Catch them before they're gone

[ajrm]

Evening working is the 1701 to Saint-Dié-des-Vosges TER 831830 (6 car) and the other diagram is 1620 Strasbourg - Lauterbourg TER 830726, which returns as the 1740 from Lauterbourg and then does a further return trip (3 coaches).

Annoyingly dud locos for me, as when I did these trains in November 2024, they were locos I'd both had some 10+ years earlier on the (now long gone) 1705/1805 Transilien P workings from Paris Est to La Ferté-Milon.

Brilliant! Thank you.

 

[peteb]

The Marseille to Nice TER still have some loco hauled corail sets, eg: today's (17/03/2025) train TER 17489, 1657 Marseille to Nice, load 7 corail. I understand these may cease in June........

Also in France, fans of rural routes may be interested to learn that the demolition gangs finally seem to have turned their attentions to the many station yards which have survived more or less intact into the 21st century. In particular there's a gang out this week between Moulins and Paray-le-Monial on the Lyon to Tours TER route. Points being straight-railed, sidings dug up, piles of timber sleepers everywhere. Some rural routes still retain jointed track, telegraph poles, water towers, yard cranes etc. So do visit central France this year before more if it goes.

Felletin, terminus of a route from Limoges via Guéret is due to close in August and several lines limp on with one through train a day. Worth a visit is the Tours to La Roche sur Yon route, over 100 miles of single track via Bressuire. Again some intact infrastructure, jointed rails, semaphore signals etc.

Update: did Felletin this week. Interestingly the line seemed perfectly ok, few speed restrictions. Mind you there were only 3 on the afternoon train that went to Felletin, and 2 on the return. Train obviously gets much busier from Gueret. It didn't help that SNCF had no timetable posted at Felletin, but there was a detailed bus timetable! Also a bus leaves Felletin at 1630 to Limoges which is faster than the 1642 train.so renders that surplus to requirements for most folks. But Felletin is well worth a visit, not on a Monday, but other days there's little artisanal shops, a church and medieval streets. The 1.5 hrs is enough for a wander. I'd suggest an afternoon trip from Limoges though I continued to Montluçon (very interesting old town) on the evening service from Gueret.

 

[NCT]

A video from the excellent Bahnwelten on the remaining years of Tatra operation on those East Germany tram networks.

I didn't know T4s were still running in Leipzig. Hopefully I can still catch some this August.

 

[alex397]

I didn't know T4s were still running in Leipzig. Hopefully I can still catch some this August.

Be aware that they may not operate during school holidays.
I made a trip around eastern Germany during the Easter holidays in 2024, with the main aim being the Leipzig Tatras. Unfortunately none of them operated in Leipzig during my 3 days there which was frustrating - I put this down to the timetables being less frequent during school holidays and so the Tatras were just not needed. Soon after my visit when the school holidays ended, they were photographed running again!

 

[The exile]

Be aware that they may not operate during school holidays.
I made a trip around eastern Germany during the Easter holidays in 2024, with the main aim being the Leipzig Tatras. Unfortunately none of them operated in Leipzig during my 3 days there which was frustrating - I put this down to the timetables being less frequent during school holidays and so the Tatras were just not needed. Soon after my visit when the school holidays ended, they were photographed running again!

The Saxon summer holidays this year run from 28th June to 9th August.

 

[NCT]

I was last in Leipzig in October 2022 and didn't see any T4s. This time I'll be using Leipzig as a base with the main focus being Zwickau and Gera, then onto Plauen. Some Tatra action in Leipzig will be icing on the cake of course.

 

[eastwestdivide]

There’s some interesting Ersatzzüge (replacement stock) operating in the Düsseldorf/Duisburg area, although as ever, try and check if they’re still running before setting off on a quest! The published timetables online for those lines (PDFs) usually give an indication of Ersatzzüge.

a) locos and n-Wagen, two sets working RE13 shuttles Mönchengladbach/Venlo - see German article here https://eisenbahn.de/eisenbahn-magazin/re-13-tcs-garnituren-bringen-stundentakt-zurueck_7979

Seit dem 28. April 2025 ergänzt Train Charter Services (TCS) die Verbindung mit zusätzlichen Fahrten zwischen Wuppertal Hbf und Venlo, in den Hauptverkehrszeiten auch zwischen Mönchengladbach und Venlo. Der zusätzliche Takt stellt den Stundentakt zwischen Viersen und Venlo wieder her und verbessert damit die Pünktlichkeit und Kapazität auf der Strecke.

TCS setzt auf klassische n-Wagen in 4- und 5-teiliger Konfiguration. Die Züge wurden in den ersten Tagen unter anderem von der TCS-eigenen 101 033 sowie von der DB-Mietlok 111 189 geführt.

b) class 110 and n-wagen on the RE19 Düsseldorf/Emmerich route - see German article here: https://eisenbahn.de/lok-magazin/11...ernimmt-verstaerker-umlauf-auf-dem-re-19_8333

110 350 von TeutoLok übernimmt Verstärker-Umlauf auf dem RE 19​

Wegen Fahrzeugengpässen lässt VIAS einen zusätzlichen Umlauf zwischen Emmerich und Düsseldorf von Lok-Partner fahren. Eingesetzt wird eine n-Wagen-Garnitur der Gesellschaft für Fahrzeugtechnik (GfF) mit der Lok 110 350 von TeutoLok

c) spotty class 111 with two DD coaches working RB31 from Duisburg, which I managed to photograph

 

[poffle]

The Stadtler KISS IC2 EMUs that DB bought from WestBahn are being bought by OeBB.

These were non standard units that operated Dresden-Berlin-Rostock and Stuttgart- Zurich IC services. They had to go to Vienna for maintenance so there were some diagrams with a service to/from Vienna.

DB will take them out of service at the December timetable change.

 

[SeanG]

Not sure if anyone will be willingly catching those

 

[Richard Scott]

Not sure if anyone will be willingly catching those

Having been on one certainly not desperate to get the rest!!!!

 

[Austriantrain]

Having been on one certainly not desperate to get the rest!!!!

Then you should avoid the Vienna - Salzburg („stopper“) RJ from December

Plans on where the 4110 (4-car-Sets) will be used have not been revealed yet. Apparently they will only enter service with ÖBB in December 2026.

 

[Richard Scott]

Then you should avoid the Vienna - Salzburg („stopper“) RJ from December

Plans on where the 4110 (4-car-Sets) will be used have not been revealed yet. Apparently they will only enter service with ÖBB in December 2026.

Thanks, had clocked that one!!!

 

[dutchflyer]

There’s some interesting Ersatzzüge (replacement stock) operating in the Düsseldorf/Duisburg area, although as ever, try and check if they’re still running before setting off on a quest! The published timetables online for those lines (PDFs) usually give an indication of Ersatzzüge.

a) locos and n-Wagen, two sets working RE13 shuttles Mönchengladbach/Venlo - see German article here https://eisenbahn.de/eisenbahn-magazin/re-13-tcs-garnituren-bringen-stundentakt-zurueck_7979



b) class 110 and n-wagen on the RE19 Düsseldorf/Emmerich route - see German article here: https://eisenbahn.de/lok-magazin/11...ernimmt-verstaerker-umlauf-auf-dem-re-19_8333


c) spotty class 111 with two DD coaches working RB31 from Duisburg, which I managed to photograph

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jun 2025 ==

Had a ride to/from Venlo last 2 weeks with those sets-from Venlo it was even going on toward Wuppertal. Venlo at the odd hours in general, the Euro€bahn runs its own trains mostly in/out on the even hours there. Conductor confirmed they were old ´Silberlinge´ from Bundesbahn long ago-rebuolt a few times.
NOTE for those going after this: RE 19 gets weeks long closure this summer-3d track to be installed for freight-and (yes, remember the awfully bad timekeeping when that was done last year) RE13 to Venlo will now also be cancelled when that is done-so also SEV=Replacement buses then. and not this very old set.
best info for what is cancelled etc in this area: zuginfo.nrw. Only in german, but let you select many modes.

 

[SLTRegular]

3 V Sets have gone for Scrap in Sydney think they are V20/40 and 48?? They will be scrapped at Chullora i hear

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jun 2025 ==

DIM8090 DCT9038 DCT9043 DIM8047 DIM8065 DIT9118 DIT9164 DIM8083 are the latest V Sets carriages for Scrap today.

 

[DesDobramento]

D445 passenger workings - at least two D445 push-pull sets were stabled at Borgo S Lorenzo (in the sidings north of the station) on Sunday 8 June 2025 and 1090 propelled R18936 Borgo>Pontassieve>Firenze SMN on Monday 9 June.
Borgo<>Faenza is now closed for engineering works, and Borgo SL itself closes for a period from early August thus presumably the loco-hauled trains will cease at least temporarily?

 

[D6130]

D445 passenger workings - at least two D445 push-pull sets were stabled at Borgo S Lorenzo (in the sidings north of the station) on Sunday 8 June 2025 and 1090 propelled R18936 Borgo>Pontassieve>Firenze SMN on Monday 9 June.
Borgo<>Faenza is now closed for engineering works, and Borgo SL itself closes for a period from early August thus presumably the loco-hauled trains will cease at least temporarily?

I was out on that line on Wednesday afternoon (11th June) in the sweltering heatwave. I had 1090 from Firenze SMN to Borgo on R19309, departing at 14 19; for a DMU back to SMN and then out again with 1143 on R18969, departing 17 55....with the intention of catching my last bus home from Pontassieve at 19 07. Unfortunately 1143 obviously disliked the intense heat as much as I do....and expired completely on arrival at Sieci. Nothing for it but to bale out and catch my bus from there instead! Incidentally, the 16 50 from SMN is also loco-hauled.

 

[Segedunum]

As many of the Italian regions move over to being a wall of units - I've just been pleasantly surprised by Trenitalia TPER train R18125 - which looks to be a summer special-type service from Brescia to Pesaro. It's arrived (albeit fashionably late) in Ravenna to take me towards Rimini and is an E464 loco shoving a rake of double deck Vivalto stock.

Only problem is that it doesn't track on anything - the Trenitalia app didn't think it had even left Brescia and the screens on board don't know how late we are. The departure boards in Ravenna weren't much use as they were all broken

Everything else in the area seems to be a mix of ETR350 (Stadler FLIRT) and variations of the 'Pop' and 'Rock' units.

 

[rvdborgt]

Only problem is that it doesn't track on anything - the Trenitalia app didn't think it had even left Brescia and the screens on board don't know how late we are. The departure boards in Ravenna weren't much use as they were all broken

I like the Trenit! app to track delays. It will show when a train has actually left a station, will show time/location of the latest realtime update and will warn if there hasn't been any update in the past 15 minutes.

 

[cactustwirly]

Just come back from Stuttgart, lots of units.
I guess the old loco hauled DB Regio stock hasn't got long left

 

[jpl]

In Finland, VR's Class Dr16 diesels are on their way out. Currently only seen on night trains between Oulu and Kolari - usage on freight has ceased earlier. It's been said VR no longer does heavy maintenance for the remaining six locomotives (at least beyond daily servicing). When they run out the night trains will be hauled probably by Dv12 diesels which are way older.

More and more Sr2 locomotives (Lok 2000 family) are being put into cold storage and dismantled for spare parts to support the remaining fleet. At time of writing about 32 out of 46 are still in service.

Also, new Sm7 EMUs built by Stadler will be introduced in 2026-2028 replacing all old Sm2 EMUs.

 

[A S Leib]

I don't think they have a firm date to be withdrawn completely; despite a 2022 Baden-Württemberg farewell tour, is Wikipedia correct that DB Class 628 services still run on some routes west from Karlsruhe (as well as Kaiserslautern – Pirmasens, Kusel and Lauterecken, and most regional services east from Munich to the Austrian border)?

 

[k-c-p]

Around Karlsruhe/Kaiserslautern class 628 can be found on various lines

• Kaiserslautern-Lauterecken (pretty regularly)
• (Kaiserslautern-)Landstuhl-Altenglan (pretty regularly)
• Karlsruhe-Neustadt (when availablitiy of classes 642/643 is low)
• Wörth-Lauterbourg (when availablitiy of classes 642/643 is low)
• Landau-Pirmasens (when availablitiy of classes 642/643 is low)

Neustadt-Wissembourg might be a candidate as well.

Depot Kaiserslautern got "new" 628s last year when it took over the trainsets that were used on the former Syltshuttle at the North Sea coast. They had the white livery when the went in into service here in the South. No idea, if they have all been repainted by now.

Edit: Public broadcaster SWR had a report about these trains having to fill in, when the mordern trains are broken. The report also deals with the fact that the 628s offer neither air conditioning nor level boarding. https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/rhein...r-suedpfalz-und-westpfalz-im-einsatz-118.html

 

[DanielB]

I've seen a 628 in full Sylt Shuttle Plus livery in the Kaiserslautern area a week ago, so even the branding for that shuttle hadn't been removed.
That one was on a siding however, so not in service.

 

[The exile]

I don't think they have a firm date to be withdrawn completely; despite a 2022 Baden-Württemberg farewell tour, is Wikipedia correct that DB Class 628 services still run on some routes west from Karlsruhe (as well as Kaiserslautern – Pirmasens, Kusel and Lauterecken, and most regional services east from Munich to the Austrian border)?

That’s one of those “you’re feeling old when” moments. The first year I spent in Germany was when “modern, passenger friendly trains” / “hideous new units” were beginning to displace “uncomfortable, outdated carriages” / “delightful one or two coach trains with a 212 on the front”.

 

[Bemined]

For the Netherlands: There is still some ICR, but likely not till the end of 2025. And to Brussels it will be gone earlier as NMBS transfers more I11 coaches to the EC.
After ICR the ICM (Koploper) is the oldest stock, but it will require some more new deliveries before it can completely be replaced.

The end of the ICR era is getting pretty close now, in the October timetable update they will be removed from planned service, although I don't know whether they remain available as backup or if they are going into storage right away. As for ICM another batch of units is being taken out of service this summer, leaving about 60 units, less than half of the original fleet size.

 

[ABB125]

Is there anything (preferably loco-hauled) that hasn't got long left in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia or Croatia? I'm going there in just over a week but my itinerary is currently rather empty...

 

[43096]

Is there anything (preferably loco-hauled) that hasn't got long left in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia or Croatia? I'm going there in just over a week but my itinerary is currently rather empty...

In Hungary there are increasing numbers of leased locos being hired, which will inevitably reduce the number of V43 (430/431/432/433 in new money) electrics and M41 (418) diesels.

In Slovakia, the class 350 “Gorillas” are an endangered species with ZSSK buying new units and leasing further new Vectrons.

 

[ABB125]

In Hungary there are increasing numbers of leased locos being hired, which will inevitably reduce the number of V43 (430/431/432/433 in new money) electrics and M41 (418) diesels.

In Slovakia, the class 350 “Gorillas” are an endangered species with ZSSK buying new units and leasing further new Vectrons.

Thanks - I'll see what I can fit in

 

[NCT]

Had a gluttony of Tatra KT4Ds in Jena, Zwickau and Plauen the past couple of days. Bit of a hurried whistle-stop tour but glad I rode them. Saw a pair of T4s in Leipzig (with a low-floor trailer) this morning as well.

 

[BRX]

Is there anything to be aware of in Austria at the moment?