Germany (Rheinland-Pfalz) - 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

Mainz-Mombach – Mainz Abzw Kaiserbrücke West

[680] (ERA-E 57A2; ERA-R 122C1; S+W 151B2) DE25/401

This west to north curve links the line from Koblenz via Bingen with the Kaiserbrücke over the Rhein. It may be used by trains to Hochheim (Main) or Mainz-Bischofsheim if not calling at Mainz Hbf. Various types of older carriages are not permitted through the tunnels at Mainz, so any excursion or charter trains including such vehicles are likely to be diverted this way.

The following train is the rear portion of a service that divides at Budenheim.

SSuX

RB33 29681

Bad Kreuznach – 07:14 Budenheim – Wiesbaden Hbf

From 5 to 9 May and 19 to 22 May 2025, the two-hourly RE2 services from Koblenz Hbf to Frankfurt am Main Hbf (in that direction only) are diverted this way, omitting Mainz Hbf but calling at Mainz-Mombach instead, then running directly to Frankfurt am Main Hbf via the route to Abzw Kostheim (DE25/521).

Ludwigshafen (Rhein) Hbf – Ludwigshafen (Rhein) BASF Nord

[670.1] (ERA-E 53C1-61C2; ERA-R 111A2; S+W 159A2-158D1) DE25/402

S44 trains operate between Ludwigshafen Hbf and the BASF chemical works. Many trains in the peak operate through to/from other stations such as Karlsruhe Hbf or Germersheim.

From Ludwigshafen (Rh) Hbf:

• SSuX: 04:50, frequent until 07:55; 09:03 and hourly until 15:03, then 17:03, 18:15
• SSuO: 04:50, 05:37, 17:03

From Ludwigshafen (Rh) BASF Nord:

• SSuX: 05:19, 05:58, 08:46 and hourly until 14:46, then frequent until 17:43, 18:45
• SSuO: 05:19, 05:58, 17:43

Use of these trains is officially restricted to those with works passes. Smoking and photography are strictly forbidden within the works.

Ludwigshafen west curve: Ludwigshafen-Oggersheim (Überleitung Nord) – Ludwigshafen-Mundenheim

[659] (ERA-E 53C1 not shown; ERA-R 111A2; S+W 158D2) DE25/403

This pair of curves, via the low level west side platforms at Ludwigshafen (Rhein) Hbf, is used by through trains between the Worms and Schifferstadt lines. There is an RE service between Mainz and Karlsruhe via Germersheim every two hours for most of the day. Northbound trains run via platform 6 and the diveunder route to the Worms line, whereas southbound trains run via the direct curve to platforms 8 or 9.

Schifferstadt avoiding line: Limburgerhof (Abzw Limburgerhof) – Böhl-Iggelheim (Abzw Böhl-Iggelheim)

[670] (ERA-E 53C1; ERA-R 111A1; S+W 158D3-158C4) DE25/404

This line is used by trains between Mannheim / Ludwigshafen and Neustadt (Weinstraße) / Kaiserslautern not calling at Schifferstadt.

Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf

[672.2] (ERA-E 53B1; ERA-R 112C4; S+W 155C4-155D3) DE25/405

Most services between Enkenbach and Kaiserslautern Hbf are not booked to call at Hochspeyer, so run on the direct line via Eselsfürth. Only the following trains run via Hochspeyer.

	SSuX	RB65 12700	Bad Kreuznach – 05:54 Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf
	SSuX	RB65 12704	Bad Kreuznach – 06:24 Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf
	SSuX	RB65 12706	Bingen (Rhein) Hbf – 06:56 Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf
	SSuX	RB65 12712	Bingen (Rhein) Hbf – 07:54 Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf
E1	SSuO	RB48 12302	Monsheim – 10:51 Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf
E1	SSuO	RB48 12300	Monsheim – 12:51 Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf
	SSuX	RE15 12386	Mainz Hbf – 14:04 Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf
E1	SSuO	RB48 12304	Monsheim – 14:51 Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf
E1	SSuO	RB48 12306	Monsheim – 16:51 Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf
	SSuX	RE15 29540	Mainz Hbf – 18:05 Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf
E1	SSuO	RB48 12308	Monsheim – 18:54 Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf
	SSuX	RE17 12746	Bingen (Rhein) Hbf (as RB65 12744) – 18:37 Enkenbach – Kaiserslautern Hbf
	SO	RB65 12705	05:16 Kaiserslautern Hbf – Mainz Hbf
	SSuX	RB65 12711	06:37 Kaiserslautern Hbf – Bingen (Rhein) Hbf
	SSuX	RE15 12383	07:08 Kaiserslautern Hbf – Mainz Hbf / Bad Kreuznach
	SSuX	RB65 12745	17:36 Kaiserslautern Hbf – Bingen (Rhein) Hbf

E1: 2 August - 26 October 2025 plus holidays (deferred from 5 April). Note that RB48 services in the other direction do not call at Hochspeyer so run via the direct line.

Hochspeyer curve: Frankenstein (Pfalz) (Hochspeyer Ost) – Enkenbach (Hochspeyer Nord)

[672.2, 676] (ERA-E 53B1; ERA-R 112C4; S+W 155D4) DE25/406

This east to north curve links the Neustadt (Weinstraße) and Bingen (Rhein) lines east of Hochspeyer. It is used by the following summer weekend services.

E1	SuO	RE WX 81493	Koblenz Hbf – 11:06 Rockenhausen – Wissembourg
E1	SSuO	RE36 12393	Bingen (Rhein) Hbf – 12:35 Winnweiler – Neustadt (Weinstr) Hbf
E1	SSuO	RE36 12395	Bingen (Rhein) Hbf – 18:35 Winnweiler – Neustadt (Weinstr) Hbf
E1	SSuO	RE36 12392	08:53 Neustadt (Weinstr) Hbf – Bingen (Rhein) Hbf
E1	SSuO	RE36 12394	14:53 Neustadt (Weinstr) Hbf – Bingen (Rhein) Hbf
E1	SuO	RE WX 81494	Wissembourg – 18:17 Neustadt (Weinstr) Hbf – Koblenz Hbf

E1: 5 April to 26 October 2025, plus holidays

Trier Hbf - Ehrang Ort / Kordel

[690] (ERA-E 52C2 not shown; ERA-R 111C5; S+W 155D1) DE25/407

There are two routes between Trier Hbf and the Moselstrecke to Koblenz, or the Eifelstrecke towards Köln. The main line runs via Trier Hafenstraße and the former passenger Ehrang Bahnhof, but there is also a single line that runs on the far (east) side of the marshalling yard (Rbf) at Ehrang. The eastern route is sometimes used by RE trains from Trier Hbf to Koblenz, non-stop to Schweich.

This route is often used by diverted trains to/from Kyllburg, Wittlich or Koblenz, sometimes in one direction only. Whether trains are due to take this route can be ascertained by calls at Pfalzel and Trier Hafenstraße being omitted by RB services.

Koblenz-Moselweiß (Koblenz Mosel Gbf) - Koblenz-Lützel

[470,690] (ERA-E 53B4; ERA-R 105B2; S+W 150C2) DE25/408

This west to north curve links the Moselstrecke from Trier to the Linke Rheinstrecke via Bonn Hbf, avoiding Koblenz Hbf. It is used by a pair of RE12 services between Trier and Köln.

D1		RE4188	Trier Hbf – 19:36 Wittlich Hbf – Köln Messe/Deutz
D1		RE4189	Köln Messe/Deutz – 07:19 Koblenz-Lützel – Trier Hbf

D1: Until 3 January and from 1 February 2025

It is reported that from June 2026 these trains will be curtailed to run between Luxembourg and Koblenz Hbf only (i.e. not via this curve) as a result of (a) the reopening in full of the Eifelstrecke via Gerolstein in June 2025 and (b) the lack of paths on either left- or right-bank Rhein lines because of ongoing renovation works.

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

Koblenz-Ehrenbreitstein (Abzw Pfaffendorf) – Niederlahnstein

[465.1, 465.2] (ERA-E 53B4; ERA-R 105B2; S+W 150C2) DE25/431

If trains are diverted via the Rechte Rheinstrecke they normally cross back to the left bank to call at Koblenz Hbf. Exceptionally, they may use this route and not call at Koblenz. Diverted trains can be readily identified because they stop at Bonn-Beuel and Neuwied instead of Bonn Hbf and Koblenz Hbf.

Koblenz-Lützel (Koblenz Gbf) – Urmitz Rheinbrücke (Abzw Kesselheim) [– Neuwied] via line 3014

[466] (ERA-E 53B4; ERA-R 105B2; S+W 150C1-C2) DE25/432

This line (single line 3014) diverges from the north side of the Koblenz Hbf to Bonn Hbf Linke Rheinstrecke and connects with the double-track passenger line over the Rheinbrücke towards Neuwied. It is reportedly used between 10 and 19 May 2025 by the hourly VIAS RB10 (Wiesbaden Hbf – Koblenz Hbf – Neuwied) services (whether in that direction only, or both, is not clear to the compilers).