Dessau–Köthen railway

The railway line Dessau- Köthen connects the cities of Dessau and Köthen, Saxony- Anhalt. It is one of the oldest railways in Germany and forms the western end of the main line of the Berlin- Anhalt Railway Company (BAE ). The track is a single-track, non-electrified main line. In passenger transport, it is operated exclusively by local trains.

History

The railway line is part of the Berlin- Anhalt Railway opened in 1840. 1841 the line was completed to Köthen. Regular long-distance transport to Berlin was driven by Köthen. Ran daily two trains between Dessau and Köthen. With the opening of direct Dessau- Wittenberg and Leipzig - Halle ( Saale) lost the route increasingly important. Also in freight transport waned the importance of the route passing by the opening of the canon web at Köthen.

1870/71 was built on the Köthener Georgstraße a new station building, which was shared by the BAE and the Magdeburg- Halberstadt Railway Company, which had bought the circulating since 1846 Bernburger web but not from the Magdeburg- Köthen -Halle- Leipzig Railway society. It was called Berlin- Halberstadt railway station. 1916 a new central station building for all rail routes was created in Köthen, only slightly east of the old station, so no track transfers were necessary. From this period most flyovers in the city area Köthen come, so there is no level cross at grade with the road more. During this time, the water tower still preserved, was built east of the station site. In the 1880s, the line was nationalized under the auspices of the Prussian state railways.

In the 1920s, efforts were made to electrify the route as well as the route Magdeburg -Leipzig, always lacked, however, of money.

As part of the reparations to the Soviet Union as a result of the Second World War, the second track was removed and never rebuilt unlike the routes to Bernburg, Magdeburg and Leipzig also at the track Dessau- Köthen. However, for example, in Elsnigk the expanded route is in some places, still clearly visible. The Reichsbahn sought in 1992 to rebuild the second track and electrification with Bernburger train together as this was immanent important for freight. However, the freight waned in the wake of reunification years, so that an electrification as well as the installation of a second track has been dropped. Overall, the line was modernized only sparingly since Reichsbahn times, so that is mostly mechanical interlocking technology available.

Route description

The route begins in the Dessau Hauptbahnhof. There is a connection to regional trains to Magdeburg, Wittenberg, Halle ( Saale) and Leipzig, as well as at regional express trains to Berlin. The regional train direction Köthen usually drive from track 7 After a few meters separates the track from the main line to Bitterfeld. In Dessau, the Kühnauer Street and the Brewery road to be crossed at the same level. In this section, there are still some mostly unused industrial sidings. Further, the Hermann- Koehl - road is passes under the branch to the former Polysius AG. The district Old is achieved. To the right here is the landing site of the former Junkers works in Dessau. Shortly after the junction with the Hünefeldstraße the station is reached ancients. Further, an industrial and commercial center is on the left side of the Junker Park, emerged, but without sidings. After a few kilometers drive through open countryside to the station of the Dessau district Mosigkau is achieved. Here crosses the Erich-Weinert- Straße. After the broken road Chörauer the city of Dessau -Rosslau is exited. Next, the station of Elsnigk is reached which now appears to come much too large for the modest ridership. There is Ladestraße a now demolished factory. Next it goes into the flat - wave area around Köthen. In part to landfills, the breakpoint Osternienburg in the district Sibbesdorf is achieved. The journey continues through the forest poor, as fertile Köthener level. Shortly before Köthen there is the junction with the main road 187a to Aken, one of the few modernized railway crossings. A little later comes from the north, the route of Aken on this route, but on its own track following up Köthen. Shortly before Köthen Elsdorfer way will pass under, as well as later the main route Magdeburg- Halle ( Saale) by the " Berliner hole". Dessau Road, Friedrichstrasse and the Friedrich- Ebert-Straße be crossed turned now to the south and to the level of the previously traversed path Magdeburg- Halle ( Saale ) rising in Köthen. Immediately thereafter, the Köthen station is reached. The trains stop at the tracks 1, 2 and 3 here is connection to intercity trains to Leipzig and Magdeburg ( until (Oldb ) and Cologne in hourly change), as well as regional trains to Halle ( Saale ) and Magdeburg.

Operation

After the Elbe- Saale -Bahn, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn, has won the tender of the Altmark flare -Anhalt network, run since 2004 DMUs Class 642 (Siemens Desiro Classic ) only as hourly regional train on the track. Previously, the route of class 218 was operated with n- car, partly as a Regional Express. The trains continue on the train to Bern Burger Aschersleben. In general, driving in single traction only during rush tractions are to be found. Since the 2010 timetable are on the line amplifier trains travel to better connect Dessau to the long-distance transport of the DB. Since then, the intermediate stops are alternately not approached. The track is only weakly used in freight transport; this 294 series locomotives are used by Köthen.