Germany (Niedersachsen and Bremen) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
This list is based on the timetable dated from 13 December 2009 to 11 December 2010, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information.
In the heading to each entry the map reference for the line in the Schweers+Wall Eisenbahn Atlas (2007/2008 edition) is shown, in italic, in addition to the reference to M.G. Ball's European Railway Atlas.
Obscure services
Saline – Westen
[10007] (16A3, 9B3) DE09/151
This is a branch off the line from Westanleger to Wangerooge. Passenger trains run to/from Westen when required by pre-booked parties staying at the Youth Hostel or other accommodation there. Occasional passenger trains, locally advertised, sometimes run in connection with special events at the west end of the island.
Bremen-Sebaldsbrück – Bremen Hbf (via Abzw Vahr)
[380] (16B1, not shown, 9C2-9B2) DE09/152
Trains from the Hannover line to platforms 1, 2 or 3 at Bremen Hbf may use this spur, which passes under both the main Hannover line and the Osnabrück line. They may, alternatively, use crossovers at the approach to Bremen Hbf. The route via Abzw Vahr has been used by RE trains from Hannover to Bremen and also by IC trains from Hannover to Oldenburg. The RE trains have been retimed between Achim and Bremen, so may now use the main line; reports will be welcomed. Trains in the opposite direction normally use the flat junction at Hastedt but, if the departure signal at Bremen Hbf platforms 1, 2 or 3 shows speed restriction 4 (= 40 km/h), that may indicate use of this route. There is no passenger use of the connections between Bremen-Hemelingen and Bremen Hbf via Abzw Vahr known to the compilers.
Bremen avoiding line: Sagehorn – Dreye (Gabelung)
[10] (16B1, 9D1-9C3) DE09/153
Most trains between Hamburg and Osnabrück call at Bremen Hbf, but this route enables those that do not to avoid a lengthy detour.
FSSuX | ICE1094 | Hamburg-Altona – 06:12 Hamburg Hbf – Köln Hbf | |
FO | ICE1101 | Hamburg-Altona – 11:22 Hamburg-Harburg – Köln Hbf | |
FSSuX | ICE1095 | Köln Hbf – 07:03 Essen Hbf – Hamburg-Altona | |
D1 | SuO | IC1816 | Köln Hbf – 17:23 Diepholz – Hamburg-Altona |
FO | IC1806 | Köln Hbf – 17:26 Diepholz – Hamburg-Altona | |
E | WO | AZ13317 | 13:43 Hamburg-Altona – Verona Porta Nuova |
H | TO | AZ13329 | 17:03 Hamburg-Altona – Innsbruck Hbf |
H | WO | AZ13328 | 17:03 19:08 Innsbruck Hbf – Hamburg-Altona |
E | ThO | AZ13316 | 17:03 19:08 Verona Porta Nuova – 20:24 Bolzano – Hamburg-Altona |
D1: 9 January to 10 May 2009.
Kirchweyhe – Kirchweyhe BTE
(16B1 not shown, 20B4) DE09/153A
This south <==> west curve provides the only usable connection between DB and the Bremen-Thedinghauser Eisenbahn. BTE runs a number of excursions each summer from Leeste to destinations on the DB network. In 2009 these were as follows: 2 3 May Hamburg-Harburg; 7 June Bremen-Vegesack; 12 July Worpswede; 2 August Bederkesa; 16 August Bad Zwischenahn; 11 October Hamburg-Harburg. They are often fully booked and advance reservation is essential. See www.pingelheini.de.
Munster (Örtze) – Munster (Örtze) Kaserne Emminger Weg
[17.2] (17B1 not shown, 21D4) DE09/154
This is a branch line which serves an army camp south-west of Munster (Örtze). There is a passenger halt by a level crossing in Emminger Weg, in part of the military area that is open to the public, about 2.5km from Munster (Örtze) station. The following trains start and terminate there for the benefit of Bundeswehr personnel.
FO | IC1931 | 11:50 Munster (Örtze) Kaserne Emminger Weg – Berlin Südkreuz | |
SuO | IC1930 | Berlin Südkreuz – 23:05 Munster (Örtze) – Munster (Örtze) Kaserne Emminger Weg |
Lüneburg Westseite {West station}
[110] (18A2, not shown, 22C3) DE09/155
This is a separate station, west of the main line, which is used by Hamburg local trains starting or terminating at Lüneburg between 08:00 and 23:00 daily. It is also used by all trains to and from Dannenberg Ost.
Osnabrück Schinkel and Löhner Curves: Osnabrück ob Bf – Wissingen (Bbf Lüstringen)
[31, 375, 385] (25A2, 40C3) DE09/156
This is a curve from the high level station at Osnabrück to the Hannover line.
SuX | IC2241 | Münster (Westf) Hbf – 06:04 Osnabrück Hbf – Berlin Ostbahnhof | |
SuO | IC2343 | 08:04 Osnabrück Hbf – Berlin Ostbahnhof | |
SX | IC2242 | Berlin Ostbahnhof – 21:35 Bünde (Westf) – Münster (Westf) Hbf | |
SO | IC2342 | Berlin Ostbahnhof – 21:35 Bünde (Westf) – Osnabrück Hbf | |
SuO | IC2240 | Berlin Ostbahnhof – 23:35 Bünde (Westf) – Münster (Westf) Hbf |
Osnabrück Schinkel and Stahlwerks Curves: Osnabrück ob Bf – Osnabrück unt Bf
[410] (25A2, 40C3) DE09/157
These curves enable trains to run between the high level and low level stations at Osnabrück. The following trains are diverted via this route from 26 October until 22 November 2009, as a result of engineering work between Münster (Westf) and Rheine.
D | FSO | IC2005 | Emden Hbf – 07:30 Rheine – Konstanz |
D | FSSuX | IC2015 | Emden Hbf – 07:30 Rheine – Stuttgart Hbf |
D IC336 Emden Hbf – 09:36 Rheine – Luxembourg
D IC334 Norddeich Mole – 11:36 Rheine – Luxembourg
D IC332 Norddeich Mole – 13:36 Rheine – Luxembourg
D IC330 Norddeich Mole – 15:36 Rheine – Luxembourg
D FSSuX IC2334 Norddeich Mole – 17:36 Rheine – Köln Hbf
D FSuO IC2332 Emden Außenhafen – 17:36 Rheine – Köln Hbf
D SuO IC2330 Norddeich Mole – 19:36 Rheine – Köln Hbf
D MO IC2331 Köln Hbf – 07:30 Münster (Westf) Hbf – Norddeich Mole
D SuX IC2333 Köln Hbf – 09:31 Münster (Westf) Hbf – Norddeich Mole
D FSuX IC231 Luxembourg – 11:31 Münster (Westf) Hbf – Norddeich Mole
D FSuO IC331 Luxembourg – 11:31 Münster (Westf) Hbf – Emden Außenhafen
D IC333 Luxembourg – 13:31 Münster (Westf) Hbf – Norddeich Mole
D IC335 Luxembourg – 15:31 Münster (Westf) Hbf – Norddeich Mole
D SuO IC2004 Konstanz – 17:31 Münster (Westf) Hbf – Emden Hbf
D SSuX IC2014 Stuttgart Hbf – 17:31 Münster (Westf) Hbf – Emden Hbf
D IC337 Luxembourg – 19:31 Münster (Westf) Hbf – Norddeich Mole