25-634: The Limburg–Altenkirchen railway is a 65.1 km long branch line from Limburg via Westerburg to Altenkirchen and connecting via the Engers–Au railway to Au through the Westerwald . In German the line is also known as the Oberwesterwaldbahn ( Upper Westerwald Railway) . It runs through the German states of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate . In 1845, there were early plans to build
50-532: A publication supporting the construction of a "Main-Lahn-Sieg Railway", connecting Frankfurt and Cologne via the shortest route and also contributing to the development of mineral deposits (such as basalt and clay) in this area. On 17 February 1868 the Prussian parliament passed a law that among other things, authorised the construction of a line from Limburg to Hadamar . It was built to plans developed by Moritz Hilf and opened on 1 January 1870. On 4 December 1873
75-676: A rail link between Frankfurt and Wiesbaden and Cologne . In 1848/49, a group was formed that advocated the construction of this line through the Westerwald. These plans were initially given some positive attention by the policy makers of Prussia and the Duchy of Nassau , but were rejected in 1853 and a licence was issued to build the East Rhine Railway instead. In 1861, several local committees in Prussia and Nassau, published
100-476: A siding was built for transporting tanks to and from Wäller barracks in Westerburg . This siding was closed with the closure of the base in 2007. After the privatisation of Deutsche Bahn on 1 January 1994, operations on the line between Limburg and Au were taken over by DB Regio AG . There were still operated with class 628 diesel multiple units as Regionalbahn services. After the contract for operations
125-929: Is a station in the city of Limburg an der Lahn in the German state of Hesse . It is on the Lahntal railway ( German : Lahntalbahn ), running between Koblenz and Gießen . The only section of line that is electrified in the Limburg area is between Limburg freight yard and Eschhofen station. At the west end of Limburg station a two-track branch line branches off towards Staffel, where it separates into two single-track lines to Siershahn (the Lower Westerwald Railway , Westerwaldbahn ) and to Au (Sieg) (the Upper Westerwald Railway , Oberwesterwaldbahn ). East of Limburg, in Eschhofen,
150-539: Is a type of German diesel-hydraulic locomotive operated by the Deutsche Bundesbahn , that was redesignated as Class 280 from 1968. It was the first, main line , diesel locomotive with a hydraulic transmission . This type of locomotive was the first newly developed diesel locomotive built for main line service by the Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB). Only 10 examples of the class were built at
175-458: The line which continues on the other side of the station line to Siershahn is only used for freight services. On 31 October 2012, the result of a tender for future services was announced. The Hessische Landesbahn (HLB) was awarded the contract for the operation of the network from August 2015 until December 2030, including the RB 90 service ( Westerwald-Sieg-Bahn ). Since the existing contract with
200-581: The DB kept as a museum piece, was a victim of the big fire at the Nuremberg Transport Museum on 17 October 2005. Since mid-October 2005 the first V 80 built by Krauss-Maffei has returned to Germany. No. V 80 001 was bought from a collector, who also owned the museum locomotive 212 203 , and transferred from Italy back to Germany. It is intended to carry out a refurbishment of the locomotive as quickly as possible, so it can be made available as
225-598: The Hessian Ludwig Railway ( Hessische Ludwigsbahn , HLB) was awarded a licence to continue the line towards Troisdorf on the Sieg via Hachenburg , where a branch line to Wissen was proposed. In 1872, it had been decided to build the Main-Lahn Railway ( Main-Lahn-Bahn ) from Frankfurt to Limburg via Idstein , Camberg and Eschhofen. The HLB undertook the first survey and preparatory work on
250-428: The Westerwald. This services were discontinued with the introduction of the timetable of summer 1989. The “hedges expresses” were first operated with class VT 25 diesel multiple units and later by carriages hauled by diesel locomotives of classes V80 , V100 and 216 . Between the summer of 1977 and the winter of 1991 another pair of express trains also operated between Altenkirchen and Mainz and Wiesbaden . In 1987,
275-604: The beginning of the 1950s, but it formed the basis for all subsequent DB designs in this sector. The locomotives were initially distributed to the locomotive depots ( Bahnbetriebswerke ) at Frankfurt am Main and Bamberg . In Frankfurt/Main they were used on suburban services from Frankfurt/Main Hbf to Bad Homburg v.d.Höhe and to Kronberg and also hauled fast-stopping trains ( Eilzüge ) between Frankfurt/Main and Cologne . The Bamberg engines were used on Nuremberg ’s suburban services and on various branch lines around Bamberg. From 1963 all
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#1732782405153300-604: The centre of the vehicle which could be used in both directions and which jutted out above the engine rooms. In the basic design the V 80 had elements, that were also used on all succeeding diesel locomotive classes: a diesel engine that ran at medium-speed, hydraulic gears , power transmission via the centre axle by means of universal joints . Originally three different motors were fitted with 800 to 1000 PS; later 1,100 PS MTU motors were installed. All were supercharged V12 four-stroke diesel engines. After being withdrawn in Germany,
325-506: The double track, electrified Main-Lahn Railway ( Main-Lahn-Bahn ) branches off to the southeast towards Frankfurt and Wiesbaden (via the Ländches Railway ( Ländchesbahn ). Until 2005, there was also a Deutsche Bahn maintenance depot at the station, which is now closed and was formerly partly leased to the private rail operator, vectus Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH , which has been taken over by Hessische Landesbahn . Most of
350-516: The extension towards Troisdorf, but further work was stopped due to financial problems. In May 1879, the Royal Railway Division (KED) of Wiesbaden received permission to continue the construction. At the end of 1882, construction of the line to Altenkirchen was begun and the section between Altenkirchen and Hachenburg was opened on 1 April 1885. The line between Hachenburg and Hadamar was opened on 1 October 1886. On 21 May 1883 it
375-540: The former site was converted into a shopping centre. Vectus Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH also had its headquarters there until 2014. The registered office of Hessische Landesbahn is now in an adjoining building of WERKStadt Limburg . A two-track hall is used for the maintenance and maintenance of traction units. The electrified sidings are used by Deutsche Bahn . All non-electrified sidings are used by both DB and HLB. A former freight line and some points were dismantled to create more space for parking spaces used by employees of
400-499: The incumbent operator was due to end in December 2014, HLB agreed to take over operations early. At the timetable change of 14 December 2014, HLB took over operations on the line not only of DreiLänderBahn from DB Regio NRW, but also the operations of the RB 28 and RB 29 services from vectus Verkehrsgesellschaft . Services remained at the old level. Due to delays in planning, infrastructure measures could not be completed in time for
425-412: The line was served by class 628 diesel multiple units . Some services from the 1950s were also operated with accumulator railcars of classes 515 and 517. From the summer of 1953, two pairs of express services were introduced on the line between Frankfurt and Cologne, which were known in railway jargon and popularly as “hedgerow expresses” ( Heckeneilzug ). They were the fastest passenger services in
450-482: The line. During the Second World War locomotives of classes 38 , 42 , 55, 56 and 57 also operated in the Westerwald. Apart from the already mentioned classes, Deutsche Bundesbahn operated steam locomotives of classes 50 , 52 and 82 . The use of steam engines ended on 31 May 1975. Local passenger services between Limburg and Au were operated mainly with class VT 95 and VT 98 railbuses . After 1989
475-469: The locomotives of Class 280 were largely sold to private railways and to track construction firms in Italy. In 1959, Officine Meccaniche Italiane built a prototype diesel-hydraulic locomotive for Consorzio Cooperativo Ferrovie Reggiane. This lone prototype, CCFR 920 [ it ] , later sold to Ferrovie del Sud Est had a similar aspect but shared no common parts. One example, no. V 80 002, which
500-408: The locos were gathered together at Bamberg and took over passenger and goods train duties on many branch lines in northern Bavaria. The demise of branch lines in the 1970s meant that the DB could get rid of this small class of just 10 engines between 1976 and 1978, because sufficient locomotives of the comparable Class V 100 were available. A classic feature of these engines was the driver's cab in
525-517: The old timetable still operates, which provides only a two-hourly regular-interval services with some additional services. The breaks that occur in Westerburg often cause waits of 24–39 minutes for the other train, which are very unattractive for passengers. The full implementation of the new timetable was initially not expected before December 2017, but is now expected to be delayed until 2022. Limburg (Lahn) station Limburg (Lahn) station
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#1732782405153550-520: The surrounding companies. The following services currently call at Limburg: During the construction of the Cologne–Frankfurt high-speed railway , it was decided not to establish a rail link between Limburg (Lahn) station and Limburg Süd station . Buses that stop at the bus station on the south side of the station connect the two stations together and are free for travelers with train tickets to either station. DB Class V 80 The Class V 80
575-449: The timetable change in December 2015. Therefore, a transition timetable was implemented, which provides for a break in operations for most trains in Westerburg. In the northern part, which is the responsibility of SPNV Nord and NWL, the trains already ran hourly to Siegen, as provided for in the new timetable concept. In the southern part, which is mostly in the area of responsibility of the RMV,
600-960: Was awarded by the Zweckverband Schienenpersonennahverkehr Rheinland-Pfalz Nord (Purpose association for passenger transport association of northern Rhineland-Palatinate), management of operations were taken from 10 January 2003 by the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (Rhine-Main Transport Association, RMV) and the operation of services on the Limburg–Au route was contracted from 12 December 2004 to vectus Verkehrsgesellschaft . Trains run from Limburg to Altenkirchen and from there to Au. All passenger service have to stop and reverse in Altenkirchen station, as
625-638: Was finally decided the build the remaining portion from Altenkirchen to Au. This section was opened on 1 February 1887 and thus connected with the Giessen–Deutz railway towards Cologne . The laying of a second track on the original section between Staffel and Limburg was completed on 10 December 1888. Under the Prussian state railways , the line was originally served by class T3 and T8 steam locomotives and from 1912 by class T16 locomotives. From 1924, Deutsche Reichsbahn operated class T14 locomotives on
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