Germany (Nordrhein-Westfalen) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable in force from 14 December 2014 until 12 December 2015, 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

Minden (Westf) – Hamm (via Goods Line)

[370,400] (25A1, 41C1-52B1) DE15/351

Hamm to Minden is the longest quadruple line in Germany. Between Bielefeld and Gütersloh the goods lines fly over the passenger lines, and between Heessen and Ahlen they dive under. The goods lines are sometimes used by relief trains between Hannover and the Ruhr in order to overtake stopping services. They are also used when engineering work is taking place on the main line, which may be indicated by stopping trains being advertised not to call at certain stations.

Preußen - Welver (Abzw Hamm Gallberg) (via Horstmar and Hamm (Westf) Rbf)

[415.2, 430] (35B3,52A2 to 134B4) DE15/352

The following train is routed via this freight line. Running from Dortmund to Oberaden via Horstmar is convenient for access to the curve to the Soest line, but also allows IC1959 to be overtaken by ICE849. If either train is late IC1959 may run via the main line and access Hamm (Westf) Rbf from Abzw Selmig. The south-to-west curve at Hamm (line 2921) allows trains to run between Dortmund and Soest without reversing at Hamm (Westf) Bf.

FO

IC1959

Köln Hbf – 12:44 Dortmund Hbf – Dresden Hbf

Dortmund Hbf (Abzw Lütgendortmund) – Witten Hbf (Abzw Stockumer Straße)

[427, 455] (34B3, 138D3) DE15/353

This east to south curve is used by trains running non-stop between Dortmund Hbf and Witten Hbf or Hagen Hbf. There are hourly services of IC/ICE trains to Hagen and RE trains to Witten.

Dortmund Aplerbeck Süd (Abzw Schwerte Heide) – Fröndenberg (Schwerte Ost)

[438] (35A1, 139C3) DE15/354

This north to east curve connects the Dortmund and Brilon Wald lines east of Schwerte (Ruhr). It is used by through trains between Dortmund Hbf and Bestwig, Brilon Wald or Winterberg (Westf), approximately hourly, except RB10785 23:23 from Dortmund Hbf, which reverses at Schwerte (Ruhr).

Hagen-Vorhalle – Hattingen (Ruhr)

(34A2 to 35A1, 138B4-139A4) DE15/355

This route is a DB AG freight line from Hagen-Vorhalle to Wengern Ost and a tourist line thence to Hattingen (Ruhr), operated by DGEG Bahnen und Reisen Bochum AG. There is a regular passenger service on Fridays and Sundays from May to October, normally with a diesel railbus but on some days with steam. See www.ruhrtalbahn.de.

Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal – Kalkum

[450.1] (33A1, 140D2) DE15/356

The original Düsseldorf Flughafen station, now known as Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal, is at the end of a short branch off the main line from Düsseldorf to Duisburg. Since the new Düsseldorf Flughafen station opened on the main line on 28 May 2000, there has been no direct S-Bahn service between the old station and Duisburg. The only train now to use the west to north curve off the branch to Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal is

SSuX

RE10162

Dortmund Hbf – 03:22 Duisburg Hbf – Düsseldorf Hbf

Neuss avoiding line: Neuss Am Kaiser (Abzw Erftkanal) – Meerbusch-Osterath (Abzw Weißenberg)

[495] (33A1, 141C3) DE15/357

This east to north curve is used by trains between Düsseldorf Hbf and Krefeld not calling at Neuss Hbf. These comprise the half-hourly (hourly at weekends) service between Düsseldorf Hbf and Kleve.

Neuss Pbf - Neuss Am Kaiser (Abzw Erftkanal)

[415, 450.8, 481, 485] (33A1, 141C3) DE15/358

Neuss station is in two parts, east and west, with separate approach tracks to each from the Düsseldorf, Grevenbroich and Köln lines. All S-Bahn trains, as well as all trains to/from Mönchengladbach, use the west side. Other trains, including all of those to and from Krefeld, use the east side. Therefore, most trains between Düsseldorf and Neuss use the west side, the exceptions using the east side being RB38 trains to and from Grevenbroich, plus long-distance trains routed via Köln and Neuss:

	FO	IC1913	Berlin Südkreuz – 17:58 Düsseldorf Hbf – Köln Hbf
	SuO	IC2412	16:29 Köln Hbf – Hamburg-Altona
	SuO	IC2400	17:26 Köln Hbf – Hamburg-Altona

Köln-Mülheim (Abzw Berliner Straße) – Köln Süd (via Köln-Kalk Nord, Abzw Südbrücke and Köln-Bonntor)

(36A3, 146C2-146A4) DE15/359

This route around the east and south sides of Köln is used by the following trains between Köln and Düsseldorf or Solingen in order to avoid reversal at Köln Hbf. Both of these trains cross the Südbrücke after stopping at Köln Hbf, EN446/456 to set down only.

		EN446/456	Warszawa Wschodnia/Praha hl.n. – 06:17 Köln Hbf – Amsterdam Centraal
		EN447/457	Amsterdam Centraal - 22:28 Köln Hbf - Warszawa Wschodnia/Praha hl.n.

Köln-Messe/Deutz – Hürth-Kalscheuren (via Köln-Kalk Nord, Abzw Südbrücke, Köln-Bonntor and Köln-Eifeltor)

(36A3, 146C3-148B2) DE15/360

This route diverges from the line towards Köln-Mülheim near Köln-Buchforst S-Bahn station, runs round the east and south sides of Köln and via an east to south curve to join the main line towards Bonn. There is a grade-separated junction between Köln-Bonntor and Köln-Eifeltor, with northbound and southbound lines following different alignments. This route is used by the following trains on diversion between Köln and Bonn on the dates shown.

D1		CNL429	Amsterdam Centraal – 23:20 Köln Hbf – München Hbf
D2		CNL428	München Hbf - 04:48 Koblenz Hbf - Amsterdam Centraal

D1: From Amsterdam on 1 February, 5 April and 15 to 30 August 2015

D2: From München on 16 and 23 August 2015

Köln Süd – Troisdorf (via Köln-Bonntor, Abzw Südbrücke and Gremberg Rbf)

[465] (36A3, 146A4-148D2) DE15/361

This route over the Südbrücke enables trains via Bonn-Beuel or the Frankfurt Schnellfahrstrecke to arrive and depart at the west end of Köln Hbf.

Between Abzw Steinstraße (where the line from Südbrücke joins) and Troisdorf, trans from Südbrücke that do not use the Schnellfahrstrecke will use the goods line to the west of the high-speed line, rather than the local passenger line to the east of it. T

MO

IC948

Berlin Ostbahnhof/Hbf – 05:43 Köln Hbf – Köln/Bonn Flughafen

Köln-Ehrenfeld – Köln West

(36A3, 146A3) DE15/362

This west to south curve links the Aachen and Koblenz lines west of Köln Hbf.

	13 February	NF13423	Bruxelles Midi - 21:45 Verviers Centrale - Zell am See
	21 February	NF13422	Zell am See - 20:00 Rosenheim - Bruxelles Midi

Horrem

[481] (37B1, 63A2) DE15/363

There is a triangular junction at Horrem station. Bedburg trains terminating and starting at Horrem use platform 10 on the north to west curve. These run hourly, Mondays to Fridays. Trains between Bedburg and Köln Hbf use platform 19 on the north to east curve. These run hourly every day.

Bonn-Beuel – Hangelar

(36B1, 149A4-149B4) DE15/364

Trains operated by Rhein-Sieg-Eisenbahn usually operate over this line in connection with the annual Pützchens Markt early in September.