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 – Niebüll neg

[136](ERA-E 43A5; ERA-R 83B4; S+W 1D3) DE25/001

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 across the station forecourt is provided by limited through workings, with a few Intercity coaches detached from trains to Westerland (Sylt) and shunted to the neg platform by a NEG DMU via a reversal in a headshunt north of Niebüll station and vice versa on return. Services run on varying dates throughout the year:

D1		IC2216	Köln Hbf – 11:48 Niebüll – Dagebüll Mole
D2	Note 1	IC2076	Berlin Südkreuz – 12:52 Niebüll – Dagebüll Mole
D3		IC2312	Köln Hbf – 15:47 Niebüll – Dagebüll Mole
D4		IC2394	Stuttgart Hbf – 18:13 Niebüll – Dagebüll Mole
D5		IC2313	Dagebüll Mole – 09:48 Niebüll neg – Köln Hbf
D5	Note 2	IC2393/5/7	Dagebüll Mole – 10:53 Niebüll neg – Stuttgart Hbf
D1		IC2217	Dagebüll Mole – 13:57 Niebüll neg – Köln Hbf
D2	Note 1	IC2077	Dagebüll Mole – 14:57 Niebüll neg – Berlin Südkreuz

D1: 5 April - 2 November 2025
D2: 26 December 2024 - 5 January 2025; 5 April - 1 August 2025
D3: 5 April - 1 November 2025
D4: 28 June - 14 September 2025
D5: 6 April - 2 November 2025

Note 1: These trains do not officially pick up (towards Dagebüll) or set down (from Dagebüll) at Niebüll main station.

Note 2: Runs as IC2393 Mondays to Thursdays, as IC2395 on Fridays and as IC2397 on Saturdays and Sundays.

From the December 2026 timetable change, DB Fernverkehr will introduce new ICE-L Talgo rolling stock on long-distance trains to and from Westerland (Sylt). These trains will not be separable, so through coaches to and from Dagebüll will no longer be able to operate and all passengers will have to change to and from the local service at Niebüll.

Kiel-Oppendorf – Schönberg (Holstein)

(ERA-E 43B4-43C4; S+W 3C4-3D4) DE25/002

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.

In December 2025, after years of delay, the service is due to be extended from Kiel-Oppendorf to Schönkirchen. The reopening of the rest of the line to Schönberger Strand is due in the following two years (to Probsteierhagen in December 2026 and the full line in December 2027). As a result of the preparatory works taking place, the usual Kieler Woche special trains in late June between Kiel Hbf and Schönberger Strand are not expected to run in 2025 and the existing RB76 service to Kiel-Oppendorf will itself be suspended between mid-September and mid-December 2025.

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

(ERA-E 43A5; ERA-R 83C4; S+W 3C2) DE25/003

This south-to-north curve links the Neumünster and Padborg lines, avoiding Flensburg station. For part of the length of the curve, a distance of about 800 metres, the southbound and northbound tracks follow slightly different alignments approximately 20 metres apart.

Five EC train pairs per day run between Hamburg and København via this route. The SJ (EN345/346) and Snälltåget (D300/301) night trains between Stockholm and Berlin also run this way.

		EC398	Hamburg Hbf – 10:26 Schleswig – København H
		EC396	Hamburg Hbf – 12:26 Schleswig – København H
		EC394	Hamburg Hbf – 14:26 Schleswig – København H
		EC392	Hamburg Hbf – 16:26 Schleswig – København H
		EC390	Hamburg Hbf – 18:26 Schleswig – København H
D1	SX	EN346	Berlin Gesundbrunnen – 22:03 Hamburg Hbf – Stockholm C
D2	SX	D300	Dresden-Neustadt (SuO) – Berlin Hbf – 23:59 Hamburg Hbf – Stockholm C
D1	SX	EN345	Stockholm C – 03:52 Padborg – Berlin Hbf
		EC391	København H – 09:02 Padborg – Hamburg Hbf
		EC393	København H – 11:02 Padborg – Hamburg Hbf
		EC395	København H – 13:02 Padborg – Hamburg Hbf
		EC397	København H – 17:02 Padborg – Hamburg Hbf
		EC399	København H – 19:02 Padborg – Hamburg Hbf
D2	SX	D301	Stockholm C – 23:21 Høje Taastrup – Berlin Hbf

D1: Currently in timetable only until 5 June 2025
D2: 11 April - 31 October 2025 from Sweden; 13 April - 2 November 2025 from Germany, with occasional gaps; see Snälltåget website for exact dates of running

Note that while the overnight services have compulsory reservations, the daytime services no longer do, although reservations are recommended. All 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) DE25/031

This north to south curve allows trains to run between the Neümunster and Flensburg lines at Kiel without reversal at Kiel Hbf, when engineering work blocks the main line between Neümunster and Flensburg. It has seen little or no use by diverted passenger trains since the electrification of the main line to Flensburg as diversions via this curve would require the use of diesel trains throughout between Hamburg and Flensburg.