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

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable dated from 11 December 2022 to 9 December 2023, unless otherwise stated. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information.

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 - Germany) by M.G. Ball. References prefixed "S+W", or in italic, refer to Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland by Schweers + Wall.

Obscure services

Niedaltdorf – Bouzonville (France)

(ERA-E 52C1; ERA-R 111C3; S+W 83B4) DE23/451

This line, the Niedtalbahn, has no regular service beyond Niedaltdorf, 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.

Timings for Good Friday 2023 (7 April) are now in the DB journey planner and on this DB site. Trains run every two hours from Dillingen from 09:10 to 17:10, then 18:28, returning from Bouzonville every two hours 10:10 to 16:10, then 17:44 and 19:10, with the first train from Dillingen and last from Bouzonville extended to start/finish at Saarbrücken Hbf.

Note that these trains can be exceptionally busy. Local Saar-VV day tickets with validity as far as Niedaltdorf and Rheinland-Pfalz or Saarland-Tickets are all valid through to Bouzonville without additional payment.

Trains are running in 2023, but the longer-term operation of this service is more doubtful as with the withdrawal of most Class 628 diesel units, there may not be any units available that are passed to operate over the French section of this line.

Merchweiler (Abzw Wemmetsweiler Kurve) – Wemmetsweiler Rathaus

[681] (ERA-E 53A1; ERA-R 112A3; S+W 157B1) DE23/452

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, but not between 24 July and 1 September (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.

Saarbrücken Hbf – Jägersfreude (Saarbrücken Hbf Srg)

[680] (ERA-E 53A1 not shown; ERA-R 112A3 not shown; S+W 157A3) DE23/453

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. RE3 trains to and from Frankfurt (Main) Hbf via Mainz normally use platforms 1 or 3.

Saarbrücken Hbf (– Saarbrücken Grenze) - Forbach

[682] (ERA-E 53A1 not shown; ERA-R 112A3 not shown; S+W 157A3) DE23/454

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.