Main Railway

Last updated
Main Railway
Overview
Native nameMainbahn
StatusOperational
Owner Deutsche Bahn
Line number
  • 3520 (Mainz–Frankfurt Hbf)
  • 3650 (Frankfurt Stadion–Frankfurt Süd)
  • 3538 (drittes Gl. Gustavsburg–Bischofsheim)
Locale Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Germany
Termini
  • Mainz Hbf
  • Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
Stations12
Service
Type Heavy rail, Passenger/freight rail
Regional rail, Commuter rail
Intercity rail
Route number471, 645.8, 645.9
Operator(s) DB Regio, Rhein-Main S-Bahn
History
Opened3 January 1863
Technical
Line length37.5 km (23.3 mi)
Number of tracks Double track
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification 15 kV/16.7 Hz AC overhead catenary
Operating speed160 km/h (99 mph)
Route map

Contents

BSicon STR.svg
BSicon BS2+l.svg
BSicon BS2+lr.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
From Mainz harbour
BSicon BHF.svg
BSicon S+BHF.svg
0.000
Mainz Hbf
BSicon tSTRa.svg
BSicon TUNNEL1.svg
Mainz railway tunnel north (northbound)
BSicon tSTR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
New Mainz tunnel (southbound)
BSicon tSTRe.svg
BSicon TUNNEL2.svg
Mainz railway tunnel south (northbound)
BSicon BHF.svg
BSicon S+BHF.svg
1.800
Mainz Römisches Theater
BSicon eABZg+l.svg
BSicon eKRZo.svg
Former line from Mainz Hauptbahnhof
BSicon ABZqr.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon exBOOT.svg
BSicon hKRZWae+GRZq.svg
3.076
BSicon exKBHFaq.svg
BSicon eABZg+r.svg
Former train ferry
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
Mainz-Gustavsburg harbour siding
BSicon SBHF.svg
4.580
Mainz-Gustavsburg
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
BSicon S+BHF.svg
7.780
Mainz-Bischofsheim
BSicon BS2rc.svg
BSicon BS2r.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
Rhine-Main Railway to Darmstadt
BSicon BST.svg
9.560
Mainz-Bischofsheim Ültg II junction
BSicon SBHF.svg
11.206
Rüsselsheim-Opelwerk
BSicon S+BHF.svg
12.220
Rüsselsheim
BSicon SBHF.svg
15.875
Raunheim
BSicon BST.svg
17.373
Raunheim Mönchwald junction
BSicon ABZgr.svg
Connecting curve to HSL to Frankfurt
BSicon SBRUCKE.svg
A 3
BSicon KRZu.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
19.1
Raunheim Caltex & Ticona siding
BSicon BST.svg
19.349
Raunheim Brunnenschneise junction
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
Connecting curve from HSL to Cologne
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
Industrial sidings
BSicon SBHF.svg
23.812
Kelsterbach
BSicon ABZgr.svg
Frankfurt Airport loop Frankfurt S8.svg Frankfurt S9.svg
BSicon eHST.svg
26.9
Frankfurt-Schwanheim [1]
BSicon ABZq+r.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
BSicon STR+r.svg
BSicon BS2c1.svg
BSicon BS2+lr.svg
BSicon BS2+lc.svg
BSicon BS2c4.svg
29.096
Frankfurt-Schwanheim Fernbahn junction
BSicon STRo.svg
BSicon STRo.svg
A 5
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
BSicon STR.svg
Mannheim–Frankfurt railway
to Riedstadt-Goddelau Frankfurt S7.svg
BSicon S+BHF.svg
BSicon SBHF.svg
31.375
Frankfurt (Main) Stadion
BSicon ABZq+r.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon STR.svg
bypass line via Forsthaus (see below)
BSicon STRl.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
BSicon STR.svg
connecting line from Forsthaus
BSicon S+BHF.svg
BSicon SHST.svg
33.192
Frankfurt-Niederrad
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
Old Niederräd bridge / new Niederräd bridge
BSicon DST.svg
BSicon STR.svg
34.250
Frankfurt-Niederrad Brücke
BSicon KRZo.svg
BSicon KRZo.svg
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon ABZglr.svg
BSicon KRZo.svg
BSicon ABZq+r.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon KRZo.svg
Main-Lahn Railway
from Frankfurt-Höchst Frankfurt S1.svg Frankfurt S2.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon ABZg2.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon ABZg+1u.svg
line from Frankfurt-Griesheim
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
35.358
Frankfurt (Main) Gutleuthof (junction)
Taunus Railway from Frankfurt-Höchst
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
Homburg embankment
from Mainzer Landstraße
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon DST.svg
35.360
Frankfurt outer yard
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon ABZlr.svg
to Galluswarte
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon KRWl.svg
BSicon KRWl+r.svg
BSicon KRW+r.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
BSicon STRq.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
Main-Weser bridge – Galluswarte line
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon BST.svg
BSicon BST.svg
36.444
Frankfurt (Main) Hoch/Tief
(station part)
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STRl.svg
to the City Tunnel Frankfurt S1.svg Frankfurt S2.svg Frankfurt S8.svg Frankfurt S9.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
BSicon STR+r.svg
BSicon KRWl.svg
BSicon KRW+r.svg
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon STRr.svg
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
BSicon eABZg+r.svg
BSicon STRl.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
former line from Peace Bridge (see below)
BSicon KS+BHFxe.svg
BSicon KS+BHFxe.svg
37.508
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
(since 1888) Frankfurt S7.svg
BSicon exKBHFe.svg
BSicon exKBHFe.svg
Frankfurt western stations
(until 1888)
Originally part of route (now bypass line)
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
line from Mainz (see above)
BSicon S+BHF.svg
BSicon SBHF.svg
31.4
Frankfurt am Main Stadion
BSicon ABZgl+l.svg
BSicon STRl.svg
current line via Frankfurt-Niederrad
(see above)
BSicon BST.svg
33.2
Forsthaus (Frankfurt)
(junction, former station)
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon ABZglr.svg
BSicon STR+r.svg
connecting curve to Darmstadt, Frankfurt
BSicon ABZqr.svg
BSicon KRZo.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon dSTRq.svg
BSicon xKRZr.svg
BSicon xKRZl.svg
BSicon dSTRq.svg
current line to Main-Neckar Bridge
(see above)
BSicon eABZg+l.svg
BSicon exdSTRq.svg
BSicon exABZg+lr.svg
BSicon exSTRr.svg
former Lokalbahn, Main-Neckar Railway
BSicon S+BHF.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
36.6
Frankfurt South
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon ABZgr.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon tSTRa.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon exhKRZWae.svg
Peace Bridge (old Main-Neckar Bridge)
BSicon exSTR+l.svg
BSicon exdSTRq.svg
BSicon exSTRr.svg
former route of the Main-Neckar railway
BSicon xABZg+l.svg
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon STR+l.svg
current bridge (see above)
BSicon KS+BHFxe.svg
BSicon KBHFxe.svg
BSicon KBHFxe.svg
BSicon tSTRa.svg
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
(since 1888) Frankfurt S7.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon tSBHF.svg
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf underground
(since 1978)
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon tSTRl.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
Frankfurt S3.svg Frankfurt S4.svg Frankfurt S5.svg Frankfurt S6.svg and Frankfurt S1.svg Frankfurt S2.svg Frankfurt S8.svg Frankfurt S9.svg
BSicon exKBHFe.svg
BSicon exKBHFe.svg
BSicon exKBHFe.svg
??.?
Frankfurt western stations
(until 1888)
Source: German railway atlas [2]

The Main Railway (German: Mainbahn, pronounced 'mine barn') is a 37.5 km-long double-track electrified railway line, which runs on the south side of the river Main from Mainz to Frankfurt central station.

History

Immediately after the opening of the Rhine-Main Railway from Mainz to Aschaffenburg by the Hessian Ludwig Railway Company in 1858, it was anxious to also own a connection to Frankfurt. Therefore, it built the new line from a branch off the Rhine-Main line at Bischofsheim along the left (southern) bank of the Main to Frankfurt. It thereby put itself into competition with the parallel Taunus Railway, which runs on the right bank of the Main. The concession for building and operating the line was awarded by Grand Duchy of Hesse on 15 August 1861 and by the senate of the Free City of Frankfurt on 17 January 1862.

The building of the line took only one and a half years. A test run took place on 20 December 1862 and it was opened on 3 January 1863. The line originally ran through the former Forsthaus station and today's Friedensbrücke (Peace Bridge, now a road bridge) in Frankfurt across the Main to the former Main-Neckar station. This entry was replaced on 16 January 1882 by the current alignment through Goldstein station (later: Frankfurt-Sportfeld, now: Frankfurt (Main) Stadion), Niederrad station and the Niederräder Main bridge.

On 1 February 1897, it along with the rest of the Hessian Ludwigs railway became part of the Prussian-Hessian Railway Company. Electrification of the line was completed on 15 December 1958.

On 2 February 1990, one of the worst train accidents in the Rhine-Main area occurred near Rüsselsheim when a train from Frankfurt collided with one from Wiesbaden and derailed, killing 17 people and injuring over 80, some seriously.

Since 1999 the Raunheim Mönchwald–Raunheim Mönchhof connecting curve has provided a connection with the Cologne–Frankfurt high-speed rail line, allowing long-distance trains to and from on the Left Rhine line to use the Frankfurt Airport long-distance station.

Buildings

The following structures are original and those marked are listed monuments:

LocationBuildingYearkmMonument
Bischofsheim Station building19588.25*
Rüsselsheim Linesmen house186312.80*
Raunheim Station building186315.87*
RaunheimLinesmen house186317.39*
Kelsterbach Rail bridge186321.75
KelsterbachLinesmen house186323.60*
KelsterbachStation building186323.81*
Stadion Station building187931.37*
Niederrad Station building188233.19*
Sachsenhausen Rail bridge186434.47

Services

The Main Railway is used by long-distance and local passenger services as well as freight traffic,

Long distance

ICE 1 on the connecting curve from the Main Railway in Frankfurt-Louisa station Frankfurt am Main- Bahnhof Frankfurt-Louisa- auf Bahnsteig zu Gleis 2- Richtung Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof (ICE 1) 20.5.2012.JPG
ICE 1 on the connecting curve from the Main Railway in Frankfurt-Louisa station

The line is used by "individual services" (not at regular intervals through the day) of ICE lines 20, 31, 50 and 91 as well as IC line 31.

The long-distance services depart from Mainz Hauptbahnhof, passing through Raunheim Mönchwald junction via the connecting line to the Cologne-Frankfurt high-speed railway to Frankfurt Airport long-distance station.

From here trains run non-stop to Frankfurt am Main Stadion station and via the current route to Frankfurt South station or via the current route to Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof. A few trains use the Mannheim–Frankfurt railway to Mannheim Hauptbahnhof.

Local services

S8 service in Mainz-Bischofsheim station running towards Hanau Hbf Bischofsheimer (Mainspitze) Bahnhof- auf Bahnsteig zu Gleis 2- Richtung Frankfurt am Main (S-Bahn Rhein-Main 423 304-5) 29.3.2009.JPG
S8 service in Mainz-Bischofsheim station running towards Hanau Hbf

Regional and Rhine-Main S-Bahn services run between Kelsterbach station and Frankfurt-Schwanheim Fernbahn junction over the Airport loop.

LineRouteFrequency
RE 55 Frankfurt Airport regional Frankfurt South Offenbach  Hanau  Aschaffenburg Individual services
RB 75 Wiesbaden   Mainz  Mainz-Bischofsheim  Darmstadt 60 min
RE 2/3 Koblenz or Saarbrücken  Mainz – Mainz-Bischofsheim Frankfurt Airport regional – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 60 min
Frankfurt S8.svg Wiesbaden Mainz – Mainz-Bischofsheim Kelsterbach  Frankfurt Airport regional – Frankfurt (Main) Hbf (underground) Frankfurt City Tunnel  Offenbach City Tunnel  – Hanau30 min
Frankfurt S9.svg Wiesbaden Mainz-Kastel  Mainz-Bischofsheim – Kelsterbach Frankfurt Airport regional –Frankfurt (Main) Hbf (underground) –Frankfurt City Tunnel – Offenbach City Tunnel – Hanau30 min

Notes

  1. Passenger services had stopped serving the halt of Schwanheim by 15 November 1901 ("Sammlung der herausgegebenen Amtsblätter" (in German). 5 (53). Eisenbahndirektion Mainz. 9 November 1901: 372.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help), item 508)
  2. Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland (German railway atlas). Schweers + Wall. 2009. pp. 151–53. ISBN   978-3-89494-139-0.

References