Germany (Schleswig-Holstein) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

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: Lines used on a regular basis

Niebüll

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.

Niebüll – Niebüll neg

[136](ERA-E 43A5; ERA-R 83B4; S+W 1D3) DE22/001

DB and neg Niebüll GmbH have separate stations in Niebüll. The only passenger service over the section of the branch to Dagebüll between the neg station and the junction with the main line is provided by a few through workings. These workings run throughout the year at varying times, which can be ascertained from DB Kursbuch timetable 130 or the neg website.

Niebüll station avoiding line

[136](ERA-E 43A5; ERA-R 83B4; S+W 1D3) DE22/002

DB operate car shuttles between Niebüll and Westerland (Sylt). At Niebüll these run to/from sidings alongside the station and a loading/unloading facility south of the station. All DB shuttles have a class 628 diesel multiple unit (dmu) attached to the back before departure and these convey passengers wishing to travel Westerland - Niebüll and vice versa, though at the InterCity fare rather than the local fare. Interrails are valid. For southbound shuttles arriving at Niebüll the dmu is detached in the sidings and runs to Niebüll station. The fastest route is simply to run north to the road crossing and reverse into platform 4 which is the easternmost platform and the only one accessible without crossing the road. However, sometimes the dmu reverses at the road crossing and runs south down the station avoiding line east of the shuttle terminal to reverse again onto the main line and enter Niebüll station from the south. This is probably for operational reasons, most likely occupation of platform 4 by another train.

Kiel-Oppendorf - Schönberg (Holstein)

(ERA-E 43B4-43C4; S+W 3C4-3D4) DE22/003

Tourist trains usually run every Saturday and Sunday during the summer between Schönberg (Holst) and Schönberger Strand, plus some other days. Scheduled passenger services operate between Kiel Hbf and Kiel-Oppendorf, leaving the section between Oppendorf and Schönberg without regular services.

However, during the Kieler Woche sailing festival in late June, trains run through on Fridays to Sundays between Kiel Hbf and Schönberg (Holst) with connections to and from Schönberger Strand. In 2022, the Kieler Woche takes place between 17 and 27 June. Times are at the Schleswig-Holstein public transport site.

Work is under way to upgrade the line to allow reintroduction of a regular passenger service between Kiel Hbf and Schönberger Strand, planned for the end of 2022, which may restrict operations from time to time.

Burg (Fehmarn) West

[140] (ERA-E 44A4; ERA-R 85A3; S+W 4C3) DE22/004

This triangular junction connects Fehmarn-Burg station with the main line between Lübeck and Puttgarden.

Since the withdrawal of through EC services via the Rødby - Puttgarden train ferry, only a two-hourly RB service operates to and from Puttgarden. All trains run into and out of Fehmarn-Burg station, leaving the direct north-to-south line avoiding the station without passenger services. Two IC train pairs run to and from Fehmarn-Burg between 2 April and 31 August, therefore only using the south-to-east curve.

Note that the line between Neustadt (Holst) and Puttgarden is expected to close after the last train on 31 August 2022 for complete rebuilding and partial re-routing as part of the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel project.

Tarp (Flensburg Weiche Süd) - Padborg (Abzw Flensburg Friedensweg)

(ERA-E 43A5; ERA-R 83C4; S+W 3C2) DE22/005

This south-to-north curve links the Neumünster and Padborg lines, avoiding Flensburg station.

Three IC train pairs per day run between Hamburg and København via this route. The dated night trains between Stockholm and Berlin also run this way.

D1		IC396	Hamburg Hbf – 10:27 Schleswig – København H
		IC394	Hamburg Hbf – 14:26 Schleswig – København H
D1		IC392	Hamburg Hbf – 18:26 Schleswig – København H
D2	MWO/Daily	D300	Berlin Hbf – 23:29 Hamburg Hbf – Stockholm C
D1		IC393	København H – 10:02 Padborg – Hamburg Hbf
		IC395	København H – 14:02 Padborg – Hamburg Hbf
D1		IC397	København H – 18:02 Padborg – Hamburg Hbf
D3	TSuO/Daily	D301	Stockholm C – 23:06 Høje Taastrup – Berlin Hbf

D1: Not 18 June - 21 August

D2: MWO 22 December - 3 January. Daily 8 April - 24 September; not 2-4 June or 15-23 July. Operating dates after 25 September yet to be announced.

D3: TSuO 21 December - 2 January. Daily 7 April - 23 September; not 3-5 June or 16-24 July. Operating dates after 24 September yet to be announced.

Other services via Padborg call at Flensburg and so use the loop line via Flensburg Süd.

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

Kiel avoiding line: Flintbek (Meimersdorf) - Kiel-Hassee Cittipark

[103, 146] (ERA-E 43B4; ERA-R 84B2; S+W 118B2) DE21/031

This north to south curve allows trains to run between the Neümunster and Flensburg lines at Kiel without reversal at the Hauptbahnhof. It is used by passenger trains when engineering work blocks the main line between Neümunster and Flensburg.