 through 8 are accessible from both bridges.

Trains via Frankfurt am Main Süd and Neu Isenburg mainly use the Main-Neckar-Brücke and those via Frankfurt am Main Stadion mainly the Niederräder Brücke. There is little difference in journey time between Frankfurt am Main Stadion and the Hauptbahnhof via either bridge. However, there is a significant difference between Frankfurt am Main Süd and the Hauptbahnhof, with trains via Niederräder Brücke being scheduled at least 10 minutes, rather than 6 or 7 minutes for the Main-Neckar-Brücke route.

Many long-distance trains reverse at Frankfurt and, in the lists below, trains using a route inward are shown before those using it outward.

Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Süd

[615, 615.1, 640] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2-122B3; S+W 151C3-151D3) DE23/511

Most trains run via Main-Neckar-Brücke. The following trains are scheduled via Niederräder Brücke and Abzw Forsthaus:

FO IC2022 Nürnberg Hbf – 14:04 Aschaffenburg Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D8 SO ICE1285 Hamburg-Altona - 15:16 Hanau Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D8 SuO ICE1683 Hamburg-Altona – 15:16 Hanau Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D8 SX ICE1594 16:14 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Hamburg-Altona
D8 FSSuX ICE1951 16:15 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Erfurt Hbf
D9 SX ICE1733 16:15 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Berlin-Gesundbrunnen
D8 SX ICE776 17:01 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Hannover Hbf / Oldenburg (Oldb) Hbf

D8: 11 December 2022 - 31 March 2023

D9: 27 May - 9 September 2023

D10: 2 April - 8 December 2023

Local trains taking longer than ten minutes between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Frankfurt am Main Süd can be expected to run via Frankfurt Niederrad.

Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Neu Isenburg (via Abzw Forsthaus)

[650, 650.2] (ERA-E 57B2-57C2; ERA-R 122B2-122B3; S+W 151C3-151C4) DE23/512

Most trains to and from Neu Isenburg, other than S-Bahn, run via Main-Neckar-Brücke, but the following are scheduled via Niederräder Brücke:

D MO / FSSuX IC2286 Rottweil / Horb – 08:47 Darmstadt Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D9 SO ICE1571 07:02 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Karlsruhe Hbf
D MO / FSSuX IC1995 16:51 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Stuttgart Hbf

D9: 27 May - 9 September 2023

IC1995 and IC2286 run in connection with trade fairs.

Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Stadion

[471, 472, 655, 655.1] (ERA-E 57C2-57B2 not shown; ERA-R 122B3-122B2; S+W 151C3-151B4) DE23/513

Most trains (and particularly RE and RB ones) run via Niederräder Brücke. Most RE and RB trains use platforms 15–24 on the north side of the Hauptbahnhof. Most S-Bahn S7 services and many IC and ICE trains run via Abzw Gutleuthof and use platforms 1–8 on the south side of the Hauptbahnhof.

The following trains are scheduled via Main-Neckar Brücke:

  • ICE trains from Frankfurt am Main Hbf to Mannheim Hbf hourly 05:50 to 21:50
  • ICE trains from Frankfurt am Main Hbf to Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof hourly 07:10 to 22:10
  • ICE trains from Mannheim Hbf to Frankfurt am Main Hbf hourly 06:32 to 22:32, every two hours 06:41 to 20:41 and every two hours 07:16 to 19:16, but not when the 19:16 terminates at Frankfurt am Main Hbf

Timings from Mannheim may vary by a few minutes, because of engineering work.

The following trains are also scheduled to use this route:

ICE698 München Hbf – 02:29 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof – Berlin-Gesundbrunnen
ICE672 Wiesbaden Hbf – 05:32 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof – Hamburg-Altona
MO ICE696 Karlsruhe Hbf – 05:28 Mannheim Hbf – Berlin-Gesundbrunnen / Hamburg-Altona
D11 ICE27 Dortmund Hbf – 12:01 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof – Wien Hbf
EC459 Zürich HB – 23:42 Mannheim Hbf – Praha hl.n
D8 ICE887/1087 Hamburg-Altona – 00:13 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Wiesbaden Hbf
ICE699 Hamburg-Altona – 02:25 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – München Hbf
EC458 Praha hl.n – 04:00 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Zürich HB
ICE826 05:40 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Essen Hbf
D8 SSuX ICE1097 Hamburg-Altona – 09:34 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf
ICE1554 Dresden Hbf – 20:56 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Wiesbaden Hbf / Saarbrücken Hbf

D8: 11 December 2022 - 31 March 2023

D11: 11 December 2022 - 26 May 2023; 12 September - 9 September 2023

Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Frankfurt-Höchst

[466, 627, 646] (ERA-E 57B2 not shown; ERA-R 122B3-122B2 not shown; S+W 151C3-151B3 partly shown) DE23/514

Most trains, other than S-Bahn, between Frankfurt-Höchst and Frankfurt am Main Hbf run via Abzw Mainzer Landstraße.

Most of those to and from Koblenz and Wiesbaden use the connection between Abzw Mainzer Landstraße and platforms 15–24 on the north side of Frankfurt am Main Hbf. A new westbound alignment to the north of the carriage sidings at Frankfurt Außenbahnhof, including a flyover over the western exit lines from the Außenbahnhof, came into use on 29 November 2021. The previously bidirectional single line is now used only for trains heading towards Frankfurt am Main Hbf.

Most trains to and from Limburg (Lahn) run via Abzw Gutleuthof to use platforms 1–8 on the south side of the Hauptbahnhof.

Generally only S-Bahn services to and from the low-level station at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf use the route via Frankfurt-Griesheim.

Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Frankfurt-Rödelheim (via Abzw Mainzer Landstraße)

[637] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 151C3-152D2) DE23/515

This route is used by the through trains between Brandoberndorf, Grävenwiesbach and Frankfurt am Main Hbf, all of which arrive and depart at the north side platforms. These run on Mondays to Fridays, peak hours only. S-Bahn trains between Frankfurt-Rödelheim and Frankfurt am Main Hbf run via Frankfurt West. A new westbound alignment to the north of the carriage sidings at Frankfurt (Main) Außenbahnhof, including a flyover over the western exit lines from the Außenbahnhof, came into use on 29 November 2021. The previously bidirectional single line is now used only for trains heading towards Frankfurt am Main Hbf.

Frankfurt am Main Süd (Abstellbahnhof) – Frankfurt-Louisa

[650, 650.2] (ERA-E 57C2; ERA-R 122B3; S+W 151D3-151C4) DE23/521

This east to south curve provides a link between Frankfurt am Main Süd and the Darmstadt line. There is a frequent S-Bahn service over tracks parallel to this route.

NJ471 / IC60471 Hamburg-Altona / Hannover Hbf – 04:32 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Zürich HB
D8 FO ICE1079 Hamburg-Harburg / Hamburg-Altona – 17:55 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Stuttgart Hbf
SuO IC1956 Leipzig Hbf – 17:55 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Karlsruhe Hbf
SuO ICE1085 Hamburg-Altona – 19:45 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Karlsruhe Hbf
NJ470 / IC60470 Zürich HB – 01:53 Darmstadt Hbf – Hannover Hbf / Hamburg-Altona
D8 FO ICE1694 / ICE1737 Stuttgart Hbf – 13:46 Darmstadt Hbf – Berlin-Südkreuz / Berlin-Gesundbrunnen
SuO IC1174 Basel SBB – 13:46 Darmstadt Hbf – Berlin-Südkreuz / Berlin-Gesundbrunnen

D8: 11 December 2022 - 31 March 2023

Frankfurt am Main Stadion – Neu Isenburg (via Abzw Forsthaus)

[471, 650] (ERA-E 57B2-57C2; ERA-R 122B2-122B3; S+W 151B4-151C4) DE23/522

This route is used by trains between Frankfurt am Main Stadion and Neu Isenburg if not booked to call at Frankfurt am Main Hbf.

SSuX ICE1223 06:47 Darmstadt Hbf - Düsseldorf Hbf (continues to München via Kassel)

Frankfurt am Main Stadion – Frankfurt am Main Süd (via Abzw Forsthaus)

[640] (ERA-E 57B2-57C2; ERA-R 122B2-122B3; S+W 151B4-151D3) DE23/523

This route is used by trains between Frankfurt am Main Stadion and Frankfurt am Main Süd if not booked to call at Frankfurt am Main Hbf. There are ICE and local trains that do so throughout the day.

See route DE23/521 (above) for details of trains that run via Frankfurt-Louisa, instead of the direct route via line 3650.

Limburg Süd (Abzw Breckenheim) - Wiesbaden Hbf (Wiesbaden-Wäschbach)

[472] (ERA-E 57A2; ERA-R 122B1; S+W 151B1 - 151D1) DE23/524

This branch off the Köln - Frankfurt Schnellfahrstrecke is used by ICE trains between Köln and Wiesbaden Hbf.

SSuX ICE711 Köln Hbf - 06:54 Limburg Süd - Stuttgart Hbf
SX ICE713 Köln Hbf - 18:20 Limburg Süd - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
SSuX ICE712 Mainz Hbf - 06:22 Wiesbaden Hbf - Köln Hbf
SSuX ICE710 Stuttgart Hbf - 16:45 Wiesbaden Hbf - Köln Hbf / Köln Messe/Deutz

Wiesbaden avoiding line: Wiesbaden-Biebrich - Wiesbaden Ost

[466] (ERA-E 57A2; ERA-R 122B1; S+W 151C3-151B3) DE23/525

This line allows trains to run between Frankfurt am Main and the Rechte Rheinstrecke (via Rüdesheim) without reversal at Wiesbaden Hbf. It is used by Monday to Friday RE peak trains between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Eltville or Rudesheim which do not call at Wiesbaden Hbf.

From Mainz-Kastel: 07:36, 08:34, 15:34, 16:34, 17:34, 18:34 all SSuX

From Wiesbaden-Biebrich: 06:15, 07:15, 08:15, 09:15, 16:15, 17:15 all SSuX

Mainz-Bischofsheim (Abzw Kostheim Ost) – Mainz-Kastel (Abzw Kostheim)

[645.8-9, 651] (ERA-E 57A1-57A2; ERA-R 122C1; S+W 151D2-151C2) DE23/526

This connection across the Main splits in two parts at Abzw Kostheim Ost just north of the river. The two main tracks fly over the Höchst line and turn west to touch it briefly (Abzw Kostheim) before turning north to become route DE23/527 to the Kaiserbrücke over the Rhein. There is also a single-track south-to-west curve (line 3531) that avoids the flyover and diverges from the Höchst line to the south at Abzw Kostheim. This is used by used by trains from Mainz-Kastel to Bischofsheim, but all trains from Bischofsheim use the main track until Abzw Kostheim. The eastbound main track from Abzw Kostheim to Abzw Kostheim Ost is only used by trains coming from the Mainz Kaiserbrücke via route DE23/527.

Hochheim (Main) (Abzw Kostheim) – Mainz Hbf (Abzw Kaiserbrücke Ost)

[471] (ERA-E 57A2; ERA-R 122C1; S+W 151C2) DE23/527

This route allows trains from the north bank of the River Main to access the Kaiserbrücke over the River Rhein to Mainz, so trains can run between Mainz Hbf and the Frankfurt area via Frankfurt-Höchst. This line can also be used to allow trains to run between Mainz-Bischofsheim and Mainz-Mombach without passing through Mainz Hbf.

The line is used by RE4 services, generally every two hours with peak extras, between Frankfurt am Main Hbf and Mainz Hbf via Hochheim (Main).

Kelsterbach – Frankfurt am Main Stadion

[471] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 152C3-152D3) DE23/528

This is part of the original main line and is used by trains between Mainz Hbf and the Frankfurt area via Kelsterbach, which stop at neither of the stations at Frankfurt am Main Flughafen.

SSuX RE29243 Kirchheimbolanden – 06:56 Rüsselsheim – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
SSuX RE29205 Alzey – 07:41 Rüsselsheim – Frankfurt am Main Hbf

Frankfurt am Main Gateway Gardens - Frankfurt am Main Stadion

[471] (ERA-E 57B2 not shown; ERA-R 122B2 not shown; S+W 152D3) DE23/529

Where the new line from Frankfurt Flughafen Regionalbf converges with the old main line via Kelsterbach west of Frankfurt am Main Stadion two routes are possible. Trains to the S-Bahn tunnel route under the city centre cross the Kelsterbach line on a flyover. Some RE trains to the Hauptbahnhof high-level station use a single track connection directly to the line from Kelsterbach.

Raunheim (Abzw Mönchwald) – Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf (Abzw Mönchhof)

[471] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122C2; S+W 152B4) DE23/530

This spur connects the old main line from Mainz Hbf to the Schnellfahrstrecke from Köln. It is used by trains calling at both Mainz Hbf and Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf. There is a two-hourly ICE service for most of the day.

Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – Zeppelinheim

[655.1] (ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 152D3) DE23/531

This south to west curve is from Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf to the line to Mannheim via Biblis. It is used by trains running direct between Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf and Mannheim. These are ICE services at least hourly.

Weiterstadt (Abzw Darmstadt Stockschneise) – Darmstadt Nord – Darmstadt-Kranichstein

(ERA-E 57B1; ERA-R 122C2-122C3; S+W 154C2) DE23/532

This west to east route connects the Mainz and Aschaffenburg lines north of Darmstadt Hbf. Between Darmstadt Nord and Darmstadt-Kranichstein it has its own alignment, different from the one used by local passenger trains. The Darmstadt-Kranichstein railway museum sometimes runs a shuttle service between Groß-Gerau and Kranichstein during its annual Bahnwelttage event in May.

The route is also occasionally used for diversion of trains between Mainz and Aschaffenburg.

Arheilgen – Darmstadt-Nord

[641] (ERA-E 57B1; ERA-R 122C2-122C3; S+W 154C2) DE23/533

This north to east curve connects the Frankfurt am Main and Aschaffenburg lines north of Darmstadt Hbf. It is used by through trains between Frankfurt (Main) Hbf and Groß-Umstadt Wiebelsbach via Darmstadt Nord, generally hourly. Note that some of the services from Frankfurt (Main) to Groß-Umstadt Wiebelsbach are omitted from Table 641 but they are shown in the DB journey planner and on the Vias website.

Darmstadt Hbf – Weiterstadt (Abzw Darmstadt Bergschneise and Abzw Weiterstadt Stockschneise)

[651] (ERA-E 57B1 partly shown; S+W 154C3-154C2) DE23/534

Darmstadt Hbf is connected to the line towards Mainz by three geographically separate tracks, of which two constitute a widely separated double track flying junction and the third is reversible.

The Darmstadt to Mainz track diverges from the main track towards Frankfurt (line 3605) north of Darmstadt Hbf, at about the the place where it passes over the Aschaffenburg – Mainz line. It then makes a 135° curve to the left and joins the Aschaffenburg – Mainz line from the north at Abzw Stockschneise. It was formerly numbered as line 3537 but is now numbered as 3530 as the Mainz-bound track of the double-track Darmstadt to Mainz line. The Mainz to Darmstadt track of line 3530 diverges to the south at Abzw Stockschneise directly to the Hauptbahnhof, where it eventually becomes platform 9.

Between these two tracks, there is a reversible track (line 3541) which splits from the Mainz - Aschaffenburg line on the flat at Abzw Bergschneise, 1 km east of Abzw Stockschneise. At Darmstadt Hbf it arrives between the tracks from/to Darmstadt Nord, which eventually become platforms 7 and 8.

Trains from Mainz use the short curve of line 3530. Trains towards Mainz from platforms 8 and 9 (which are most of them) can only use the reversible Bergschneise route as line 3605 and therefore the Stockschneise route cannot be reached from these platforms.

Only two services at 06:12 and 08:12 (both SSuX) depart from platform 7 and so can use either route. The Stockschneise route is longer but allows higher speeds. A report in November 2021 confirmed that the 08:12 service took the Stockschneise route and therefore the 'long curve'. Which route is used can be seen from the position of the scissors crossover points just north of the platforms – left for the Bergschneise route, right for the Stockschneise route. The compilers would welcome any further reports of which route is taken by these two trains.

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

Hanau avoiding line: Großkrotzenburg - Hanau Nord (Rauschwald)

(ERA-E 54A3; ERA-R 122B4; S+W 151D2) DE23/541

This line is used occasionally, particularly by overnight trains, to allow trains to run between the Aschaffenburg and Fulda or Friedberg lines without reversal at Hanau Hbf.

Frankfurt am Main Hbf avoiding line: Frankfurt am Main West (Galluswarte) – Frankfurt-Louisa (Main-Neckar Brücke)

(ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B3; S+W 151C3) DE23/542

This line provides a link between Frankfurt West and lines to the south, but particularly via Darmstadt, for trains not required to call at the Hauptbahnhof. Use of this route is indicated by trains calling at Frankfurt am Main West instead of the Hauptbahnhof.

Frankfurt am Main Hbf avoiding line: Frankfurt West (Galluswarte) – Frankfurt-Niederrad

(ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 151C3-151B3) DE23/543

This line provides a link between Frankfurt West and lines to the south via Niederräder Brücke, for trains not required to call at the Hauptbahnhof. It is sometimes used by IC trains when there is engineering working in the Hauptbahnhof area. However, as most IC trains via Frankfurt West also run via Darmstadt, use of route DE23/542 is more likely.

Frankfurt am Main Hbf avoiding line: Frankfurt-Niederrad – Frankfurt-Höchst

(ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122B2; S+W 151C4-152C2) DE23/543A

There are two possible routes between Niederräder Brücke and Frankfurt-Höchst – a south to east curve to the S-Bahn line via Frankfurt-Griesheim and a south to north link to the main line at Abzw. Mainzer Landstraße.

On various dates the following overnight services are booked to run via Niederräder Brücke and Höchst; however it is unclear which of the two routes they will take in between these points. Whether trains will run via one or other of these routes can be confirmed by their omitting calls at both Mainz Hbf and Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf.

D12 Daily / MWFX NJ420 Innsbruck Hbf – 03:47 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Amsterdam Centraal
D12 Daily / MWFX NJ421 Amsterdam Centraal – 23:46 Koblenz Hbf – Innsbruck Hbf

D12: Daily 31 March - 25 May and 21 August - 27 September 2023; MWFX 28 September - 10 December 2023 (one day later from Frankfurt Süd and Koblenz Hbf)

Limburg Süd (Caltex) - Kelsterbach (Brunnenschneise)

(ERA-E 57B2; ERA-R 122C2-122B2; S+W 152B3) DE23/544

This north to east curve allows trains to run between the Köln - Frankfurt Schnellfahrstrecke and the old main line between Mainz and Frankfurt. Use by passenger trains is extremely rare and further diversions are unlikely soon, but are indicated by a stop at Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf being omitted.

Groß Gerau – Groß Gerau-Dornberg

[660] (ERA-E 47B1; ERA-R 122C2; S+W 154A2) DE23/545

IC and EC trains between Mainz and Mannheim (not calling at Frankfurt am Main Flughafen) normally run via Worms, but are sometimes diverted via Groß Gerau and Groß Gerau-Dornberg. Relief IC trains may also use this west to south curve, and it has been used at short notice when there is an operating or infrastructure problem on the Worms route. Following signalling alterations at Mannheim Hbf, it is no longer possible to determine there whether a train to Mainz is to run via Groß Gerau. If local trains via Worms are replaced by buses, it is likely that IC and EC trains will use this route.

Groß Gerau-Dornberg – Klein Gerau (Abzw Klein Gerau Eichmühle)

[655] (ERA-E 47B1; ERA-R 122C2; S+W 154A2) DE23/546

This is the east to south curve at Groß Gerau. Occasionally, RE70 services between Mannheim Hbf and Frankfurt are diverted to/from Frankfurt am Main Süd via this curve, reversing at Darmstadt Hbf, with a public call there.

See also