Hanover-Würzburg high-speed rail line

Hanover — Würzburg rail line

Legend 20px}}} 0.0 Hannover Hbf 20px}}} 8.0 Hannover Messe/Laatzen 20px}}} 13.5 Üst Laatzen Ritterkamp 20px}}} 18.1 Üst Giften 20px}}} North-South line Hannover–Kreiensen 20px}}} 25.3 Betriebsbahnhof Escherde 20px}}} Nordstemmen–Hildesheim line 20px}}} 29.5 Abzw. Sorsum from Hildesheim 20px}}} 29.5 Escherbergtunnel (3,687 m) 20px}}} 34.4 Üst Diekholzen 20px}}} 34.9 Eichenbergtunnel (1,157 m) 20px}}} 36.8 Eggebergtunnel (332 m) 20px Strecke Elze–Bodenburg (Nds. Almetalbahn) 20px}}} 37.3 L 485 bridge (135 m) 20px}}} 42.9 Betriebsbahnhof Almstedt 20px}}} 45.8 Kassemühle-Talbrücke (690 m) 20px Bodenburg–Bad Gandersheim line 20px}}} 48.3 Üst Netze 20px}}} 48.5 Riesbergtunnel (1,322 m) 20px Bodenburg–Bad Gandersheim line 20px}}} 54.8 Üst Gehrenrode 20px}}} 56.2 Ohlenrode-Talbrücke (968 m) 20px}}} 58.0 Hellebergtunnel (1,598 m) 20px}}} 60.0 Mahnmilch-Talbrücke (200 m) 20px}}} 60.6 Wadenbergtunnel (420 m) 20px}}} 61.1 Gande-Talbrücke (396 m), Kreiensen–Goslar 20px}}} 62.1 Betriebsbahnhof Orxhausen 20px}}} 63.4 Hopfenbergtunnel (717 m) 20px}}} 64.3 Aue-Talbrücke (1,056 m), Kreiensen–Kalefeld line 20px}}} 66.6 Sohlbergtunnel (1,729 m) 20px}}} 68.9 Üst Ahlshausen 20px}}} 69.5 Kriebergtunnel (2,994 m) 20px}}} North-South line Hannover–Göttingen 20px}}} A 7 20px}}} 77.3 Üst Edesheim (Leine) to North-South line 20px}}} 77.3 Üst Edesheim (Leine) from North-South line 20px}}} 78.4 Rhume-Brücke (554 m) 20px}}} Northeim–Ottbergen line (Sollingbahn) 20px}}} 82.2 Üst Sudheim 20px}}} 89.2 Üst Nörten-Hardenberg 20px}}} Göttingen–Bodenfelde line (Oberweserbahn) 20px}}} 99.4 Göttingen 20px}}} Former Dransfelder Rampe to Hann. Münden 20px}}} A 7 20px}}} 105.1 Grundbach-Talbrücke (450 m) 20px}}} 106.5 Üst Mengershausen 20px}}} 108.4 Leinebuschtunnel (1,740 m) 20px}}} 110.7 Endelskamptunnel (673 m) 20px}}} 112.0 Betriebsbahnhof Jühnde 20px}}} 112.7 Mackenrodttunnel (816 m) 20px}}} 114.4 Rauhebergtunnel (5,210 m) 20px}}} 120.5 Werratalbrücke (415 m) 20px}}} 121.0 Mündener Tunnel (10,525 m) 20px}}} 124.2 Üst Hann. Münden Kattenbühl 20px}}} 130.0 Üst Lutterberg 20px}}} 121.0 20px}}} 131.8 Mühlenkopftunnel (1,345 m) 20px}}} 133.2 Fuldatalbrücke Kragenhof (250 m) 20px}}} 134.2 Lohbergtunnel (1,072 m) 20px}}} 144.2 Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe 20px}}} 148.2 Kreuzungsbauwerk Oberzwehren (1,147 m) 20px}}} A 49 20px}}} 149.7 Üst Kassel-Keilsberg 20px}}} 150.0 Rengershausener Tunnel (1,592 m), also overpass for … 20px}}} … A 44, Main-Weser-Bahn and … 20px}}} … Friedrich-Wilhelms-Nordbahn 20px}}} 151.7 Fuldatalbrücke Fuldabrück (422 m) 20px}}} 154.0 Dörnhagentunnel (739 m), also overpass for A 7 20px}}} 155.9 Üst Dörnhagen-Schwarzenbach 20px}}} 156.2 Schwarzenbach-Talbrücke (660 m) 20px}}} 157.1 Kehrenbergtunnel (2,400 m) 20px}}} 159.7 Trockene Mülmisch-Talbrücke (320 m) 20px}}} 160.5 Betriebsbahnhof Körle Ost 20px}}} 161.7 Mülmischtalbrücke (870 m) 20px}}} 162.8 Erbelbergtunnel (200 m) 20px}}} 163.1 Breitenbach-Talbrücke (440 m) 20px}}} 163.6 Hainbuchtunnel (1,520 m) 20px}}} 166.8 Üst Spangenberg-Kaiserau 20px}}} 165.2 Kaiserautunnel (1,861 m) 20px}}} 167.1 Kehrenbach-Talbrücke (306 m) 20px}}} 167.5 Weltkugeltunnel (1,641 m) 20px 169.2 Pfieffetalbrücke (812 m), Kanonenbahn … 20px}}} … Eschwege–Malsfeld 20px}}} 170.8 Wildsbergtunnel (2,708 m) 20px}}} 172.0 Üst Haina-Wildsberg 20px}}} 20px}}} 173.8 Fuldatalbrücke Morschen (1,450 m), … 20px}}} … Friedrich-Wilhelms-Nordbahn 20px}}} 175.3 Sengebergtunnel (2,807 m) 20px}}} 178.2 Heidelbach-Talbrücke (390 m) 20px}}} 179.6 Betriebsbahnhof Licherode 20px}}} 180.7 Schalkenbergtunnel (2,829 m) 20px}}} 183.7 Üst Ersrode 20px}}} 183.7 Hainrodetunnel (5,370 m) 20px}}} 189.4 Üst Mühlbach 20px}}} 189.8 Mühlbachtunnel (1,553 m) 20px}}} 191.6 Schmittebergtunnel (321 m) 20px}}} 192.0 Geisbach-Talbrücke (396 m) 20px}}} 192.4 Erzebach-Talbrücke (308 m), A 7 20px}}} 192.9 Kalter-Sand-Tunnel (1,043 m) 20px}}} 194.0 Eckerteroder-Talbrücke (75 m) 20px}}} 194.3 Schickebergtunnel (1,430 m) 20px}}} 196.5 Betriebsbahnhof Kirchheim 20px}}} 197.2 Krämerskuppetunnel (838 m) 20px}}} 198.2 Wälsebachtalbrücke (721 m) 20px}}} 199.0 Kirchheimtunnel (3,820 m) 20px}}} 202.1 Üst Hattenbach 20px}}} 20px}}} 202.9 Aula-Talbrücke (880 m) 20px Knüllwaldbahn, Niederaula – Treysa 20px}}} 203.9 Hattenbergtunnel (444 m) 20px}}} 204.4 Hattenbach-Talbrücke (308 m) 20px}}} 204.9 Warteküppeltunnel (835 m) 20px}}} 206.1 Fuldatalbrücke Solms (1,628 m), Bad Hersfeld … 20px}}} …–Breitenbach (–Alsfeld) 20px}}} 208.0 Üst Niederaula-Solms Richthof 20px}}} 208.1 Richthoftunnel (3,510 m) 20px}}} 211.7 Schwarzbach-Talbrücke (748 m) 20px}}} 212.8 Dornbuschtunnel (557 m) 20px}}} 214.3 Betriebsbahnhof Langenschwarz 20px}}} 215.4 Witzelhöhetunnel (796 m) 20px}}} 216.7 Eichbergtunnel (976 m) 20px}}} 218.5 Rombachtalbrücke (986 m) 20px}}} 220.2 Ganzbergtunnel (387 m) 20px}}} 221.9 Üst Michelsrombach 20px}}} 223.7 Dietershantunnel (7,375 m) 20px}}} 228.1 Üst Dietershan 20px}}} Dietershantunnel) 20px}}} 232.8 Betriebsbahnhof Fulda SFS Nord 20px}}} 234.1 Fulda 20px}}} Overpass Fulda-Bronzell–Fulda Gbf 20px}}} 240.4 Fliede-Talbrücke (240 m) 20px}}} 241.2 Sulzhoftunnel (714 m) 20px}}} 242.7 northern Fliedetalbrücke (880 m), Kinzigtalbahn 20px}}} 243,8 southern Fliedetalbrücke (628 m) 20px}}} 245.9 Üst Neuhof-Hartberg 20px}}} 246.5 Hartbergtunnel (773 m) 20px}}} 247.9 Kalbachtunnel (1,287 m) 20px}}} 249.8 Bornhecketunnel (773 m) 20px}}} 250.8 Kalbach-Talbrücke (364 m) 20px}}} 251.3 Landrückentunnel (10,779 m) 20px}}} 252.1 Üst Kalbach-Landrücken Nord 20px}}} 258.2 Üst Sinntal-Landrücken Süd 20px}}} Landrückentunnel 20px}}} 262.2 Sinntalbrücke Mottgers (427 m) 20px}}} 262.8 Schwarzenfelstunnel (2,100 m) 20px}}} 266.2 Betriebsbahnhof Mottgers 20px}}} 267.4 Sinntalbrücke Zeitlofs (704 m), Sinntalbahn, … 20px}}} … Jossa–Wildflecken 20px}}} 268.1 Altengronautunnel (2,353 m) 20px}}} 270.6 Roßbacher-Forst-Tunnel (255 m) 20px}}} 270.7 Üst Altengronau 20px}}} 271.9 Hangbrücke Dittenbrunn (396 m) 20px}}} 272.3 Dittenbrunntunnel (822 m) 20px}}} 273.5 Obersinn-Talbrücke (178 m) 20px}}} 274.9 Mittelsinn-Talbrücke (152 m) 20px}}} 277.8 Üst Dittenbrunn 20px}}} 281.8 Burgsinntunnel (729 m) 20px}}} from Fulda-Main-Bahn 20px}}} 283.9 Burgsinn Betriebsbahnhof, … 20px}}} … Üst to Fulda-Main-Bahn 20px}}} 285.5 Sinnbergtunnel (2,159 m) 20px}}} 289.0 Sinntalbrücke Schaippach (442 m), Fulda-Main-Bahn 20px}}} 289.4 Einmalbergtunnel (1,140 m) 20px}}} 291.1 Maintalbrücke Gemünden (794 m), Main, … 20px}}} … Main-Spessart-Bahn 20px}}} 291.9 Mühlbergtunnel (5,528 m) 20px}}} 293.3 Üst Mühlberg 20px}}} Nantenbacher Kurve 20px}}} 20px}}} from Nantenbacher Kurve 20px}}} to Nantenbacher Kurve 20px}}} 302.5 Betriebsbahnhof Rohrbach 20px}}} 308.0 Hanfgartentunnel (400 m) 20px}}} 308.8 Hohe-Wart-Tunnel (872 m) 20px}}} 309.9 Üst Hohewart 20px}}} 311.8 Bartelsgrabentalbrücke (1,160 m) 20px}}} 313.3 Leinachtalbrücke (1,232 m) 20px}}} 314.7 Espenlohtunnel (2,235 m) 20px}}} 316.3 Üst Espenloh 20px}}} 20px}}} 317.1 Eichelbergtunnel (1,869 m) 20px}}} 319.0 Bärntal-Talbrücke (71 m) 20px}}} 319.1 Neubergtunnel (1,945 m) 20px}}} 321.0 Üst Margetshöchheim-Neuberg 20px}}} 321.3 Maintalbrücke Veitshöchheim (1,280 m), Main, … 20px}}} … Main-Spessart-Bahn 20px}}} 322.6 Roßbergtunnel (2,164 m) 20px}}} 324.8 Dürrbachtal-Talbrücke (128 m) 20px}}} 325.0 Steinbergtunnel (571 m) 20px}}} 325.6 Main-Spessart-Bahn overpass (576 m) 20px}}} 327.4 Würzburg Hbf

The Hanover - Würzburg high-speed rail line was the first of several high-speed railway lines for InterCityExpress traffic that were built in Germany. While technically starting in the village of Rethen and ending several kilometres north of Würzburg Hauptbahnhof, it is a de facto link between Hanover and Würzburg, with stops at Göttingen, Kassel and Fulda. Construction started as early as 1973, the line opening fully in 1991. At 327 km (or 203 miles) length, it still is the longest newly built rail line in Germany, and its costs are estimated at around DM 40 million (€ 20.45 million) per kilometre.

History

Wälsebachtalbrücke

Bridge near Barnten

The Deutsche Bundesbahn began construction of the line in 1973. Since it was designed for fast passenger trains as well as for express freight trains, its maximum incline is a mere 12.5 ‰. Combined with the hilly terrain, this made the construction of 61 tunnels and 10 large bridges necessary. Of the 327 km of total length, 120 km are in tunnels, the two longest being the Landrückentunnel (10,779 m) south of Fulda, the second longest being the Mündener Tunnel (10,525 m) south of Hann. Münden. The highest bridge is the Rombachtalbrücke near Schlitz at 95 metres.

Withstanding 10,700 complaints and 360 lawsuits, the line was opened fully in 1991, though the Würzburg-Fulda part was used by InterCity trains as early as 1988. The standard speed on the line is 250 km/h (155 mph); 280 km/h may be reached by trains running late.

On May 1, 1988 the InterCityExperimental set a new land speed record for railed vehicles at 406.9 km/h (252.8 mph) between Fulda and Würzburg.

Safety

Emergency Train in Hildesheim

Deutsche Bahn AG keeps special trains for accident assistance ready, when passenger trains are on the line; from midnight to early morning these trains are out of service and the line is used for cargo transport. These are hauled by two specially rebuilt Class 714 locomotives and are designed to get firefighters and rescue workers to accident scenes in tunnels and on difficult to access sections of track. Both engines are equipped with infrared cameras and remote controls, so that the driver can steer the train into the tunnel from the first (air-tight) car of the consist without endangering themselves. The trains on (or near) the Hanover-Würzburg line are stationed in Hildesheim Hbf, Kassel Hbf, Fulda and Würzburg Hbf. At first the trains were painted in a bright reddish-orange livery akin to fire engines, but since the late 1990s they are painted in the standard red of all DB liveries, apparently to make them less obvious to the concerned passenger.

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Hanover to Würzburg high-speed rail line (KBS 351)

Main article: Hanover-Würzburg high-speed rail line
Stations: Hannover Hbf | H-Messe/Laatzen | Göttingen | Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe | Fulda | Würzburg Hbf