Germany (Baden-Württemberg) - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services Temp
Obscure services
Mannheim-Waldhof – Mannheim Hbf (via Mannheim-Käfertal)
[655] (ERA-E 53C2-53C1; ERA-R 111A2-111B2; S+W 159A1-159A2) DE26/601
Most trains between Mannheim-Waldhof and Mannheim Hbf run via Mannheim-Luzenberg. However, several S10 trains run via Mannheim-Käfertal on Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays:
| SSuX | S10 | Biblis – 06:38 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf – Groß-Rohrheim | |
| SSuX | S10 | Biblis – 07:35 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf | |
| SSuX | S10 | Biblis – 08:53 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf | |
| SSuX | S10 | Biblis – 15:52 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf | |
| SSuX | S10 | Biblis – 16:52 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf | |
| SSuX | S10 | Biblis – 17:52 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf | |
| SSuX | S10 | Biblis – 18:52 Lampertheim – Mannheim Hbf | |
| SSuX | S10 | Worms Hbf – 05:11 Mannheim Hbf – Biblis | |
| SSuX | S10 | Groß-Rohrheim – 06:12 Mannheim Hbf – Biblis | |
| SSuX | S10 | 07:12 Mannheim Hbf – Biblis | |
| SSuX | S10 | 14:44 Mannheim Hbf – Biblis | |
| SSuX | S10 | 15:44 Mannheim Hbf – Biblis | |
| SSuX | S10 | 16:44 Mannheim Hbf – Biblis | |
| SSuX | S10 | 17:44 Mannheim Hbf – Biblis |
TGV and ICE trains between Frankfurt am Main and Paris via Saarbrücken, and CHECK Nightjet services NJ424/425 between Berlin and Bruxelles, also run this way run this way in order to avoid reversal at Mannheim Hbf.
Appenweier – Legelshurst (Appenweier Kurve)
[719] (ERA-E 58B4; ERA-R 117C5; S+W 102C1) DE26/602
This north to west curve forms part of the triangular junction between the Karlsruhe – Basel main line and the line to Kehl and Strasbourg. It is used by through trains between Karlsruhe and Strasbourg, which are
- TGV/ICE between Paris and Stuttgart
- TGV/ICE between Paris or Marseille and Frankfurt am Main via Karlsruhe.
It is also used by two local services [and two overnight ones]:
| SSuO | RB44 15890 | Karlsruhe Hbf – 09:02 Achern – Kehl | |
| PROBABLY WITHDRAWN | TThSuO | NJ468 | Wien Hbf – 23:16 München Ost – Paris Est |
| SSuO | RB44 15895 | 09:28 Kehl – Karlsruhe Hbf | |
| PROBABLY WITHDRAWN | MWFO | NJ469 | Paris Est – 23:42 Strasbourg – Wien Hbf |
Local trains between Strasbourg, Kehl and Offenburg stopping at Appenweier use platform 9 on the south curve.
Ubstadt-Weiher (Abzw Ubstadt) – Vaihingen (Enz) (Abzw Rollenberg)
[771.Fv] (ERA-E 53C1; ERA-R 82A2; S+W 161B1) DE26/603
This north to east curve connects the Heidelberg to Karlsruhe main line with the Mannheim to Stuttgart Schnellfahrstrecke. It is used by frequent ICE, IC and EC trains between Heidelberg Hbf and Stuttgart Hbf, except those that call at Bruchsal.
Bruchsal (Abzw Bruchsal Nord) – Vaihingen (Enz) (Abzw Rollenberg)
[770, 771.Fv] (ERA-E 53C1; ERA-R 82A2; S+W 161B1) DE26/604
This south to east curve connects the Heidelberg to Karlsruhe main line with the Mannheim to Stuttgart Schnellfahrstrecke. It is used by ICE and TGV trains which run non-stop between Karlsruhe Hbf or Bruchsal and Vaihingen (Enz) or Stuttgart Hbf.
Bruchsal – Bruchsal Tunnelstraße (Abzw Bruchsal Ost)
[771] (ERA-E 53C1; ERA-R 82A2; S+W 161A2-161B2) DE25/605
There are two routes into Bruchsal from Abzw Bruchsal Ost. The 'long curve' (Strecke 4131) can only be accessed from Platforms 4 and 5 at Bruchsal. All platforms can be accessed from the 'short curve' (Strecke 4130).
Trains to and from the Bretten line mainly arrive and depart from platforms 1-3 or bay platform 6, which is adjacent to platform 1, so must use the 'short curve'.
The following RE71 trains arrive or depart from platforms 4 or 5 so may use the 'long curve': AWAIT PLATFORM INFO
| RE71 19289 | Heidelberg Hbf – 09:00 Bruchsal (p.5b) – Mühlacker | ||
| RE71 19643 | Heidelberg Hbf – 10:59 Bruchsal (p.5b) – Mühlacker | ||
| RE71 19647 | Heidelberg Hbf – 15:00 Bruchsal (p.4) – Mühlacker | ||
| RE71 19651 | Heidelberg Hbf – 19:00 Bruchsal (p.5b) – Mühlacker | ||
| RE71 19598 | Mühlacker – 07:14 Bretten – Bruchsal (p.5b) |
Enzberg (Abzw Mühlacker Süd) – Ötisheim (Abzw Mühlacker Nord)
[772] (ERA-E 58C5; ERA-R 82B3; S+W 94A2) DE26/606
This west to north curve links the Pforzheim and Bretten lines, avoiding Mühlacker, and is used on Sundays and public holidays from 3 May to 18 October 2026 by trains between Pforzheim Hbf and Maulbronn Stadt/Kloster. In 2026, the service has been increased from three to four train pairs.
| D | SuO | RB72 17984/ 15422 | 10:32 Pforzheim Hbf – Maulbronn Stadt/Kloster |
| D | SuO | RB72 17986/ 15424 | 13:32 Pforzheim Hbf – Maulbronn Stadt/Kloster |
| D | SuO | RB72 17994/ 15426 | 15:32 Pforzheim Hbf – Maulbronn Stadt/Kloster |
| D | SuO | RB72 17996/ 15428 | 16:34 Pforzheim Hbf – Maulbronn Stadt/Kloster |
| D | SuO | RB72 17985/ 15423 | Maulbronn Stadt/Kloster – 11:09 Maulbronn West – 10:32 Pforzheim Hbf |
| D | SuO | RB72 17995/ 15425 | Maulbronn Stadt/Kloster – 16:09 Maulbronn West – 10:32 Pforzheim Hbf |
| D | SuO | RB72 17997/ 15427 | Maulbronn Stadt/Kloster – 17:09 Maulbronn West – 10:32 Pforzheim Hbf |
| D | SuO | RB72 17985/ 15429 | Maulbronn Stadt/Kloster – 11:09 Maulbronn West – 10:32 Pforzheim Hbf |
Train numbers in the 15xxx series are used between 19 July and 6 September 2026; the 17xxx series at all other times.
Laupheim Stadt avoiding line: Laupheim West – Schemmerberg
[751] (ERA-E 59B3; ERA-R 119A4; S+W 105A3) DE26/607
The Laupheim Stadt branch is connected to the Ulm – Friedrichshafen main line by a triangular junction at Laupheim West. Through services calling at Laupheim Stadt use the north and south curves whereas those not calling at Laupheim Stadt use the main line avoiding the branch. For most of the day there is an hourly service in each direction via Laupheim Stadt and three trains each hour (two at weekends) between Ulm and Biberach (Riß) direct.
Ettlingen West – Ettlingen Erbprinz
[710.1] (ERA-E 58C5; ERA-R 82B1; S+W 161B4) DE25/608 NO TRAINS FOUND YET FOR 2026. CHECK LATER.
This line links the the DB Karlsruhe – Rastatt line with the AVG-operated Albtalbahn to Bad Herrenalb at Ettlingen. It is used by the following services on Sundays and public holidays only.
| SuO | S FEX 85699 | Odenheim / Menzingen (Baden) – Karlsruhe Hbf – 09:24 Ettlingen West – Bad Herrenalb | |
| SuO | S FEX 85697 | Odenheim / Menzingen (Baden) – Karlsruhe Hbf – 16:24 Ettlingen West – Bad Herrenalb | |
| SuO | S FEX 85696 | Bad Herrenalb – 10:25 Ettlingen Stadt – Karlsruhe Hbf – Odenheim / Menzingen (Baden) | |
| SuO | S FEX 85699 | Bad Herrenalb – 17:25 Ettlingen Stadt – Karlsruhe Hbf – Odenheim / Menzingen (Baden) |
Ulmer Eisenbahnfreunde operate a number of steam excursions between Karlsruhe Hbf and Bad Herrenalb which also use this connection. These run approximately monthly, May to October.
Schlatt (Hohenz.) (Walkenmühle) – Hechingen Landesbahn
[768] (ERA-E 59A4; ERA-R 118B4; S+W 104A2) DE25/609 AWAIT TIMINGS
A 700 m link between the separate Hechingen Landesbahn station and the junction with the route taken by most trains between Gammertingen and Hechingen DB is used only by:-
| SSuX | RB68 86309 | 06:59 Hechingen Landesbahn - Gammertingen | |
| SSuX | RB68 86344 | Sigmaringen - 20x46 Schlatt (Hohenz) - Hechingen Landesbahn |
Schliengen – Haltingen
[702] (ERA-E 58A2-58B2; ERA-R 117B2; S+W 110A2-110A3) DE26/610
Trains with no stops between Müllheim im Markgräflerland and Weil am Rhein run via the Katzenberg Tunnel, opened in December 2012. These are mainly EC/ICE trains non-stop between Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf and Basel Bad Bf, and certain RE7 trains. Stopping trains (RB27 and slower RE7 services) follow the old main line via Bad Bellingen.
Obscure services: Lines used on an occasional basis for engineering work diversions
Connections from high speed line to Stuttgart northern avoiding line: Vaihingen (Enz) (Abzw. S-Zuffenhausen Em - Abzw. S-Zazenhausen) – Stuttgart-Zazenhausen
[750, 770] (ERA-E 61C3 not shown; ERA-R 111A4; S+W 168B1-168B2) DE26/631
This route enables enables trains to run between the Schnellfahrstrecke from Mannheim and the line to Ulm without reversal at Stuttgart Hbf. Diversions this way are indicated by calls at Stuttgart Hbf being omitted. Note that the eastbound and westbound lines are quite widely separated at the Zazenhausen end.
Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.
Ludwigsburg – Stuttgart-Zazenhausen via Kornwestheim Rbf
[790.11] (ERA-E 61C3 not shown); ERA-R 111A4; S+W 168B1-168B2) DE26/632
The weekday peak-time RB11 services between Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and Kornwestheim Pbf are sometimes diverted via Kornwestheim Rbf (Rangierbahnhof / marshalling yard) omitting the call at Kornwestheim and running to and from Ludwigsburg.
Stuttgart Nürnberger Straße – Stuttgart-Untertürkheim
[750, 785, 786] (ERA-E 61C3; ERA-R 111A4-111B4; S+W 168C2-168C3) DE26/633
This route enables trains to run between the Ulm and Aalen lines without reversal at Stuttgart Hbf. It is very rarely used by passenger trains – its last use was in mid-2023 by IC services between Karlsruhe and Nürnberg.
Stuttgart-Feuerbach (Abzw Stuttgart Nord Rbf) – Stuttgart-Vaihingen (Stuttgart Hbf Em Nord)
(ERA-E 61C3; ERA-R 111A4; S+W 168B2) DE26/634
This curve via Stuttgart Nord Gbf connects the S-Bahn line from Stuttgart-Feuerbach with the Gäubahn towards Horb, avoiding Stuttgart Hbf. An additional S15 service between Bietigheim-Bissingen and Böblingen was occasionally scheduled during recent years as a result of extensive "Stuttgart-21" engineering works but the service did not run as often as expected owing to staff and rolling stock shortages.
Freiburg (Breisgau) avoiding line: Gundelfingen – Ebringen (Abzw. Leutenberg) via Freiburg Gbf
[702] (ERA-E 58B3; ERA-R 117B3-117C3; S+W 101D1-101B2) DE26/635
This 11 km-long line avoids Freiburg im Breisgau Hbf to the west. Use of this line can be deduced when long-distance and/or local trains between Offenburg and Basel Bad Bf omit Freiburg im Breisgau Hbf.
It was last used in June and July 2025 by diverted RE7 and long-distance services. Use can be determined by RE7 trains running non-stop between Denzlingen and Schallstadt or Bad Krozingen and/or long-distance trains running non-stop between Karlsruhe Hbf or Offenburg and Basel Bad Bf.
