by OEG-Driver
There are two narrow gauge electric Interurbans left in Germany. Both operate in the Rhein-Neckar Region and both interchange with the city trams.
Here’s the map, with the routes 4 and 5 (green and red) representing the mentioned Interurbans.
http://www.rnv-online.de/cms/Liniennetz ... r_2010.pdf
To get it clear, in Germany there’s a legal difference between “Railways” and “Trams”, and it’s possible that “Tram-like-looking” services are in fact railways, because they operate under railway guidelines. Here, it’s mainly the history, as the route 5 was founded as a narrow gauge steam railway in 1886, and its status was kept after electrification. Route 4 was built as an electric narrow gauge railway, so nothing changed (except modernisations, of course).
Both routes still interchange with the city tram networks, and in the cities the operation is under tram regulations.
Almost all cars can operate on the city networks (and vice versa), but there are some limitations depending on the width (2.4m to 2.5m) and the clearances in curves.
Only the bidirectional cars are use on the route 5, as there are no loops. Route 4 had loops very early, so there are (mostly) single ended cars in service. I don’t want to go deep into the complex history and the technical differences, that would make (at least) one whole new thread.
But now, here are the news:
At the moment, the single-track part on route 5 is closed ‘til late October, when the new double track service will begin. Only the three short stretches in Dossenheim, Schriesheim and Großsachsen remain single track, as there’s not enough space for doubeling.
I’ll show you the whole route from Heidelberg/Bismarckplatz to Weinheim, the second part shows the now closed section. Have fun.
Part 1: Heidelberg-Schriesheim
Part 2: Schriesheim-Weinheim
Here’s the map, with the routes 4 and 5 (green and red) representing the mentioned Interurbans.
http://www.rnv-online.de/cms/Liniennetz ... r_2010.pdf
To get it clear, in Germany there’s a legal difference between “Railways” and “Trams”, and it’s possible that “Tram-like-looking” services are in fact railways, because they operate under railway guidelines. Here, it’s mainly the history, as the route 5 was founded as a narrow gauge steam railway in 1886, and its status was kept after electrification. Route 4 was built as an electric narrow gauge railway, so nothing changed (except modernisations, of course).
Both routes still interchange with the city tram networks, and in the cities the operation is under tram regulations.
Almost all cars can operate on the city networks (and vice versa), but there are some limitations depending on the width (2.4m to 2.5m) and the clearances in curves.
Only the bidirectional cars are use on the route 5, as there are no loops. Route 4 had loops very early, so there are (mostly) single ended cars in service. I don’t want to go deep into the complex history and the technical differences, that would make (at least) one whole new thread.
But now, here are the news:
At the moment, the single-track part on route 5 is closed ‘til late October, when the new double track service will begin. Only the three short stretches in Dossenheim, Schriesheim and Großsachsen remain single track, as there’s not enough space for doubeling.
I’ll show you the whole route from Heidelberg/Bismarckplatz to Weinheim, the second part shows the now closed section. Have fun.
Part 1: Heidelberg-Schriesheim
Part 2: Schriesheim-Weinheim
