Gäu Railway (Eutingen–Freudenstadt)

The railway line Eutingen in Gaeu - Freudenstadt, also referred to as Gäubahn, is a railway line in Baden- Württemberg. It runs from Eutingen in the cultural landscape of Gäus up to Freudenstadt on the eastern edge of the Black Forest. The railway is a branch line of the designated also as Gäubahn route from Stuttgart to Hattingen.

The track was the link from the state capital Stuttgart to Kinzig Valley Railway. Both the Gäubahn and the Kinzig Valley Railway served until 1974 as the main rail lines. Since the mid- 1970s, the railway line, however, was again temporarily threatened by the closure. Only in 2006 were made in the course of implementation of the regional network Freudenstädter Star extensive electrification and rehabilitation work. Finally, the route has been integrated into the Karlsruhe Stadtbahn network and re-established after more than a decade direct connections to Stuttgart.

The planned from the railway engineer George Morlok railway Eutingen in Gaeu Joy City is characterized by three architecturally sophisticated railway viaducts and deep rock cuts.

• 5.1 General
• 5.2 Vehicles
• 5.3 Rates

Concept formation and delimitation

The term Gäubahn goes back on the course of 1879 opened railway line Stuttgart- Freudenstadt, which leads over Herrenberg and Eutingen through the cultural landscape of the Gaeu.

However, the term expanded to the 1930s on the nearby track Eutingen - Horb from what was formerly counted exclusively for Nagold Valley Railway. Since the 1950s, the term itself became common - albeit geographically entirely inappropriate - even for the railway line from Horb after singing a. The route Stuttgart-Singen is therefore now also referred to as Gäubahn.

Thus, it is not always identify without doubt whether the route Stuttgart- Freudenstadt or the route Stuttgart-Singen called Gäubahn is meant. In general, this does open up from the thematic and regional context.

This item is limited in the following mainly on the description of the route Eutingen - Freudenstadt. The section of Stuttgart- Eutingen is therefore excluded. The reason is avoiding thematic overlaps with the route Stuttgart-Singen.

Route

In Eutingen the Gäubahn Eutingen - Freudenstadt of the Gäubahn Stuttgart-Singen branches off to run in a westerly direction through the wide Gäuebene and to unite to Nagold - high village with the Nagoldtalsperre Valley Railway. With southwestern impact be on Horb district some short woods and clearings follow through to Bittelbronn is achieved. In the northwest continue running the place tuft hole from the Gäubahn on the edge is touched. From here, the route begins to be spectacular. Mighty rock cuts and exposed rock formations characterize the rest. Shortly before Dornstetten a wide, unobstructed view of the foothills of the Black Forest opened. Predominantly westward leader is achieved with the crossing of three great viaducts over the valleys at Dornstetten - Aach, Freudenstadt- Springvale and Freudenstadt- Wittlensweiler the Freudenstädter Central Station in the south of the city.

History

The idea and its implementation (1865-1879)

A government bill on April 28, 1865 mentioned a " Gaeu -Bahn " Stuttgart- Freudenstadt as to-build route. You should connect the Württemberg Stuttgart, the capital of the Black Forest and future rail lines in the Murg and Kinzig valley. Any problems through a 1.56 km long path through hohenzollerisches area between Bittelbronn and Schopfloch you dealt with foresight by this construction option was agreed in the treaty between Württemberg and Prussia on 13 March 1865.

The economic commission of the Second Chamber noted " that was preparing Württemberg [ with the Gäubahn ], in the series of competitors [ is meant especially Baden ] enter on the way to Skt Gotthard. " In addition, arises with the Gäubahn an almost straight line that " the country from one end ( Freudenstadt ) to the other (border near Crailsheim ) " by cutting. In its 116th and 117th meeting, the Chamber decided the construction of the railway line.

With the construction of the line Gäubahn the government entrusted the architect Württemberg and railway engineer George Morlok. Morlok himself described the necessary large incision in the swampy rock formations at Schopf hole and the construction of Ettenbachviaduktes at Wittlensweiler as particularly sensitive, so even according to the experts for some " almost impossible ".

Nevertheless, the Royal Württemberg State Railways were able to open a ceremony on the piece about 88 km long Gäubahn of Stuttgart Herrenberg and Eutingen to Freudenstadt on September 1, 1879. Especially for the inauguration of a " Gaeu railway opening March" was composed. The new railway line was in 1886 in the city's main train joy a continuation in the Kinzig Valley Railway and has in Eutingen Following the Nagold Valley Railway. Thus, the alternative discussed connection from Stuttgart to Freudenstadt was also closed over the Württemberg Black Forest Railway. But over time, won the new shorter leading over Böblingen connection despite significant lost slopes competition.

Development up to the Second World War (1879-1945)

Since we introduced the track of Gäubahn Stuttgart- Freudenstadt in the then existing village near Eutinger station on the Nagoldtalsperre Valley Railway, trains from Stuttgart to Freudenstadt had to make in Eutingen head. First, wrong on the track only three scheduled trains per day and the signals and points were set by hand. However, it quickly became apparent that this is caused by the increased traffic and increased safety standards problems. Thus, a signal box at Freudenstadt Central Station was built until 1891.

In 1900 was Freudenstadt goal of bathrooms train from Frankfurt and Wiesbaden Karlsruhe, Pforzheim and high village.

In the late 1920s began the construction of a branch line to Gäubahn, which should lead by Dornstetten about Dornstetten - Hallwangen after Pfalzgrafenweiler. The project was never completed due to financial reasons. Been converted into embankments remember today at this chapter.

1933 Eutinger station was moved to its present position. At the same time created a compound curve, which henceforth was no need of a direction change for trains to the relation Stuttgart- Freudenstadt. Even then began the double-track operation between Eutingen and high village. Previously, a track the Nagoldtalsperre Valley Railway and one of the Gäubahn had served.

A few days before the end of World War II and four hours before the arrival of French troops in Freudenstadt blasted the German Wehrmacht, the three timber viaducts of Gäubahn pointless. Train operation had to rest for a long time.

Recommissioning and impending closure (1945-1990)

It was only on September 1, 1949 was the track, after repair of the last viaduct, again be driven. Also starting in September 1949 reversed the so-called Franzosenzug, an express train with the somewhat unusual path Offenburg- Hausach - Freudenstadt Horb -Tübingen. He got because he mainly served the French military transport its name.

After taking over the Gäubahn by the German Federal Railroad an electro-mechanical interlocking was built in Freudenstadt. There followed a period of flowering for tourism in the Black Forest, Freudenstadt which particularly benefited. In 1954, the keeper interlocking high village was set towards Eutingen out of service and built a Dispatcher interlocking means. This was accompanied by a simplification of the track plan.

Among other things, by becoming popular long-haul destinations and the transfer of traffic on the road, it came in the 1960s to a sharp drop in passenger numbers. So come on considerations for a journey decommissioning Towards the end of the decade. By cohesion of local politicians and interest groups as well as with the support of federal policy, however, this could be averted. Nonetheless place long time hardly investments in rolling stock and infrastructure. In 1974, the route from a main railway to the branch line was downgraded, a year later the breakpoint Freudenstadt -Grüntal decommissioned.

In 1985, the degradation of the second track between Eutingen and high village. The remaining track has since been used by both the Gaeu as well as the Nagoldtalsperre Valley Railway. In 1988, the freight loading in high village was set. Also in 1988 the Eutingen Station Eutingen ( Wuertt ) to Eutingen was renamed in Gaeu.

Development in the " Freudenstädter Star" (since 1990)

Mid-nineties, plans were made for a regional network called Freudenstädter star. These provided cost reductions through extensive rationalization of staff and infrastructure, the introduction of an integral interval timetable and train services at least every hour.

Great strides towards completion Freudenstädter star were the electrification of the Murg Valley in the course of the extension of the lines S 31 and S 41 of the Karlsruhe Stadtbahn to Freudenstadt 2003, the takeover of the train operation on the Kinzig Valley Railway by the Ortenau S -Bahn (OSB ) in the year 2005 and the establishment of an electronic interlocking ( CBI ) on Freudenstadt Central Station.

One of the last projects of the regional network was the electrification of Gäubahn 2006, and the construction and conversion of the crossing station Schopfloch and high village. The route could be integrated in this way with the line S 41 into the Karlsruhe Stadtbahn network. With the change was accompanied by a strong increase in passenger numbers. Took advantage of 2005, only about 500 passengers per day, the train services on the Gäubahn, there were already 2007 1300 and 2008 1400 passengers.

To bind the people of the eastern district of Freudenstadt along the lines of Murg Valley as well as possible to the railway, new breakpoints in Freudenstadt- Springvale, Dornstetten - Aach, Dornstetten center (as a replacement for the old train station), Horb - Heiligenfeld and Eutingen were Gaeu planned. In December 2012, including the first breakpoint Horb - Heiligenfeld was opened in the same industrial area. A year later, in December, 2013, followed by the reactivation of the former breakpoint Friends City -Grüntal under the new name Grüntal / Wittlensweiler. Furthermore, the breakpoint Bittelbronn was built barrier-free. The other planned stops to follow by 2016 at the latest.

Constructional features

The biggest challenge in building the Gäubahn was to overcome the valleys in Aach, Springvale and Wittlensweiler. This required the construction of three ornate timber viaducts:

• The Kübelbach viaduct leads near the present Dornstetter district Aach over the valley of the bucket creek and the highway 28 The construction took place from 1875 to 1879. The bridge is 279 meters long, has five openings, four central piers and is about 45 meters high.
• The Stockerbach Viaduct was once identical to the Kübelbach viaduct, but was restored after its destruction in more modern design. It results in Springvale on the eponymous Stockerbach. The length is also 279 meters, the height of about 43 meters. It was built to coincide with the Kübelbach viaduct.
• As the smallest of the three railway bridges in the Gäubahn in Freudenstadt leads, built 1877-1878 Ettenbachviadukt in today Freudenstadt district Wittlensweiler over the Ettenbach. It has a length of 171 meters, the height is 25 meters.

For the construction of large quantities of stone were used from quarries in the region. The iron constructions were delivered from Horb Neckar Hausen.

Operation

Generally

The route will be operated by the German Bahn AG. Two runs hourly Regional Express ( RE) from Freudenstadt to Stuttgart. In the intervening hours, the Albtal traffic -Gesellschaft (AVG ), the rail line south 41 Karlsruhe Freudenstadt extended on behalf of the German railway to Eutingen. This can also be reached from Karlsruhe Eutingen out without changing. In Eutingen is the S-Bahn connection to the RE Stuttgart-Singen. As a feeder for the S 1 of the Stuttgart S-Bahn S 41 runs in the evening also to Herrenberg.

In high village is connected to the regional train ( RB) Pforzheim- Horb -Tübingen, in Freudenstadt to the Ortenau train to Offenburg and the light rail lines S 31 and S 41 to Karlsruhe main station or Karlsruhe, Market Square.

In 2007, the AVG built the city's main train joy a permanent hall for staff and rolling stock. Overall, here are six own vehicles and two railcars of Deutsche Bahn have a protected storage room.

Freight transport plays a diminishing role on the Gäubahn. Only in the industrial area Horb - Heiligenfeld there are specially intended for freight tracks. The last time was after the storm damage of hurricanes Lothar and Cyril a larger timber transport. A problem with the freight is in particular the high utilization of Gäubahn in the short section between Eutingen and high village where also trains the Nagoldtalsperre Valley Railway run.

Also offers occasional tours of historic steam locomotives on the Gäubahn.

Rolling stock

• As RE Stuttgart- Freudenstadt operate motor coaches of the series 425
• Between Eutingen in Gaeu and pleasure city run at hourly change to the RE rail vehicles of the type GT8-100D/2S-M.
• In the evening traffic also go single city tracks the S 41 to Herrenberg.
• On the identical with the Nagoldtalsperre Valley Railway route section are DMUs of type Regio-Shuttle RS1 DB ZugBus Regional Alb -Bodensee ( RAB) in use.

Rates

In addition to the tariff of the Deutsche Bahn are valid on the entire Gäubahn tickets of traffic Landkreis Freudenstadt ( vgf ). Moreover, the RegioX ticket of the Karlsruhe Transport Association (CDV ) can be used.