Ausserfern Railway

47.493079910.7215141Koordinaten: 47 ° 29 '35 " N, 10 ° 43' 17 " O

The Außerfernbahn is a cross-border railway between Bavaria and Tyrol. The continuous single-track branch line runs from Kempten Pfronten, Reutte to Garmisch -Partenkirchen. Between Garmisch -Partenkirchen and Reutte it is electrified. It connects the Außerfern with the Mittenwald railway and the railway line from Munich to Garmisch -Partenkirchen in the east and the Bavarian Allgäu Railway and the Iller Valley Railway in the west.

History

In the second half of the 19th century appeared the first plans for a " mainline " of Kempten over the Fern Pass to Innsbruck. Was built but then only a Bavarian local train: On December 1, 1895, the distance from Kempten to Pfronten -Ried was opened, followed in 1905 an extension to the frontier, which was continued on the Austrian side to Reutte.

As an extension of the line was up for discussion, the following three options were discussed:

• Reutte- Ehrwald - Gaistal - Leutasch
• Reutte remote pass -Imst ( " mainline " ) and
• Reutte, Ehrwald, Garmisch.

Since Garmisch at the time already had a rail connection to Munich, it was natural to operate a direct connection Munich -Innsbruck and thus the development of the Außerfern. The Mittenwald railway from Garmisch to Innsbruck was opened in 1912, the track Garmisch -Reutte on 29 May 1913. Both routes were operated from the beginning electrically.

These plans were, there were always considerations to build the route over the Fern Pass or connection to the only four kilometers away tracks the route to Fussen, but never realized.

Variously a closure of the route was discussed last around 2001, after 2000, the top line was dismantled due to bad state between Garmisch -Partenkirchen and semolina. In 2002, the top line but was restored because of the freight and put into operation on September 14. 2003, DB Regio was commissioned by the Province of Tyrol with the management of passenger transport. The operation was carried out with diesel sets. Today ( 2010) is serving the route of electric multiple units.

Routing, operation

The railway line begins in Kempten in the hilly foothills, crossed the border to Austria between Pfronten and Schönbichl, cutting between Ehrwald and Griese back to the territory of Germany. Longest tunnel is 512 meters long Katzenberg Tunnel, which also carries the name of Klaus tunnel (after the honor Klause ) or Kesselwangtunnel, between Reutte and Heiterwang. The maximum slope of the line is 37.5 per thousand.

Between Kempten and Reutte especially diesel railcars of series 628 and 642 used, between Reutte and Garmisch electric railcars of series 425 and 426 Operations management is subject to the entire range of DB ( also on the Tyrolean stretch are Bahn Card Will Rock ticket, Bavaria ticket and Beautiful weekend ticket valid), the maintenance of the infrastructure of the ÖBB.

The significance of the train today in the student and commuter traffic, weekend traffic and considerable freight transport for a cement plant and a timber loading in Vils. These goods transports but they're only on the Vils Garmisch - section.

The Außerfernbahn celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2013. On this occasion, the Austrian post brought out a stamp worth 70 cents.

From December 2013 to be used on the track railcars of the type Talent 2. In addition, at the same time to be compacted Monday to Friday nearly a hour the offer. On weekends and holidays it is to remain at the present 2 -hour intervals, but direct flights from Munich offered to Lermoos. As of 15 December 2013, the breakpoint Garmisch -Partenkirchen mountain is put back into operation, but also the last stop in Bad Kreckelmoos be deleted at the same time, the breakpoint was last operated only in school transport.

Tourist

The stops on the Außerfernbahn between Garmisch -Partenkirchen and Reutte ( Griese, Ehrwald, Lermoos, Lähn, Bichlbach- Berwang, Heiterwang - Plansee, Pflach ) are starting points for hikes in the Oberammergau Alps ( Frieder Spitz and Frieder, Schell simplicity, Daniel, Hochschrutte Platt mountain, Säuling ), in Mieminger ( Ehrwalder sun top ) and in the Lech Valley Alps ( Thaneller Red Stone, Pleisspitze ).

On 28 January 2007, the breakpoint Hausbergbahn at the valley station of the cable car of the same name, which opens up a ski resort, reopened for seasonal use for winter sports tourists. In the first quarter of 2007 and the winter of 2007 /08 there hold only special winter sports trains from Munich to Garmisch -Partenkirchen Hausbergbahn on the weekends. From 14 December 2008 to the end of the ski season on the mountain 19 April 2009, however, served all passenger trains Außerfernbahn the station, during which the maintenance accounted for in semolina.

Modernization

Austria

Since 2011, the Austrian section is extensively renovated. Here are the 90 level crossings are reduced to about one third, and all stations and stops to be replaced. As part of these measures, the stations Lermoos, Bichlbach, Almkopf, Heiterwang, Pflach and Reutte were modernized by 2012 already. In 2013, the stations Lähn, Heiterwang and the train station Ehrwald Zugspitze Railway were renovated. At this station, the platforms will be extended to 200 m, so that in the future there can keep ICE Deutsche Bahn. On completion of the construction work in the Austrian section to be electrified by 2019 Vils the section. The total cost will be about 54 million euros.

Germany

Have been or are being carried out various measures in Germany. In the western section there are several level crossings to be closed down or secured and the signaling and safety equipment to be replaced. If all actions are completed, the travel time is to be shortened, which was carried out by speed increases since December 2012.

Adjustments of level crossings should be made also in the eastern sector between semolina and Garmisch -Partenkirchen. A total of six transitions are renewed and, here too after completion of construction, which will take place from 2013 onwards, the travel time can be shortened.