Hanover-Würzburg high-speed rail line

From TrainSpottingWorld, for Rail fans everywhere
Hanover — Würzburg rail line
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}}} NordstemmenHildesheim 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 ElzeBodenburg (Nds. Almetalbahn)
20px}}} 37.3 L 485 bridge (135 m)
20px}}} 42.9 Betriebsbahnhof Almstedt
20px}}} 45.8 Kassemühle-Talbrücke (690 m)
20px BodenburgBad Gandersheim line
20px}}} 48.3 Üst Netze
20px}}} 48.5 Riesbergtunnel (1,322 m)
20px BodenburgBad 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), KreiensenGoslar
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}}} NortheimOttbergen line (Sollingbahn)
20px}}} 82.2 Üst Sudheim
20px}}} 89.2 Üst Nörten-Hardenberg
20px}}} GöttingenBodenfelde 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}}} EschwegeMalsfeld
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, NiederaulaTreysa
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}}} JossaWildflecken
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.

Commons-logo.svg
Wikimedia Commons
has media related to:
Neubaustrecke Hannover-Würzburg


High-speed rail
v  d  e

High-speed trains: Acela ExpressAdvanced Passenger TrainAVEChina Railway High-speedEurostarInterCity 225InterCityExpressJR-Maglev MLX01HSTHSR-350xKorea Train ExpressMagnetic levitation trainsPendolinoShinkansenTGVThalysTransrapidTreno Alta VelocitàX2000

High-speed lines: Beijing-TianjinCTRL (London-Channel Tunnel)Cologne-AachenCologne-Frankfurt
French LGV linesHanover-WürzburgNortheast Corridor (Boston-Washington DC)Nuremberg-IngolstadtHSL 1 (Brussels-Paris)
HSL 2 (Leuven-Ans)HSL 3 (Liège-Aachen)HSL 4 (Brussels-Netherlands)HSL-Zuid (Netherlands)
Japanese Shinkansen lines

By country: BelgiumCanadaChinaFranceGermanyItalyJapanKorea (South)NorwayPortugalSpain
TaiwanTurkeyUnited KingdomUnited States (CA · FL · NY · TX · Midwest · Southeast) • Other


de:Schnellfahrstrecke Hannover–Würzburg fr:Ligne Hanovre - Würzburg