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

From EGTRE
Jump to navigationJump to search

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable dated from 13 December 2020 to 11 December 2021, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information. Map references relate to the 2017 issue of the Schweers+Wall Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland.

Obscure services

Niedaltdorf – Bouzonville (France)

(83B4) DE21/451

This line, the Niedtalbahn, has no regular service, but a special shuttle service operates every year from Dillingen (Saar) in conjunction with the Good Friday market at Bouzonville - see France route Bouzonville - Niedaltdorf. Regular freight traffic ceased in 2013 and it was planned to sell the line or close it completely. However in December 2019 it was announced that the closure procedure would be halted as part of the general moratorium on further line closures in Germany.

Good Friday in 2021 falls on 2 April, but no services are shown in the timetable as yet. The 2020 timetable, which did not operate, had trains every two hours 09:10 to 17:10 then 18:28 from Dillingen (Saar), and every two hours 10:15 to 16:15 then 17:45 and 19:03 from Bouzonville. Details of the 2021 service will be shown once they become available.

Merzig – Merzig Ost

(83B3) DE21/452

Until 2016, MECL Eisenbahnfreunde eV operated occasional trains over this connecting line between DB and the former Merzig–Büschfelder Eisenbahn, usually for their Bahnhofsfest at the beginning of August. See Museums-Eisenbahn-Club-Losheim. Track on the branch is currently being relaid following an official safety inspection, so trains are not running to Merzig Ost or over this connection until further notice.

Merchweiler (Abzw Wemmetsweiler Kurve) – Wemmetsweiler Rathaus

[681] (157B1) DE21/453

Most trains passing through Merchweiler run directly between Saarbrücken Hbf and Lebach-Jabach via the Wemmetsweiler curve. However a few run between Saarbrücken Hbf and Wemmetsweiler Rathaus, thereby using the above route. These run Mondays to Fridays (unless shown otherwise):

  • From Merchweiler: 01:40 (every night), 06:58, 08:52, 13:52 and 17:52.
  • From Wemmetsweiler Rathaus: 06:54, 07:34, 10:03, 15:03 and 19:03.

All services except the 01:40 do not run between 19 July and 27 August.

Saarbrücken Hbf – Jägersfreude (Saarbrücken Hbf Srg)

[680] (157A3) DE20/454

There are two reversible single tracks between Saarbrücken Hbf and the line via Sulzbach (Saar). One runs via a dive-under below the line from Saarbrücken Ost and the other runs direct. The dive-under line can be used only to access platforms 1 and 3 on the south side of Saarbrücken Hbf. The direct route is used to and from high-numbered platforms. For most of the day there is regular use of both routes. All RE3 trains to and from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf via Mainz use platforms 1 or 3.

Saarbrücken Hbf (– Saarbrücken Grenze) - Forbach

[682] (157A3) DE20/455

There are two routes between Saarbrücken Hbf and the line to/from Forbach in France. RE/TER services normally arrive/depart from west end bay Platform 2 on the south side of the station via a ground level route, whereas TGVs use a pair of tracks that go under the Dillingen line to/from higher numbered platforms.

See also