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

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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 with regular use

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

[427, 440] (ERA-E 46C5; ERA-R 98A4; S+W 138D3) DE25/351

This east to south curve is used by trains running non-stop between Dortmund Hbf and Witten Hbf or Hagen Hbf. There are IC/ICE services to and from Hagen, generally hourly, and regular RE4 and RE34 trains to and from Witten.

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

[435, 438] (ERA-E 46C5; ERA-R 98B3; S+W 139C3) DE25/352

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, Brilon Stadt or Willingen, approximately hourly, except for trains at 21:23, 22:23 and 23:23 from Dortmund Hbf, also 00:23 SSuO and 01:23 SSuO, which reverse at Schwerte (Ruhr).

Note that until 12 January 2025, these trains are replaced by buses between Dortmund Hbf and Fröndenberg, so do not use this curve.

Hohenlimburg (Hagen-Kabel) – Hagen-Vorhalle

[440] (ERA-E 46C4; ERA-R 98A3-98B3; S+W 139B4) DE25/353

This curve allows trains to run between the Siegen and Witten lines avoiding Hagen Hbf. It is used by RE34 services between Dillenburg or Siegen and Dortmund, which run non-stop between Hohenlimburg and Witten Hbf. These run generally hourly.

It is also used by a series of IC34 trains between Frankfurt (Main) and Dortmund Hbf or Münster (Westf) Hbf.

SuX IC2326 Stuttgart Hbf (SSuX) / Siegen Hbf (SO) – 08:23 Letmathe – Dortmund Hbf
IC2324 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf (SuX) / Siegen Hbf (SuO) – 10:23 Letmathe – Münster (Westf) Hbf
IC2320 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – 14:23 Letmathe – Dortmund Hbf
IC2226 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – 18:23 Letmathe – Münster (Westf) Hbf
IC2224 Frankfurt (Main) Hbf – 20:23 Letmathe – Dortmund Hbf
SSuX IC2223 Dortmund Hbf – 05:14 Witten Hbf – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
SuX IC2225 Dortmund Hbf – 07:14 Witten Hbf – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
IC2229 Dortmund Hbf – 11:14 Witten Hbf – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
IC2323 Münster (Westf) Hbf – 15:14 Witten Hbf – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
IC2325 Dortmund Hbf – 17:14 Witten Hbf – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
SSuO IC2327 Münster (Westf) Hbf – 19:14 Witten Hbf – Siegen Hbf

Note that until at least the end of 2026, local tickets (including the Deutschland-Ticket and the NRW SchönerTagTicket) are valid on IC trains between Dillenburg and Dortmund. This is an attempt to ease the traffic chaos that has followed the closure of the nearby A45 Autobahn viaduct at Rahmede.

Hohenlimburg (Hagen-Kabel) – Schwerte (Ruhr) (Westhofen (Westf))

[440] (ERA-E 46C4; ERA-R 98A3-98B3; S+W 139B4) DE25/354

This curve allows trains to run between the Siegen and Schwerte lines avoiding Hagen Hbf. It was used until 18 October 2024 by two IC services each way; however these no longer run. If no services resume running by this route by the 2025/26 timetable change, this entry will be deleted.

Bochum Hbf (Abzw Prinz von Preußen) – Abzw Dortmund-Dorstfeld – Dortmund Signal Iduna Park (Abzw Schnettkerbrücke)

(ERA-E 46B5-46C5; ERA-R 98A4; S+W 138C3-139A3) DE25/355

These connections link Bochum Hbf with Dortmund Signal Iduna Park via the goods lines which run parallel to the main Bochum to Dortmund line, thus avoiding Dortmund Hbf. They are occasionally used by football specials which run between Duisburg and Dortmund Signal Iduna Park when Borussia Dortmund are playing at home. These will be shown on the NRW train alterations website (search for 'BVB' to filter for football specials to/from Dortmund), however at the time of compiling this entry (late December 2024) no special services from Duisburg were planned for the next home fixture on January 10 2025.

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

[495] (ERA-E 46A4; ERA-R 97A1; S+W 140C3) DE25/356

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

Holzheim b. Neuss / Neuss Süd (Neuss Nordkanal) – Neuss Hbf – Neuss Am Kaiser (Abzw Erftkanal)

[450.8/11/28, 485, 488] (ERA-E 46A3 not shown; ERA-R 97A1; S+W 140C3-140C4) DE25/357

Neuss Hbf is in two parts, the eastern platforms 1-4 and the western platforms 5-8, with separate approach tracks to each from the Düsseldorf, Grevenbroich and Köln lines. All S-Bahn trains use the west side, with S11 services to and from Köln Hbf using the long curve (line 2531) to Neuss Nordkanal. All RE and RB trains use the east side with the exception of RE4 and RE13 via Mönchengladbach, which must use the west side.

Köln Südbrücke

[472] (ERA-E 42A5-B4; ERA-R 104A1; S+W 146A3-148D2) DE25/358

The Südbrücke provides an alternative route across the Rhein to the Hohenzollernbrücke at Köln Hbf. It has north and south-facing connections to the main lines on both sides of the river. It is mainly used by freight.

Köln Süd – Troisdorf (via Köln-Bonntor and Gremberg Rbf): This north-west to south-east route enables trains via Troisdorf, but not Köln/Bonn Flughafen, to arrive and depart at the west end of Köln Hbf. Between Abzw Steinstraße (where the line from Südbrücke joins) and Troisdorf, trains 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.

The following service runs this way.

D1 SSuX ICE711 06:01 Köln Hbf – Stuttgart Hbf

D1: Not 15 - 20 Jan or 17 Apr - 9 Jun 2025

Other services may be diverted this way from time to time. If they avoid Köln Hbf completely, an additional call at Köln-Ehrenfeld is often made.

Köln Süd – Troisdorf (via Köln-Bonntor and Köln-Kalk Süd): This alternative north-west to south-east route enables trains via Köln/Bonn Flughafen to arrive and depart at the west end of Köln Hbf.

This route must also be used by any services diverted via the Südbrücke calling at, or running through the two platform tracks at Porz (Rhein) as it is then impossible to travel via Gremberg Rbf.

Köln Süd – Köln-Mulheim (via Köln-Bonntor and Köln-Kalk): This north-west to north-east route enables trains via Leverkusen Mitte or Solingen Hbf to arrive and depart at the west end of Köln Hbf. When the line through Köln Messe/Deutz is blocked, trains may be diverted this way.

Troisdorf – Hürth-Kalscheuren (Köln Eifeltor) (via Köln-Kalk and Köln Bonntor): This south-east to south-west route sees very occasional use by diverted passenger trains.

Köln-Mülheim – Hürth-Kalscheuren (Köln Eifeltor) (via Köln-Kalk and Köln Bonntor): This north-east to south-west route sees very occasional use by diverted passenger trains.

Horrem

[481] (ERA-E 52C5; ERA-R 104C4; S+W 63A2) DE25/359

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.

Brühl Vochem/Brühl Nord – Wesseling via the Querbahn

[KVB route 18] (ERA-E xxx; ERA-R xxx; S+W 148B2-148C3) DE25/360

The Querbahn (line 9262) runs between Brühl and Wesseling and links the western Stadtbahn route between Köln and Bonn, used by route 18 trams, with the eastern route, used by route 16 trams. It is used by early morning and late evening route 18 journeys between Wesseling depot (accessed from the eastern route) and either Köln or Bonn via route 18. There is a triangular junction at the western end which allows direct running towards either Köln or Bonn.

The following services were shown in the DB journey planner in late December 2024 as using this route:

To/from Köln (Niehl) via Brühl-Vochem:

From Wesseling: 04:20 SSuX, 05:20 SSuX, 08:04 SO, 08:50 SO, 09:40 SO
From Brühl-Vochem: 00:51 SO, 20:15 SO, 20:26 SSuX, 21:04 SSuX, 21:06 SuO, 21:08 SSuX, 21:21 SX

To/from Schwadorf or Bonn Hbf (Stadtbahn) via Brühl Nord: From Wesseling: 03:54 SO, 03:59 SSuX, 04:19 SSuX, 05:31 SSuX, 05:51 SSuX, 06:44 SuO
From Brühl Nord: 01:08 SSuX, 01:33 SSuO, 01:38 SSuO, 01:45 SSuX, 02:05 SSuX, 02:08 SSuX

Note 1: As all the services in this entry are Stadtbahn rather than heavy rail services, the timetable is subject to change at various times. Details of current services can be found on the DB journey planner by searching for direct journeys between 'Vochem, Brühl (Rheinland)' or 'Brühl (Rheinland) Nord' and 'Wesseling (Stadtbahn)'.

Note 2: This entry is in the 'rail' section of EGTRE as well as TSUL (the 'tramway' section) as the infrastructure on both Stadtbahn routes between the Köln and Bonn city boundaries, plus the Querbahn itself, is owned by HGK (Hafen und Güterverkehr Köln AG) rather than the tram networks of either city, and some parts of it are also used by heavy rail freight trains.

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

Buke – Langeland (Altenbeken Kurve)

[360.5, 430] (ERA-E 48A2; ERA-R 99B3; S+W 53C1) DE25/371

This south to east curve enables trains to run between the Warburg and Hameln lines without reversing at Altenbeken. It is used when the classic line from Hannover via Göttingen is unavailable.

Münster (Westf) avoiding line: Südmühle – Münster Kanal – Münster-Lechtenberg

[385, 410] (ERA-E 47B3; ERA-R 96B3; S+W 134C1-134C2) DE25/372

This line passes to the east of Münster and enables trains between the Osnabück and Hamm lines to avoid the Hauptbahnhof. It is used occasionally by diverted IC/ICE services between Hamburg and Köln.

Minden (Westf) – Hamm (via goods lines)

[370, 400] (ERA-E 48A4-47B2 not shown; ERA-R 99B5-96B3 not shown; S+W 41C1-52B1) DE25/373

Hamm to Minden is the longest quadruple line in Germany. Between Bielefeld and Gütersloh the goods lines fly over the passenger lines, and between Hamm-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, plus 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. Numerous crossovers allow trains to switch between the passenger and goods lines, so the full length of the goods lines is rarely used by diverted passenger trains. A platform (no. 6) has been built on the eastbound goods line at Ahlen so anything calling at it must use the diveunder, but nothing is currently shown as doing so.

Hamm (Westf) avoiding line: Nordbögge (Hamm Rbf Hso) – Welver (Abzw Hamm Gallberg)

[415] (ERA-E 47B2; ERA-R 98C5; S+W 134B4) DE25/374

This curve (line 2921) links the lines from south and west of Hamm with the line to Soest and enables trains to run between the Dortmund area and Soest without reversing at Hamm (Westf) Hbf.

It is used by the following overnight services on certain dates:

D1 NJ420 Innsbruck Hbf – 04:48 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe – Amsterdam Centraal
D2 Note 1 NJ421 Amsterdam Centraal – 22:06 Dortmund Hbf - Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe

D1: 10-11 January, 7-8 February, 28 March - 5 April, 6-8 June, 19-20 September 2025
D2: 8-9 February, 29 March - 6 April, 20-21 September, 8-9 November 2025

Note 1: This service is also booked to approach this curve via Hamm Rbf Abzw Hda at the southern entrance of Hamm Rbf (yard)

Hamm (Westf) (Hamm Rbf Hde) – Horstmar – Recklinghausen Ost (Abzw Recklinghausen Blumenthal) [– Gelsenkirchen-Buer Nord]

[415, 450.9] (ERA-E 47B2-46B5; ERA-R 98C5-97C5; S+W 52B1-51B2) DE25/375

This east-west freight line runs to the north of the Ruhr conurbation. Trains between Hamm and Dortmund may be diverted via Abzw Horstmar and Lünen Preußen when the main line via Kamen is blocked.

Trains between Hamm and Gelsenkirchen may be diverted via Recklinghausen Ost and Wanne-Eickel. Trains not stopping between Hamm Hbf and Bottrop Hbf or Oberhausen Hbf are likely to run via Gelsenkirchen-Buer Nord.

S9 services run between Recklinghausen Hbf and Gladbeck West; therefore the western end of this line between Abzw Recklinghausen Blumenthal and Gelsenkirchen-Buer Nord is a normal passenger route.

Dortmund-Mengede (Dortmund-Nette) – Dortmund-Deusen – Dortmund-Kirchderne

[411, 416] (ERA-E 46C5; ERA-R 98A4-98B4; S+W 139A1-139B2) DE25/376

This freight line round the north side of Dortmund links the lines to Wanne-Eickel and Münster. It may be used by trains diverted away from Dortmund Hbf.

Dortmund-Mengede (Dortmund-Nette) – Dortmund-Deusen – Dortmund-Kurl (Dortmund-Scharnhorst)

[411, 416] (ERA-E 46C5; ERA-R 98A4-98B4; S+W 139A1-139B2) DE25/377

This freight line round the north side of Dortmund links the lines to Wanne-Eickel and Hamm. It may be used by trains diverted away from Dortmund Hbf. It is common with the previous entry between Abzw Nette and Dortmund-Obereving.

Herne (Herne-Rottbruch Hgn) – Gelsenkirchen Zoo (Wanne Unser Fritz) via Abzw Crange

[426] (ERA-E 46xx; ERA-R 98xx; S+W 138B2) DE25/378

This line links Herne with the line via Gelsenkirchen Zoo to Dorsten via Gladbeck Ost and to Bottrop Süd, avoiding Wanne-Eickel Hbf. It may be used by the hourly RB43 Dorsten - Dortmund services if the route via Wanne-Eickel Hbf is not available.

Herne – Herne-Rottbruch and Bochum-Riemke – Dortmund Hbf (Abzw Bochum Prinz von Preußen) via Bochum Nord

[426] (ERA-E 46xx; ERA-R 98xx; S+W 138B2-C3) DE25/379

This route consists of a curve from Herne to the Wanne-Eickel/Recklinghausen to Bochum Hbf Gluckauf-Bahn and a curve from that line to the Bochum to Dortmund main line avoiding Bochum Hbf. It was used in both directions in May and June 2024 by diverted RE3 Oberhausen Hbf – Hamm (Westf) Hbf services which ran non-stop between Herne, where they reversed, and Dortmund Hbf.

Essen-Dellwig – Oberhausen-Sterkrade

(ERA-E 46xx; ERA-R 98xx; S+W 137 A2-B2) DE25/380

This east to north curve links the Gelsenkirchen Hbf to Oberhausen Hbf line with the Oberhausen to Emmerich line. It is used by the following overnight service on certain dates:

D1 NJ420 Innsbruck Hbf – 04:48 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe – Amsterdam Centraal

D1: 28 March - 5 April, 19-20 September 2025

Note: Trains may join and leave the line between the curve and Essen-Altenessen (line 2277) at Essen-Dellwig or Essen-Bergeborbeck, or continue to/from Essen-Altenessen where line 2277 joins the main line.

Oberhausen West – Duisburg-Wedau – Düsseldorf-Rath – Düsseldorf-Eller

[415] (ERA-E 46A5-46A3; ERA-R 97B4-97B1; S+W 141A4-137A2) DE25/381

This line together with Hilden – Opladen forms a freight route between Köln and Oberhausen, only limited sections of which are used by passenger trains. From Oberhausen West trains may run to a variety of places, including the Emmerich line, Bottrop Hbf, Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck and Essen-Bergeborbeck. The following routes, among others, are possible.

Essen-Bergeborbeck – Oberhausen West – Duisburg Hbf

Used by diverted trains between Gelsenkirchen Hbf and Duisburg Hbf, omitting Oberhausen Hbf.

Essen-Bergeborbeck – Oberhausen West – Duisburg Lotharstraße – Duisburg-Hochfeld Süd

Used by diverted trains between Gelsenkirchen Hbf and Mönchengladbach Hbf when they do not stop between Essen-Bergeborbeck and Duisburg-Hochfeld Süd, thus omitting Duisburg Hbf and Oberhausen Hbf.

Bottrop-Boy – Essen Prosper-Levin – Oberhausen West – Duisburg Hbf

Used by diverted trains between Hamm, Dortmund, Recklinghausen or Münster, running via DE25/375, and Duisburg Hbf, omitting calls in the Ruhr up to Oberhausen Hbf.

Oberhausen-Sterkrade – Oberhausen West – Duisburg Hbf

Used by diverted trains between the Emmerich line and Duisburg Hbf, omitting Oberhausen Hbf.

Essen-Bergeborbeck – Oberhausen West – Duisburg-Wedau – Düsseldorf-Rath

Used by diverted trains between Gelsenkirchen Hbf and Düsseldorf Hbf, omitting both Oberhausen Hbf and Duisburg Hbf. Between 23 January and 21 February 2025, these two weekday peak-hour trains are reported to be diverted this way; however they may be cancelled altogether.

D SSuX RE19 20044 16:12 Düsseldorf Hbf – Emmerich
D SSuX RE19 20048 17:13 Düsseldorf Hbf – Emmerich

Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck – Essen Prosper-Levin – Oberhausen West - Duisburg-Wedau – Düsseldorf-Rath

Used by diverted trains between Wanne-Eickel Hbf and Düsseldorf Hbf, omitting Gelsenkirchen Hbf, Oberhausen Hbf and Duisburg Hbf.

Bottrop-Boy – Essen Prosper-Levin – Oberhausen West – Duisburg-Wedau – Düsseldorf-Rath

Used by diverted trains running via DE25/375, not stopping until Düsseldorf Hbf.

Oberhausen-Sterkrade – Oberhausen West – Duisburg-Wedau – Düsseldorf-Rath

Used by diverted trains between the Emmerich line and Düsseldorf Hbf, omitting Oberhausen Hbf and Duisburg Hbf.

Duisburg Hbf – Duisburg-Wedau – Düsseldorf Rath

Used by diverted trains between Duisburg Hbf and Düsseldorf Hbf, omitting Düsseldorf Flughafen. Because of short-notice engineering works on the main line, the hourly RE19 Arnhem Centraal – Düsseldorf Hbf services are diverted to run this way between 20 January and 21 February 2025.

Oberhausen-Sterkrade – Oberhausen West – Duisburg-Wedau – Düsseldorf-Rath – Düsseldorf-Eller

Used by diverted trains between the Emmerich line and Köln Hbf, omitting Oberhausen Hbf, Duisburg Hbf and Düsseldorf Hbf.

Düsseldorf-Rath – Düsseldorf Hbf via Düsseldorf-Eller Mitte

Used by diverted trains when the approach to Düsseldorf Hbf from the north is not available.

Bottrop Hbf/Oberhausen Hbf – Oberhausen West – Moers (Meerbeck) and Trompet - Krefeld-Uerdingen

[415, 490] (ERA-E 46B5-46A4; ERA-R 97B4-97A4; S+W 137A2-136C4) DE25/382

This route which crosses the Rhein by the Haus-Knipp-Brücke avoids the Duisburg area and is only occasionally used for passenger trains. At its eastern end it has connections towards Bottrop Hbf and Oberhausen Hbf.

Meerbusch-Osterath (Krefeld-Lohbruch) – Krefeld-Linn

(ERA-E 46A4; ERA-R 97A2; S+W 140C1) DE25/383

This east to south curve part of the line from Neuss to Duisburg avoiding Krefeld Hbf does not have a regular passenger service. During engineering work, services running non-stop from Köln Hbf to Duisburg Hbf may either run via this curve and Neuss or via Hilden (DE25/388). Trains starting or terminating in Köln Hbf may use either route but ones coming up the Rhein valley from Koblenz without sufficient time to reverse in Köln Hbf are more likely to use DE25/388.

This entry has seen use by diverted RE42 Mönchengladbach Hbf – Duisburg Hbf and RE5 Wesel – Koblenz Hbf trains in the last couple of years.

Witten Hbf – Hagen-Vorhalle

(ERA-E 46C4; ERA-R 98A3; S+W 138D4-143A1) DE25/384

There are two routes between Witten Hbf and Hagen-Vorhalle. Passenger trains normally use the line via Wetter (Ruhr) to the east of the Ruhr river but may occasionally be diverted via the freight line west of the river.

Hagen-Vorhalle – Abzw Hohensyburg – Schwerte (Ruhr) (Westhofen (Westf))

(ERA-E 46C4; ERA-R 98A3; S+W 139A4-139B4) DE25/385

This connection links both the Ruhr east and west-bank lines (DE25/384) with the Hagen to Hamm (Westf) line, avoiding Hagen Hbf. It is common with entry DE25/354 between Hagen-Vorhalle and Abzw Hagen-Hegstey. It was formerly used by winter ski trains between Dortmund and Winterberg (Westf), but these have not run since 2019.

Siegen avoiding line: Siegen-Weidenau – Wilnsdorf-Rudersdorf (Siegen Ost Gbf)

[440, 445] (S+W 64C2) DE25/386

This connection links the Hagen and Gießen lines, avoiding Siegen Hbf. It is heavily used by freight trains, but only has a passenger service when trains are diverted away from Siegen Hbf.

If IC services between Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, Siegen Hbf and Dortmund Hbf or Münster (Westf) Hbf (in either direction) are running late, they have been known to omit Siegen Hbf and use this connection, calling only at Siegen-Weidenau, which is now a booked stop on these services.

Düsseldorf Flughafen (Abzw Düsseldorf-Unterrath Karthauser Weg) – Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal (Abzw Düsseldorf Flughafen W884)

[415.1, 416] (ERA-E xxx, ERA-R xxx, S+W 141A2) DE25/387

This north to west curve enables trains from the north to reach the terminus station at Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal, which is normally only served by S-Bahn trains from the south. When there is engineering work at Düsseldorf Hbf, this curve is occasionally used to turn round diverted RE services from Duisburg.

It is used between 20 January and 21 February 2025 by the following RE11 services:

D RE11 91592 Warburg (Westf) (SSuX)/ Hamm (Westf) Hbf (SSuO) – 08:07 Duisburg Hbf – Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal
D RE11 91594 Hamm (Westf) Hbf – 12:07 Duisburg Hbf – Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal
D RE11 91894 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe – 16:06 (SSuO)/16:07 (SSuX) Duisburg Hbf – Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal
D RE11 91896 Hamm (Westf) Hbf – 18:07 Duisburg Hbf – Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal
D RE11 91898 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe – 20:07 Duisburg Hbf – Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal
D RE11 91593 08:42 Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal – Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe
D RE11 91595 12:36 Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal – Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe
D RE11 91893 16:42 Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal – Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe
D RE11 91895 18:31 Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal – Hofgeismar/Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe
D RE11 91897 20:31 Düsseldorf Flughafen Terminal – Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe

Meerbusch-Osterath (Abzw Weißenberg) – Neuss Hbf – Neuss Süd via Neuss Rbf

(ERA-E 46A3 not shown; ERA-R 97A1; S+W 140C3-140C4) DE25/387A

A pair of through tracks (line 2531) runs from Abzw Weißenberg, north of Neuss Hbf, through Neuss Rbf (yard) and continues as a non-platform line through Neuss Hbf. Line 2531 then continues as the regular passenger 'long curve' towards the Köln line at Neuss Süd (DE25/357).

The line through Neuss Rbf is used by two RE7 services, not calling at Neuss Hbf, in the evening of 7 January 2025 only:

D TO RE7 89471 Krefeld Hbf – 21:34 Meerbusch-Osterath – Köln Hbf
D TO RE7 89473 Krefeld Hbf – 00:10 (WO) Meerbusch-Osterath – Köln Hbf

Hilden – Opladen

[415] (ERA-E 46B3-47A1; ERA-R 97B1-104A2; S+W 141B4-147C2) DE25/388

This freight line forms part of an alternative route between Düsseldorf and Köln. It is frequently used for diversions of RE and long-distance services. No overnight services are booked to run this way in this timetable period, and it is believed that no daytime services are booked this way either.

Köln-Ehrenfeld – Köln-Nippes

(ERA-E 42A5; ERA-R 104A1; S+W 146A2) DE25/389

This west to north curve links the Aachen and Neuss lines west of Köln Hbf. It is used by services between Aachen and Düsseldorf if they are unable to run via Köln Hbf.

Köln-Mülheim (Abzw Berliner Straße) – Köln Messe/Deutz

(ERA-E 42A5 not shown; ERA-R 104A1; S+W 146C2-146C3) DE25/390

There is an alternative route between Köln-Mülheim and Köln Messe/Deutz, east of the S-Bahn tracks at Köln-Mülheim, then flying over most of the layout to the high-level platforms at Köln Messe/Deutz.

Köln Frankfurter Straße (Abzw Vingst) – Köln-Kalk Nord – Köln-Mülheim

(ERA-E 42A5; ERA-R 104A1-104B1; S+W 146C4-146C2) DE25/391

This is an alternative route route between Porz-Wahn and Köln-Mülheim which is more direct than that via Köln Messe/Deutz. It has occasionally been used by IC/ICE services not calling at Köln Messe/Deutz low-level platforms 11/12 but no use of this route has been identified for the last few years.

Köln-Longerich – Köln West

(ERA-E 42A5; ERA-R 104A1; S+W 146A2-146A3) DE25/392

This north-south line links the Neuss and Koblenz routes to the west of Köln Hbf. It is sometimes used by diverted RE5 services between Oberhausen and Koblenz, in which case they omit calls at Düsseldorf-Benrath and stations to Köln Hbf, inclusive, and call alternatively at Neuss Hbf and Dormagen.

Sometimes RE5 services are diverted for the whole route between Duisburg Hbf and Koblenz Hbf, running via Neuss Hbf and avoiding both Düsseldorf Hbf and Köln Hbf. With this diversion, trains also use the Krefeld eastern avoider (DE25/383).

IC/ICE trains may also be diverted over this line, running non-stop between Düsseldorf Hbf and Köln Süd, not calling at Köln Hbf.

Köln Hbf (Köln-Hansaring) – Hürth-Kalscheuren via goods lines

(ERA-E 42xx; ERA-R 104xx; S+W 147A3-148B2) DE25/393

Between Köln West and Hürth-Kalscheuren a pair of goods lines run to the east of the passenger lines, with a single-track connection diving under the northbound passenger line between Köln-Hansaring and Köln West Abzw Ws, where it joins the goods lines which have come from Köln-Nippes and Köln-Ehrenfeld. The goods lines may be used in part by trains running via the Südbrücke to or from north or south (DE25/358).

Köln-Ehrenfeld – Köln West

(ERA-E 42A5; ERA-R 104A1; S+W 146A2-146A3) DE25/394

This west to south curve links the Aachen and Koblenz lines west of Köln Hbf. It is used to enable trains which have been diverted over the Südbrücke (DE25/358) to reach the Aachen line when they are unable to run via Köln Hbf. This can often be discerned by these services calling at Köln-Ehrenfeld instead of Köln Hbf.

Viersen (Viersen Helenabrunn) – Wickrath (Rheydt Gbf) (Mönchengladbach avoiding line)

[485, 490] (S+W 50C4) DE25/395

This line avoiding Mönchengladbach Hbf links the line from Krefeld and Venlo with the Aachen line. It is used if there are engineering works in the area of Mönchengladbach Hbf.

See also