Report on Trip to Germany & Czech Republic - March/April 1997 ############################################################# Notes ~~~~~ Trains and other transport travelled on are listed with the following information: Place - arrival time - departure time - train or 'service' number - traction details. Place names are rendered without their accents to allow readability on different computer systems. A Word 97 version of this document is available on request with all accents included. Traction is generally listed as EL - electric locomotive DL - diesel locomotive SL - steam locomotive plus the locomotive's number, or DMU - diesel multiple unit EMU - electric multiple unit plus the unit's set numbers, or DR - diesel railcar plus the railcar's number, plus the number of trailers (T) hauled if any. Multiple formations are linked with "+" signs. Where a locomotive hauls trailers, this is specifically shown, otherwise conventional carriages are used. * in the first column indicates a change in traction details. [P] after a locomotive number indicates a propelling (pushing) operation. Railway company abbreviations: CD Ceske Drahy (Czech Railways) DB Deutsche Bahn (German Railways) GMML Greater Manchester Metro Limited NER North Eastern Railways PKP (Polish Railways) Other abbreviations Hbf Hauptbahnhof Main Station (German) hl n hlavni nadrazi Main Station (Czech) Wednesday 26th March 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I was going to get the train from my place of work to the airport, but this was the day of the IRA bombs at Wilmslow and I did not want to trust public transport, so I got a lift from a colleague. Trafford Park 1725 - car Manchester Airport 1745 1845 LH4057 Boeing 737-300 (Lufthansa) Dusseldorf Flughafen 2110 2153 'S7' EL 143 581-7 (DB traction from here) Dusseldorf Hbf 2204 Overnight in Dusseldorf at Ibis Hauptbahnhof. This is not the cheapest place in Dusseldorf but it does have the advantage of being in the station building itself. This allowed a full breakfast before getting the train towards Kaarst. Page 1 of 8 Thursday 27th March 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dusseldorf Hbf 718 'S8' EL 143 003-2[P] Neuss Hbf 733 738 RB8758 DMU 628/928 664 Kaarst has a dreadful service, by Western German standards, of three trains each way both morning and evening, 'A' dates only. Kaarst 746 751 RB8759 DMU 628/928 664 Neuss Hbf 800 806 SE3161 EL 111 148-3[P] Dusseldorf Hbf 815 820 RB8708 DL 215 113-2 This train runs via the east-to-north Neuss Hbf avoiding line. Krefeld Hbf 844 908 'U76' Tram 4257+4238 (Rheinbahn) Krefeld has both metre gauge (local area) and standard gauge (Rhein-Ruhr area) trams. This long distance route has an interesting mixture of street, open country, reserved track and underground running. Single ticket DM5.80. Dusseldorf Hbf 949 1010 SE3014 EL 111 116-0 Koln Hbf 1045 1119 SE3315 EL 110 141-9 Au(Sieg) 1214 1219 RB6819 DMU 628/928 442 Staffel 1408 1420 RB6876 DMU 628/928 446 Siershahn 1508 1514 RB6883 DMU 628/928 446 Limburg(Lahn) 1610 1620 SE7249 EL 140 494-6 Frankfurt(Main)Hbf 1726 1810 SE6176 EL 141 174-3 Mainz Hbf 1849 Overnight at Hotel Schottenhof, Schottstrasse 6, Mainz. There are plenty of hotels available just outside the station. Friday 28th March 1997 (Good Friday) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mainz Hbf 749 SE14808 DMU 629 002-7/628 902-9 This dmu formation was new to me; the 629 car appears to be a conversion of a 928 car. Alzey 831 839 RB6055 DMU 628/928 472 Worms Hbf 912 948 RB6060 DMU 628/928 467 Monsheim 959 1010 RB14869 DMU 628/928 471 This line and the next one re-opened only a few years ago. Grunstadt 1023 1034 RB6828 DMU 628/928 310 Ramsen (Pfalz) 1055 1110 RB6835 DMU 628/928 310 Frankenthal Hbf 1200 1305 RB6840 DMU 628/928 277 Freinsheim 1320 1323 RB6641 DMU 628/928 465 Neustadt (Weinstr) Hbf 1354 1403 RE3779 DMU 628/928 317 Winden (Pfalz) 1424 1440 RB6124 DMU 628/928 695 Bad Bergzabern 1454 1507 RB6121 DMU 628/928 695 Winden (Pfalz) 1520 1602 RB6173 DMU 628/928 274 This cross-border line into France re-opened on 2nd March 1997. Wissembourg 1623 1630 RB6174 DMU 628/928 274 Winden (Pfalz) 1652 1659 RB6748 DMU 628/928 260 This train reverses at Worth (Rhein). Ludwigshafen(Rhein)Hbf 1821 1852 RB6474 EL 141 091-9 Mainz Hbf 2008 2228 D353 EL 110 420-7 In couchette. * Frankfurt(Main)Hbf (reverse) EL 112 179-7 * Nurnberg Hbf DL 21? ???-? * Cheb EL 363 070-4 (CD traction from here) Praha hl n 811 Page 2 of 8 Saturday 29th March 1997 (Easter Saturday) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Praha hl n 936 IC371 EL 362 165-3 Havlickuv Brod 1126 1134 4647 DL 242 278-0 Zdar nad Savavou 1211 1322 14911 DL 735 248-7 Via "back" route through Nove Mesto na Morave. Tisnov 1458 1506 279 EL 362 164-6 Brno hl n 1530 1600 937 EL 363 169-4 This train runs via Sokolnice. Nezamyslice 1655 1751 24066 DR 810 292-3 Morkovice 1840 1818 24069 DR 810 292-3 Nezamyslice 1837 1848 4057 EL 363 038-1 Prerov 1917 1922 432 EL 150 014-9 Olomouc hl n 1938 Hlavni Nadrazi 1951 '4' Tram 148 (Olomouc) Smetanovy Sady 2004 Overnight at Hotel Flora, Krapkova 34, Olomouc. This is probably the most expensive hotel in Olomouc at CZK2300 per night for a double room including a good breakfast (from 0630). Evening meals at the hotel are good value. Although some 2 miles from the main railway station (hlavni nadrazi) there is a good tram service, and other than at weekends and holidays a passable local train service on table 275 - the hotel is midway between Olomouc-Nova Ulice and Olomouc mesto stations. There are two other, untried, hotels: one outside the main station and one nearer the town centre. Sunday 30th March 1997 (Easter Sunday - change to Summer Time) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Smetanovy Sady 708 '4' Tram 135 (Olomouc) Hlavni Nadrazi 718 Olomouc hl n 742 802 EL 363 017-5 Otrokovice 827 Otrokovice 850 '1' Trolleybus 304 (Zlin) This long trolleybus route parallels the railway line most of the way. Zlin Priluky 923 956 14210 DR 810 478-8 +1T+ 810 131-3 Vizovice 1013 1030 14215 DR 810 131-3 +1T+ 810 478-8 Otrokovice 1115 1119 701 EL 162 034-3 * Stare Mesto u Uherske Hradiste DL 754 037-0 Luhacovice 1235 1346 24114 DR 842 032-5 Ujezdec u Luhacovic 1403 1407 920 DL 754 007-3 Bzenec 1455 1528 14327 DR 810 663-5 Moravsky Pisek 1535 1541 3317 EL 363 038-1 + 363 013-4 Hulin 1637 1715 3966 DR 810 092-7 + 810 373-1 * Kromeriz (reverse) 13917 DR 810 373-1 Zborovice 1755 1803 13918 DR 810 373-1 Kromeriz 1830 1833 3931 DR 810 120-6 Hulin 1842 1850 1537 EL 163 006-7 Prerov 1902 1922 244 EL 150 014-9 Olomouc hl n 1938 Hlavni Nadrazi 1943 '4' Tram 135 (Olomouc) Smetanovy Sady 1955 Overnight in Olomouc at Hotel Flora. Page 3 of 8 Monday 31st March 1997 (Easter Monday) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Smetanovy Sady 708 '4' Tram 126 (Olomouc) Hlavni Nadrazi 718 Olomouc hl n 735 932 EL 363 173-6 This train runs via Prostejov. Nezamyslice 809 819 4001 EL 363 027-4 Kojetin 836 842 3955 DR 810 371-5 +2T Kromeriz 856 925 3905 DR 810 120-6 +2T Valasske Mezirici 1052 1056 13213 DR 810 409-3 +2T+ 810 395-4 Roznov pod Radhostem 1120 1132 13212 DR 810 395-4 +2T+ 810 409-3 Valasske Mezirici 1155 1245 3111 DL 750 119-0 Frydlant nad Ostravici 1338 1417 13120 DR 810 521-5 +2T+ 810 252-7 Ostravice 1430 1437 13127 DR 810 252-7 +2T+ 810 521-5 Frydlant nad Ostravici 1448 1457 3139 DL 750 121-6 Frydek-Mistek 1510 1514 23023 DR 810 445-7 +3T+ 810 088-5 Cesky Tesin 1556 1603 3064 EMU 460 009/010 Ostrava-Kuncice 1638 1641 13147 DL 751 218-9 Ostrava hl n 1654 1701 3114 DL 750 121-6 Ostrava-Kuncice 1715 1728 1540 EL 141 016-6 This train runs via both the Ostrava-Svinov and Prerov avoiding lines. Olomouc hl n 1853 The opportunity was taken to travel over all the presently operating Olomouc tram routes. Route 3 is presently closed for rebuilding and extension. Routes 1 and 2 are short versions of routes 4 and 5. Hlavni Nadrazi 1909 '4' Tram 135 (Olomouc) This tram route crosses the Olomouc to Krnov railway on the level, not far north of Olomouc hl n station. Pavlovicky 1916 1925 '5' Tram 138 (Olomouc) This tram route crosses the Olomouc to Senice na Hane railway on the level, near Olomouc mesto station. Neredin 1948 1949 '5' Tram 129 (Olomouc) Namesti Hrdinu 1958 2004 '4' Tram 152 (Olomouc) This tram route crosses the Olomouc to Senice na Hane railway on the level, near Olomouc Nova Ulice station. Nova Ulice 2011 2018 '1' Tram 160 (Olomouc) Namesti Hrdinu 2026 Overnight in Olomouc at Hotel Flora. Page 4 of 8 Tuesday 1st April 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Olomouc-Nova Ulice 717 3834 DR 850 032-4 +2T Olomouc hl n 725 732 1823 EL 163 244-7 This train runs via the Prerov avoiding line. It departed Olomouc 15 minutes due to awaiting connections. Hranice na Morave 806 Arrival 12 minutes late. Connection into next train held. 811 3709 EMU 460 059/060 + 460 027/028 Ostrava-Svinov 901 Arrival 6 minutes late. 908 3015 EMU 460 011/012 Ostrava-Vitkovice 915 929 3012 EMU 460 009/010 Ostrava-Svinov 936 1008 3412 DL 750 400-4 Opava vychod 1056 There are four branches from Opava; however the order of traversing them is forced by the service pattern on the Svobodne Hermanice line, where few of the trains run beyond the penultimate station, Jakartovice. Opava vychod 1107 23458 DR 810 009-1 Hradec nad Moravici 1120 1130 23459 DR 810 009-1 Opava vychod 1145 1157 13413 DR 810 069-5 +2T Hlucin 1237 Here, the stock from the above train shunted onto the rear of the stock already there from a previous arrival. Hlucin 1247 13416 DR 810 211-3 +4T+ 810 069-5 Opava vychod 1332 1405 23410 DR 810 009-1 Svobodne Hermanice 1459 No more than three trains a day run this far, mostly only Mondays to Fridays. A freight train was passed en route, carrying returning empty cement wagons - the newly arrived loaded ones were at Svobodne Hermanice. Svobodne Hermanice 1539 23413 DR 810 009-1 Jakartovice 1545 The railcar was put into a loop awaiting the next working from Opava. Then the two trains were merged. Jakartovice 1608 DR 810 009-1 +1T+ 810 051-3 Opava vychod 1646 1656 13423 DR 810 162-8 +4T+ 810 132-1 Kravare ve Slezsku 1713 1721 13471 DR 810 049-7 +2T+ 810 050-5 Chuchelna 1738 1756 13472 DR 810 050-5 +2T+ 810 049-7 Kravare ve Slezsku 1812 1820 13426 DR 810 132-1 +4T+ 810 162-8 +2T+ 810 049-7 Opava vychod 1833 1856 3480 DL 750 250-3 Krnov 1931 1956 3514 DR 851 033-1 +2T Olomouc hl n 2151 Overnight in Olomouc at Hotel Flora. Page 5 of 8 Wednesday 2nd April 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Olomouc-Nova Ulice 803 3802 DR 851 005 +1T This train ran 24 minutes late due to pathing problems with a freight train on the single track route. Fortunately, we were able to notify the station staff that we wanted to connect into the next train. Olomouc hl n 811 827 D240 EL 150 007-3 Departed 11 minutes late to awaiting the above train. Usti nad Orlici 941 958 15269 EL 111 030-3 Despite what some maps show, this line leaves Usti nad Orlici eastwards before heading north. Letohrad 1020 1045 D952 DL 750 371-7 * Tyniste nad Orlici EL 162 033-5 This train avoids reversal at Velky Osek by using a "balloon" loop, to the south and east of the that station, which is not shown on most maps. It then runs via Nymburk and Lysa nad Labem. Praha hl n 1404 1415 'C' Metro (Praha) Praha-Holesovice 1421 1431 EC174 EL 180 001-6 (DB traction from here) Dresden Hbf 1708 1711 RB5513 DL 23? ???-? Dresden-Neustadt 1718 1734 RE3174 DL 232 437-4 This train departed 12 minutes late due to awaiting connections. Having departed just behind an S-bahn service, it passed the latter by using the centre track between Radebeul Ost and Radebeul West. It then ran via Priestewitz, Ruhland (where a quicker connection to Cottbus is available, but this route is more interesting and we are coming back the direct way tomorrow), Hohenbocka and Spremberg. Cottbus 1949 Overnight at Hotel Dorotheenhof, Waisenstrasse 19, Cottbus. This fairly new hotel is 600m from the north entrance to the station. En route one passes the preserved station building of the long closed narrow gauge Spreewaldbahn, a light railway heading north west from Cottbus. A few miles of this remain, converted to standard gauge to serve a nearby military airfield. There is also a connection into the nearby tram depot. The line passes the front door of the hotel! Thursday 3rd April 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cottbus 822 RB4803 EL 143 334-1[P] Guben 856 903 RB3893 SL Ol 49-7 (PKP 2-6-2) Note - specially arranged steam engine on a service train. Czerwiensk 1014 1025 special SL Pt 47-65 (PKP 2-8-2) This DGEG railtour ran via Sulechow, Zbaszynek and Zbaszyn Wolsztyn 1309 1505 special SL Ok 1-359 (PKP 4-6-0) The return journey was over the closed route via Kargowa to Sulechow Czerwiensk 1720 1820 RB3898 DL Sp 42-71 (PKP) Guben 1924 2016 RE3329 EL 143 326-7 Cottbus 2044 Bahnhof 2156 '1' Tram 47 (Cottbus) Stadthalle 2204 Overnight in Cottbus at Hotel Dorotheenhof. Page 6 of 8 Friday 4th April 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cottbus 826 RE3628 EL 143 935-5 This train departs from Gleis 4 and runs via the southerly connection at the west end of Cottbus station (most run via the northerly connection). Ruhland 904 909 RE3165 DL 232 557-9 Dresden Hbf 1010 1052 EC173 EL 372 004-2 (CD traction from here) Decin hl n 1147 1152 6908 DR 810 301-2 +1T+ 810 600-7 This train reverses south of Decin hl n, at the site of the former main station. This manoeuvre is not correctly shown on most maps. * Male Chvojno DR 810 600-7 +1T Oldrichov u Duchcova 1316 1336 6940 DR 810 318-6 +1T Litvinov 1358 1402 6943 DR 810 439-0 Louka u Litvinova 1405 1459 26810 DR 810 314-5 Moldava v Krusnych horach 1550 1608 26813 DR 810 314-5 Most 1728 1808 D712 DR 835 035-4 +2T Karlovy Vary 1943 Overnight in Karlovy Vary at Hotel Kavalerie. This and one other hotel are near the lower station - Karlovy Vary dolni nadrazi - some 15 minutes steep downhill walk southwards from the main station. Most of the other hotels in the town are even further south, in the spa area. Saturday 5th April 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Karlovy Vary dolni nadrazi 753 27054 DR 810 508-2 Merklin 835 837 27055 DR 810 508-2 Karlovy Vary 907 941 17105 DL 714 208-6 +3T + DR 810 508-2 * Krasny Jez DL 714 208-6 +3T Marianske Lazne 1137 1202 7305 EL 242 226-9 Plzen hl n 1331 1513 7512 EL 242 231-9 * Klatovy DL 754 024-8 Zelezna Ruda 1759 These two stations are the same building! The border crosses through the centre of the station. Bayerisch Eisenstein 1835 RB7493 DL 211 055-9 top + 211 037-7 tail (DB traction from here) Plattling 1949 2005 SE6335 EL 111 018-8 Munchen Hbf 2152 2306 D1580 EL 110 417-3 In couchette. * Nurnberg Hbf EL 110 117-9 Koln Hbf 602 Arrived 32 minutes late. Page 7 of 8 Sunday 6th April 1997 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Koln Hbf 727 RB3806 EL 110 352-2 * Krefeld Hbf DL 215 091-1 Kleve 917 945 RB3819 DL 215 091-1 Krefeld Hbf 1040 1044 SE3213 EL 141 057-0[P] Duisburg Hbf 1102 1123 'U79' Tram 4225+4267 (Rheinbahn) Dusseldorf Hbf 1216 1238 RB3075 EL 110 402-5 Wesel 1254 1331 RB8716 DMU 628/928 511 Bocholt 1352 1400 RB8717 DMU 628/928 511 Wesel 1422 1427 RB3088 EL 141 288-1 Duisburg Hbf 1501 1526 'S21' EL 143 584-1 Dusseldorf Flughafen 1546 1730 LH4052 Boeing 737-500 (Lufthansa) Manchester Airport 1805 1825 - 158 908 (NER) Manchester Piccadilly 1840 1852 - 1008 (GMML) Timperley 1912 Ticket used: mostly Inter Rail 26+ Comments invited. Paul Steane Timperley, Altrincham, UK 100561.473@compuserve.com Page 8 of 8