Heath Railway

The Heidebahn is a predominantly single-track and non-electrified railway line with regional significance. It combines Buchholz in the North Heath with the Lower Saxony state capital of Hanover. The Nordsüdverbindung together with the running in the east-west rail line Uelzen - long fronds of the main rail line through the Lüneburg Heath.

• 3.1 Vehicle types

History

Development and construction

Already in the mid-19th century, Walsrode tried in view of the expanding powder factories in neighboring Bomlitz to connect to a railway line. As 1866 began, the considerations for the construction of the so-called America Line Bremen- Uelzen - Berlin, the city Walsrode continued unsuccessfully for a connection to this route. The construction of a railroad Hannover Walsrode Visselhoevede was decided in Berlin until February 27, 1885. 1890 this route was taken to Walsrode in operation. On June 16th of the year, the freight on the Walsrode railway station was first opened, and was carried out on 25 August 1890, large celebrations, the opening of the new route between Hanover and Visselhoevede. Later, the section of Walsrode by Visselhoevede about Rotenburg ( Wumme), Zeven and Bremervörde to Bremerhaven was extended. This section Bremervörde Walsrode was intended as a remote connection and was traced out in a largely linear. However, he was never able to establish itself as a transit route.

Even at the start of construction of the Hanover- Visselhoevede also aspired Fallingbostel Soltau and port on this route. The branch line Walsrode -Fallingbostel Soltau - was put into operation on 1 October 1896. On June 1, 1896, the first passenger train reached Fallingbostel. On October 1, 1901 Soltau -Buchholz went into operation. These sections have significant branch line character.

Development

So today Heidebahn was finished, but it was after eight branching routes added.

• From 1903 to 1905, the state railway Celle- Schwarmstedt - Wahnebergen - Verden ( Aller) was built. She was a part of the so-called Allertalbahn.

• The Verden - Walsrode railway followed 1911.

• In Soltau later OHE routes to Celle (23 April 1910), Lüneburg (13 June 1913) and New Churches (1 January 1917) were connected.

• In Cordingen the electrified railway station Wolff & Co. in 1915 was connected by Bomlitz. At times, even limited public transport was settled on her.

• It was only on May 15, 1938, until today the most important branch, as the so-called "rabbit path " of Langenhagen to Celle into operation. The resulting compound Hannover - Celle is now part of the long-distance route between Hanover and Hamburg.

• In Honer things the factory path of Eibia 1938 was connected until 1945, the quantitatively most important freight terminal of the Heidebahn. She graduated in Benefeld to the works railway Wolff & Co. after Bomlitz.

During World War II the Heidebahn was an important transportation route to prison camp, the military training area mountains and resident here armament industry, as the Eibia to use. Thus, the transport of prisoners to the Stalag XI B and Stalag XI D took place on the route. The prisoners were driven from Fallingbostel station to the camps. Am Bahnhof Bad Fallingbostel a plaque to commemorate these events.

The branch lines in the heather could not hold on to life. From 1961 to 1975, the OHE routes have been abandoned around Soltau passenger, 1964, Verden - Walsrode railway. In 1980 the route was shortened Visselhoevede to the factory and passenger after Bomlitz, which was operated until 1991. Passenger traffic on the Allertalbahn Verden - Schwarmstedt - Celle was set in 1966, shut down the track in 1995.

The Heidebahn himself stood in the 1980s and early 1990s repeatedly for discussion, particularly at risk was the section Buchholz - Soltau.

At Expo 2000 Hannover has received an S-Bahn. In this network, the Heidebahn was included. In this case, the station was selected in Bennemühlen as temporary end. Situated on the border of the region of Hanover, this station has low own traffic.

Between Buchholz and Walsrode still standing semaphore signals, the track is equipped on this section yet with mechanical interlocking. Since October 2011, the testicles Hagen station is extensively remodeled since Hodenhagen is remotely controlled by ECT technique of Walsrode.

Expansion and modernization

The Heidebahn will be extended for a maximum speed of up to 120 km / hr. The expansion of Heidebahn is provided in three sections

• Expansion of Section 1: Bennemühlen Walsrode
• Expansion of Section 2: Walsrode - Soltau
• Expansion of Section 3: Soltau -Buchholz

The completion of the first phase between Bennemühlen and Walsrode was originally planned for 2007. Only in December 2007, the necessary contracts for the expansion of the web and the state of Lower Saxony (represented by the provincial public transport company of Lower Saxony ( LNVG ) ) was signed. Following the expansion of the breakpoints Hademstorf and Eickeloh were decommissioned in the summer of 2010. For the winter 2011 timetable, drove the first regional trains at 120 km / h on the first phase of construction ( thereby reducing the travel time by approximately 10 minutes). This reduction is done by closing and technical upgrade of level crossings and the equipment with a digital Zugbahnfunkverbindung.

The third phase of construction ( Soltau- Buchholz) has to due to time constraints, since EU funds are to be used, before the second phase of construction ( Walsrode - Soltau ) take place. The draft plan for the third phase of construction has been completed in 2008, so the end of 2009 could be started with the expansion. By the end of 2011, the 46 km long stretch was upgraded to increase the speed of the trains of 80 km / h to 120 km / h. The travel time was thus shortened by 11 minutes .. After all construction work (2017 ) the closure of the stations Wintermoor, Büsenbachtal and Suerhop is checked. According to the latest passenger numbers (2009) of 150 ( Suerhop ), 90 ( Büsenbachtal ) and 80 ( Wintermoor ) the minimum number of 200 passengers per day is not reached. The breakpoint Hemsen is no longer operated in the course of construction since November 6, 2010.

The second phase will be implemented thereafter (from June 2015). All construction work is scheduled to be completed by 2017.

Driving time from Buchholz to Hannover:

• Before construction (summer 2008 timetable ) at least 2:24
• Current ( annual timetable 2012) 1:59 to 2:23
• After completion ( annual timetable 2018) 1:50

Total Investment: About € 100 million

Plans to expand the Heidebahn south of Walsrode as part of the Y- line to high-speed line are not up to date. Instead, different variants of a regional railway station on or near the planned high -speed rail in discussion, the conversions of Heidebahn would result in Walsrode. The Traffic Club Germany rejects the Y- line and calls as an alternative to the expansion of Heidebahn between Buchholz and Soltau as a freight line to create together with the OHE route Soltau- Celle a relief route for Hamburg- Uelzen - Celle ( the north-south freight is generally headed over Taught, non- Langenhagen).

Today's operation

The Heidebahn has significance for commuting to Hanover and Hamburg as well as for day-trippers.

On its southern section between Langenhagen and Bennemühlen the heath railway is electrified, and as part of the line S 4 S -Bahn Hannover. Until bite village it is expanded to double track.

The northern end between Buchholz in the North Heath and Handeloh is a regional railway line R 41 part of the Hamburg Transport Association ( HVV). On the route between Handeloh and Soltau HVV rate applies only for limited time cards. The route is allowed on the developed sections for a top speed of 120 km / h and on the undeveloped for 80 km / h.

Since the compounds of Hamburg- Uelzen -Hannover and Hamburg- Rotenburg ( Wümme ) Verden (Aller ) Hannover are at least seven minutes faster, the Heidebahn has no significant meaning for the passage of traffic; the ride Hamburg -Hannover - Soltau lasts 2:30 to 3:02 (winter timetable 2011/2012 ). There are - as the alternative routes in urban transport - not offered through connections more so in Buchholz (North Heath ) and - may have to change some cases also in Bennemühlen - until December 2012.

Regular freight trains there is only on the southern part of the route to Walsrode.

The Osthannoversche Railways AG ( OHE ) has won the tender for the Heidebahn and took over the timetable change in December 2011 for eight years running. To this end she founded April 18, 2011, a new subsidiary, the heath cross Bahn GmbH, which was renamed in Erixx GmbH little later.

Station Walsrode

Bahnhof Bad Fallingbostel

Station Dorfmark

Station Soltau

Station Schneverdingen

Breakpoint Wintermoor

Bahnhof Buchholz

Vehicle types

The section is traversed by the Erixx GmbH railcars of type LINT 41 depending on the day and time in single, double or triple traction. On the Hannover- Bennemühlen section, S-Bahn rail units of the types 424 and 425.2.

Freight transport is conducted by the Deutsche Bahn locomotives of the series 261 and 265 and Osthannoverschen of the railways.

Until December 10, 2011, DB Regio put a railcar series 628.4, to December 10, 2005 came with the series 218 strung 5 - car trains and railcars of series 634 are used. The last rail car drove in 1989.