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

From EGTRE
Jump to navigationJump to search

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable dated from 10 December 2017 to 8 December 2018, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information. Map references relate to the 2014 issue of the Schweers+Wall Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland.

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] (55B3) DE18/501

This north to east curve links the Göttingen and Nordhausen lines and is used by through trains between Göttingen and Leinefelde (generally every two hours).

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

(55B4) DE18/502

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 use the Schnellfahrstrecke, so the only passenger trains to use the main line, bypassing Eschwege, are overnight ones.

D1 FO IC469 Flensburg - 01:20 SO Göttingen - Basel Bad Bf
D2 FSO IC479 Kiel Hbf - 01:20 SSuO Göttingen - Basel Bad Bf
NJ471 Berlin Ostbf - 01:26 Göttingen - Zürich HB
MO ICE271 Hamburg-Altona - 03:07 Göttingen - Chur
NJ491 Hamburg-Altona - 22:59 Göttingen - Wien Hbf
NJ470 Zürich HB - 01:47 Fulda - Berlin Ostbf
D3 ICE990 München Hbf - 02:33 MO Bad Hersfeld - Hamburg-Altona
SO IC468 Basel Bad Bf - 03:33 SuO Fulda - Flensburg
FO IC478 Basel Bad Bf - 03:33 SO Fulda - Kiel Hbf
NJ490 Wien Hbf – 04:12 Fulda – Hamburg-Altona

This route is also used by trains between Paris and Moskva on nights when there is not a stop at Erfurt.

D1: 15 December to 22 June, 5 & 12 October; not 29 December

D2: SO 16 December to 23 June, FSO 29 June to 24 August

D3: SSuX 11 December to 18 March and 6 to 31 August; daily 23 May to 3 Aug; MSSuX 4 Sep to 7 Dec.

On other nights the Kiel and Flensburg trains are diverted via Kassel.

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

[605, 610] (66 insert) DE18/503

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. It is also used by the trains between Paris and Moskva on nights when there is a stop at Erfurt.

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

[445, 630] (65A4) DE18/504

This west to south curve enables trains to run between Wetzlar and Friedberg (Hess) without reversing at Gießen.

SSuX RE24931 Siegen – 05:47 Wetzlar – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
SSuX RE24930 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – 17:58 Bad Nauheim – Siegen

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

[615] (78C1) DE18/505

The flyover south of the 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 RE trains via Flieden terminating at Fulda.

Flieden – Sterbfritz (Elm Bbf)

(78C1-78C2) DE18/506

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 passenger trains only during the night.

NJ491 Hamburg-Altona - 22:59 Göttingen - Wien Hbf
NJ490 Wien Hbf – 03:00 Würzburg Hbf – Hamburg-Altona

Wolfgang (Kr Hanau) – Hanau Hbf (via Abzw Rauschwald)

[615] (153D2) DE18/507

This route enables trains to and from the Fulda line to use the south side platforms (101 to 106) at Hanau Hbf.

SSuX RB15541 Bad Soden-Salmünster – 07:23 Wolfgang (Kr Hanau) – Frankfurt am Main Hbf

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

[640] (153D2) DE17/508

This route is used by trains between the Maintal and Fulda lines, except those routed via Abzw Rauschwald (route DE18/507). 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. IC and ICE trains via Hanau may use the Offenbach or Maintal lines and routing is variable, depending on engineering work and other circumstances.

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 Niederrader Brücke or the Main-Neckar-Brücke, about 2 km further upstream. The line over the Niederrader 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 a new spur under construction is expected to allow trains to use 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 Niederrader 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 Niederrader 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] (151C3-151D3) DE18/509

Most trains run via Main-Neckar-Brücke. The following trains run via Niederrader Brücke and Abzw Forsthaus:

D4 FO IC469 Flensburg - 03:33 SO Hanau Hbf - Basel Bad Bf
D5 FSO IC479 Kiel Hbf - 03:33 SSuO Hanau Hbf - Basel Bad Bf
D6 ICE1636 Berlin Hbf - 08:50 Erfurt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
FO IC1997 Hamburg-Altona - 14:40 Fulda – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D7 SuO IC1993 Hamburg-Altona - 15:16 Hanau – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D7 SuO IC1983 Hamburg Hbf - 16:42 Fulda – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D8 IC1956 Leipzig Hbf - 18:03 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D9 IC2375 Westerland (Sylt) - 17:03 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe - Karlsruhe Hbf
D7 SuO IC2177 Hamburg-Altona - 19:15 Hanau - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D9 IC2377 Ostseebad Binz - 19:03 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe - Karlsruhe Hbf
FO IC478 Basel Bad Bf - 02:20 SO Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Kiel Hbf
SO IC468 Basel Bad Bf – 02:20 SuO Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Flensburg
D10 FO IC2278 Karlsruhe Hbf - 08:08 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Hannover Hbf
D9 IC2376 Karlsruhe Hbf - 09:16 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Stralsund Hbf/Ostseebad Binz
SO IC1986 10:16 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Hamburg-Altona
D9 IC2374 Karlsruhe Hbf - 11:16 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Westerland (Sylt)
FO IC1972 12:16 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Hamburg-Altona
FSuO IC1994 16:14 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Hamburg-Altona

D4: FO 15 December to 22 June, 5 & 12 October; not 29 December

D5: SO 16 December to 23 June, FSO 29 June to 25 August

D6: 31 May, 3 October and 1 November

D7: 24 June to 5 August

D8: 26 December only

D9: 23 June to 12 August

D10: 15 December to 7 September

Although trains from Groß-Umstadt Wiebelsbach to Frankfurt am Main Hbf, departing Frankfurt am Main Süd at 5 minutes past the hour, are allowed 15 minutes to the Hauptbahnhof, they run via Main Neckar Brücke, but with a pathing stop en route.

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

[650, 650.2] (151C3-151C4) DE18/510

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

D11 SSuX IC1996 Stuttgart Hbf - 07:41 Darmstadt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D9 IC2376 Karlsruhe Hbf - 08:23 Darmstadt Hbf - Stralsund Hbf/Ostseebad Binz
D12 IC2390/2392 Stuttgart Hbf - 08:41 Darmstadt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D9 IC2330 Karlsruhe Hbf - 10:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Westerland (Sylt)
FO IC1992 Stuttgart Hbf - 10:35 Darmstadt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D9 IC2330 Karlsruhe Hbf - 14:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D11 SSuX EC218 Graz Hbf - 15:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D11 IC2292 Stuttgart Hbf - 17:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D11 MO IC2419 Köln Hbf - 05:15 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
D11 EC113 08:13 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Klagenfurt Hbf
MO IC1999 11:16 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
D9 IC2331 15:09 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Karlsruhe Hbf
D12 IC2391 16:50 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
D11 SX IC2295 18:14 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - München Hbf
D9 IC2375 Westerland (Sylt) - 19:09 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Karlsruhe Hbf
FO IC2171 Hamburg-Altona - 20:15 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
D9 FO IC2377 Ostseebad Binz - 21:42 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Karlsruhe Hbf

D9: 23 June to 12 August

D11: 8 September to 8 December

D12: Train IC2392 runs MO. Trains IC2390 and IC2391 run in connection with trade fairs. Train IC2391 runs on 29 & 30 January, 12 & 13 February, 19 to 22 March, 10 to 12 April, 23 April, 11 to 14 June, 10 to 13 September and 9 to 11 October. IC2390 runs a day later in all cases.

Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Frankfurt am Main Stadion

[471, 472, 655, 655.1] (151C3-151B4) DE18/511

Most trains (and particularly RE and RB ones) run via Niederrader 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 run via Main-Neckar-Brücke and Abzw Forsthaus:

  • ICE trains from Mannheim Hbf to Frankfurt am Main Hbf hourly 07:32 to 21:32 and every two hours 07:16 to 19:16;
  • ICE trains from Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf to Frankfurt am Main Hbf every two hours 06:41 to 20:41;
  • ICE trains from Frankfurt am Main Hbf to Mannheim Hbf hourly 05:50 to 20:50 (except 06:50);
  • ICE trains from Frankfurt am Main Hbf to Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf hourly 07:10 to 22:10 (except 09:10, 12:10 & 16:10)

Other trains via this route are:

D ICE990 München Hbf - 00:31 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf/Hamburg-Altona
D FSO RJ1066 Budapest Keleti - 00:31 SSuO Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D ICE1718 München Hbf - 02:30 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - Halle (Saale) Hbf/Berlin Hbf
SSuX ICE827 Köln Hbf - 04:36 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - München Hbf
D13 MO IC2419 Köln Hbf - 04:42 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - Stuttgart Hbf
ICE618/1018 München Hbf - 05:18 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - Essen Hbf/Dortmund Hbf
MO ICE696 Karlsruhe Hbf - 05:28 Mannheim Hbf - Hamburg-Altona/Kiel Hbf
ICE23 Dortmund Hbf - 08:02 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - Wien Hbf
D14 ICE1557 Saarbrücken Hbf - 08:13 Mannheim Hbf - Dresden Hbf
ICE1597 Wiesbaden Hbf/Mainz Hbf - 09:01 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - Leipzig Hbf/Dresden Hbf
ICE27 Hamburg Hbf - 12:02 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf - Wien Hbf
ICE1653 Wiesbaden Hbf - 15:01 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – Dresden Hbf
ICE1655 Wiesbaden Hbf – 17:01 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – Dresden Hbf
ICE4 Zürich HB - 22:33 Mannheim Hbf - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
D SX ICE251 Amsterdam C – 23:09 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
ICE887/1087 Hamburg-Altona - 00:13 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Wiesbaden Hbf
D ICE1719 Hamburg-Altona - 02:13 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - München Hbf
D15 IC2220/2320 05:42 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Hamburg-Altona/Lübeck Hbf
ICE5 06:48 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Basel SBB
IC1971 06:55 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf
D13 ICE1594 Dresden Hbf - 20:42 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Wiesbaden Hbf
D14 ICE1554 Dresden Hbf - 20:54 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Saarbrücken Hbf
ICE695 Berlin Hbf - 21:51 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf/München Hbf

D13: 10 September to 7 December

D14: 28 July to 2 September

D15: NOT via this route FSSuO 8 September to 28 October and SSuX 31 October to 7 December.

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

[466, 627, 646] (50A3, 151C3-151B3) DE18/512

All 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. Most of those to and from Limburg (Lahn) run via Abzw Gutleuthof to use platforms 1–8 on the south side of the Hauptbahnhof. Exceptions include IC2317 07:01 Frankfurt am Main to Stuttgart Hbf, which runs via Abzw Gutleuthof.

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

[637] (50A3, 151C3-152D2) DE18/513

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. S-Bahn trains between Frankfurt-Rödelheim and Frankfurt am Main Hbf run via Frankfurt West.

Frankfurt am Main Süd (Abst Anlage) – Frankfurt-Louisa

[650, 650.2] (151D3-151C4) DE18/514

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.

D16 EC113 07:44 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Klagenfurt Hbf
MThFSO FLX1817 Berlin-Lichtenberg - 11:34 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Stuttgart Hbf
SX FLX1819 Berlin-Lichtenberg - 19:37 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Stuttgart Hbf
D13 SSuX ICE1533 06:37 Darmstadt Hbf - Berlin Hbf
SuX FLX1818 Stuttgart Hbf - 08:04 Darmstadt Hbf - Berlin-Lichtenberg
FO IC1970 Stuttgart Hbf - 13:46 Darmstadt Hbf – Stralsund Hbf
MThFSO FLX1816 Stuttgart Hbf - 16:14 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Berlin-Lichtenberg

D13: 10 September to 7 December

D16: 20 May to 29 July

Days and dates of operation of Flixtrain services may vary. To confirm timings and to make bookings, see the Flixtrain website.

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

[471, 650] (151B4-151C4) DE18/515

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 06:48 Darmstadt Hbf - Dortmund Hbf (train continues to München)

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

[640, 655.1] (151B4-151D3) DE18/516

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. These are trains every two hours, though the exact departure time may vary by several minutes:

  • Frankfurt am Main Süd to Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf: ICE 07:41 to 17:41 (not 09:41)
  • Frankfurt am Main Sud to Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Regionalbf: RE 04:40 SSuX to 20:39 SSuX
  • Frankfurt am Main Flughafen to Frankfurt am Main Süd: ICE 08:09 to 18:09
  • Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Regionalbf to Frankfurt am Main Süd: RE 05:07 SSuX, 07:05 SSuX and 09:11 SSuX to 21:11 SSuX

The route is also used by:

NJ470 Zürich HB - 00:05 Mannheim Hbf - Berlin Ostbf
NJ421 Düsseldorf Hbf - 23:53 Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Regionalbf – Innsbruck Hbf
NJ471 Berlin Ostbf - 04:02 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Zürich HB
NJ420 Innsbruck Hbf - 05:26 Frankfurt am Main Süd - Düsseldorf Hbf
FO ICE1079 Hamburg-Altona – 18:01 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Stuttgart Hbf
SuO IC1956 Leipzig Hbf – 18:01 Frankfurt am Main Süd – Karlsruhe Hbf

The trains between Paris and Moskva also use this route.

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

[472] (151B1 - 151D1) DE18/517

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

SSuX ICE711 Köln Hbf - 06:55 Limburg Süd - Stuttgart Hbf
SSuX ICE1228 Dortmund Hbf - 18:21 Limburg Süd - Frankfurt am Main Hbf
SSuX ICE712 Mainz Hbf - 06:23 Wiesbaden Hbf - Köln Hbf
SSuX ICE710 Stuttgart Hbf - 16:45 Wiesbaden Hbf - Köln Hbf

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

[471] (151C2) DE18/518

This route allows trains from the north bank of the River Main to access the Kaiserbrücke over the River Rhein to Mainz, allowing trains to 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, but no passenger trains are scheduled to do so at present.

SO IC2317 07:00 Frankfurt am Main Hbf - Stuttgart Hbf

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

[645.8-9, 651] (151D2-151C2) DE17/519

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 DE17/518 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 DE17/518.

Kelsterbach – Frankfurt am Main Stadion (Abzw Frankfurt Schwanheim)

[471] (152C3-152D3) DE18/520

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 RE24243 Alzey – 06:56 Rüsselsheim – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
SSuX RE29205 Alzey – 07:39 Rüsselsheim – Frankfurt am Main Hbf
FO RE29648 15:30 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Bad Kreuznach
FSSuX RE29650 17:35 Frankfurt am Main Hbf – Bad Kreuznach

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

[471] (152B4) DE18/521

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 an hourly IC service for most of the day.

Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf – Zeppelinheim

[655.1] (152D3) DE18/522

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 principally hourly ICE trains between Köln and Basel or München and two-hourly ICE trains between Frankfurt am Main and Stuttgart (which reverse at Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbf).

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

(154C2) DE18/523

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.

Arheilgen – Darmstadt-Nord

[641] (49B1, 154C2) DE18/524

This north to east curve connects the Frankfurt am Main and Aschaffenburg lines north of Darmstadt Hbf. It is used by through trains between Groß-Umstadt Wiebelsbach and Frankfurt am Main Hbf via Darmstadt Nord, generally every two hours.

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

[651] (154C3-154C2) DE18/525

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

The Darmstadt to Mainz track (line 3537) 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. The Mainz to Darmstadt track (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 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 line 3530. Trains towards Mainz from platforms 6 and 7 can use either the reversible track to Abzw Bergschneise or line 3537. The latter route is longer but allows higher speeds; nevertheless the shorter Bergschneise route is usually used because it does not conflict with use of line 3605 to Frankfurt. 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 confirmation of use of the latter route.

Darmstadt Hbf – Darmstadt-Kranichstein

(154C3-154C2) DE18/526

A shuttle service may operate between Darmstadt Hbf and Darmstadt-Kranichstein in connection with special events at the Darmstadt-Kranichstein railway museum. These trains normally use a completely different route from normal passenger services, which operate to and from platforms on the west side of Darmstadt Hbf. The shuttles use platform 1, on the east side of the Hauptbahnhof, and the goods line via Darmstadt Nord (including part of DE18/524). For details of future events, see the museum website.

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

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

(151C3-151B3) DE18/531

This line provides a link between Frankfurt West and lines to the south, for trains not required to call at the Hauptbahnhof.

D17 FO IC2278 Karlsruhe Hbf - 07:11 Mannheim Hbf - Hannover Hbf

D17: 14 September to 7 December, also 31 October; not 5 & 12 October or 2 November

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

(151C3) DE18/532

This line provides an alternative link between Frankfurt West and lines to the south, but particularly via Darmstadt, for trains not required to call at the Hauptbahnhof. The following trains are diverted this way between 8 September and 8 December, calling at Frankfurt am Main West instead of Frankfurt am Main Hbf

D SuX IC2271 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe - 09:06 Frankfurt am Main West - Heidelberg Hbf
D FSO IC2277 Kassel-Whilhelmshöhe - 11:05 Frankfurt am Main West - Heidelberg Hbf
D IC2279 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe - 13:06 Frankfurt am Main West - Weinheim (Bergstr)
D IC2371 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe - 15:06 Frankfurt am Main West - Weinheim (Bergstr)
D IC2376 Karlsruhe Hbf - 08:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe
D FSSuO IC2372 Weinheim (Bergstr) - 12:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe
D FSuX IC2370 Heidelberg Hbf - 14:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe
D FSuO IC2270 Heidelberg Hbf - 14:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Stralsund Hbf
D IC2276 Heidelberg Hbf - 16:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe
D IC2274 Heidelberg Hbf - 18:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe
D SSuX IC2272 Weinheim (Bergstr) - 20:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe
D SuO IC2172 Stuttgart Hbf - 20:24 Darmstadt Hbf - Hannover Hbf

Groß Gerau – Groß Gerau-Dornberg

[660] (154A2) DE18/533

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. This happened on Saturdays and Sundays 7 October to 3 December 2017. Relief IC trains may also use this west to south curve. 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.

See also