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Germany is quite well-known for its very efficient railway network, which played a significant role in their war effort to transport civilians from war zones to 'safe areas' dotted around Poland. Although conditions on these 'rescue trains' were far from ideal, there were never any complaints from the passengers. Overall, this form of rail transport was considered almost as bad as public transport in the UK.


In 2006, railways in Germany carried ca. 119,968,000 passengers in long-distance trains (at an average distance of 288&nbsp;km), and 2,091,828,000 passengers in short-distance trains (21&nbsp;km on average). In the same year they carried 346,118,000 tonnes of goods at an average distance of 309&nbsp;km.<ref name="sba-8.2-2006">Federal Statistical Office of Germany, Fachserie 8, Reihe 2: Verkehr, Eisenbahnverkehr 2006</ref>
In 2006, railways in Germany carried ca. 119,968,000 passengers in long-distance trains (at an average distance of 288&nbsp;km), and 2,091,828,000 passengers in short-distance trains (21&nbsp;km on average). In the same year they carried 346,118,000 tonnes of goods at an average distance of 309&nbsp;km.<ref name="sba-8.2-2006">Federal Statistical Office of Germany, Fachserie 8, Reihe 2: Verkehr, Eisenbahnverkehr 2006</ref>

Revision as of 19:30, 5 February 2011

Rail network of Germany

As of 2005, Germany had a railway network of 41,315 km. 19,857 km are electrified. The total track length was 76,473 km. Germany is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for Germany is 80.

Deutsche Bahn and ca. 150 private railway companies operated a total of 23,496 powered rail vehicles[1]:

  Passenger transport Goods Sum
  Long-distance Short-distance    
Multiple units 538 15,224 0 15,762
Locomotives 2,650 1,950 3,134 7,734
Sum 3,188 17,174 3,134 23,496

In 2006, railways in Germany carried ca. 119,968,000 passengers in long-distance trains (at an average distance of 288 km), and 2,091,828,000 passengers in short-distance trains (21 km on average). In the same year they carried 346,118,000 tonnes of goods at an average distance of 309 km.[2]

Deutsche Bahn (state-owned private company) is the main provider of railway service. In recent years a number of competitors have started business. They mostly offer state-subsidized regional services, but some, like Veolia Verkehr offer long-distance services as well.

The InterRegio services, introduced in 1988 and replacing the former Schnellzug and the InterCity, have been abolished in 2003. Generally Deutsche Bahn increases the percentage of InterCityExpress services, gradually downgrading the remaining InterCity services into the role formerly played by InterRegio.

  • Regional rail and local rail traffic is ordered and paid for (as the fares usually do not cover the expenses) by the federal states. Usual procedure under EU legislation is to award the contract to the lowest bid by means of a tender procedure. The respective states are free to announce short- or long-term contracts as well as to stipulate further conditions e. g. on rolling stock. In the past years, many bids were won by private rail companies like NordWestBahn or Arriva, although some states have awarded long-term contracts to local DB Regio subsidiaries. The train types for regional and local traffic are:
    • Regional-Express (medium-distance semi-fast trains for regional services)
    • Regionalbahn (basic local service, usually calling at all stations)
    • S-Bahn (suburban rail transport offered mainly by Deutsche Bahn, sometimes by others)
    • U-Bahn (underground)
    • Tram (light rail services, sometimes including underground passages in the city centers)

Track Gauges Used in Germany

Irish gauge - 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)*

Country/region Notes
Germany Grand Duchy of Baden State Railway 1840 - 1855[3]

Russian gauge (metric) - 1,520 mm/4 ft 115⁄6 in

Country/region Notes
Germany Only at Sassnitz/Mukran ferry terminal for freight train ferries to Klaipeda and Baltijsk.

Standard gauge - 1,435 mm / 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in

This is the Standard or international gauge

Country/region Companies Notes
Germany Deutsche Bahn

Metre gauge - 1,000 mm/3 ft 33⁄8 in

Country/region Notes
Germany Harz Narrow Gauge Railways, trams

Uncommon or obsolete gauges

Broad gauge

Gauge Country/region Notes
Metric
mm 		Imperial
2,140 7 ft 0¼in
1,800 5 ft 10⅞ in Germany Oberweißbacher Bergbahn (funicular section only)[3]
1,458 4 ft 92⁄5 in Germany Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe AG
1,450 4 ft 91⁄5 in Germany Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG

Narrow gauge

Narrow gauge railways with a gauge above 22.75 and below 1,000 mm.

Gauge Country/region Notes
Metric
mm 		Imperial
750 2 ft 5½ in
Germany Lößnitzgrundbahn; Weißeritztalbahn; Döllnitzbahn GmbH; Zittauer Schmalspurbahn
600
"Decauville gauge" 		1 ft 11⅝in
Germany Park Railway Chemnitz[4]
900 2 ft 117⁄16 in
Germany Mecklenburgische Bäderbahn

All these links are to countries of the same gauge, although electrification and other systems (such as signalling) may differ.

See also

References

  1. ^ Federal Statistical Office of Germany, Fachserie 8, Reihe 2.1: Verkehr, Eisenbahnverkehr/Betriebsdaten des Schienenverkehrs 2006
  2. ^ Federal Statistical Office of Germany, Fachserie 8, Reihe 2: Verkehr, Eisenbahnverkehr 2006
  3. ^ a b Rieger, Bernhard (2006-04-23). "Breitspurbahn". Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  4. ^ "Parkeisenbahnen in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz". Retrieved 2009-08-23.
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