Leipzig cross rail!? ;)

[stuartmoss]

Currently on the ICE to Dresden from Leipzig, which went from platform 1 a deep underground platform that I've never seen before (platform 2 also underground). The train headed away from Dresden and under Leipzig where it seemed to do a huge loop to get in the right direction.

I've been using Leipzig station for years, (although it has been a year since I last used it) and I've never seen these platforms before or take an ICE on that line. It makes sense as it saves reversing the train around.

Does anyone know how long this has been operational, and if this is the regular routing for Dresden ICE trains now?

PS. I've been in Germany a week, (Berlin, Magdeburg, Ilmenau, Erfurt, Leipzig and next Dresden) made a lot of rail video footage, which I will upload and share later in the month. If you would like to see some photos (mostly non rail admittedly they are on Instagram.com/stumoss).

Cheers!

 

[gordonthemoron]

The built an s-bahn tunnel under Leipzig in the past 10 or so years, not been there since early 2012 but it wasn't open then

 

[eastwestdivide]

There's a blog from a local over on RMWeb at
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/in...trunk-line-more-suburban-photos-from-leipzig/
with lots of photos and details of Leipzig and the new tunnel.

 

[30907]

AFAIK the only ICEs through the tunnel are the Köln - Paderborn - Dresden pair, were you on one of those?
Not sure if it's to save time, or for pathing, or what.

Possibly a couple of weekend extra ICs too.

Otherwise it could have been a one off.

 

[stuartmoss]

Thanks for replies.

30907 it was the Dusseldorf to Dresden ICE

 

[dutchflyer]

Yes,a proper S-bahn Tunnel has been opened there in may '14. And splendid thing it has become, also the trains they use on it are quite unlike the basic S-Bahn in other towns in DE. They even still do checking and ticket sales on board-also unlike any other S-Bahn. And as already pointed out, some ICs also use it, then curve in the east side of Leipzig into the DD main line.
But most of the usual Bremen-Hannover-Leipzig-DD IC-trains reverse as they always did in L (and in Magdeburg too).

 

[starrymarkb]

Yep Leipzig City Tunnel Opened last year (4 years late) and cost too much but is a seriously impressive system.

You would have noticed the construction, I visit every year for WGT and they've been digging both in front of the station and underneath the westernmost arch of the roof for the last few years. Other Large excavations in the Market Square and by Wilhelm Lautzner Platz.

Only used it once to go the Bayerische Bahnhof as the trams are more convenient for WGT venues. Can think of a couple of UK cities that would benefit from a similar system.

 

[valedave]

It's temporary while they complete all the construction work for the new ICE line to Erfurt/do other track work.

That ICE from Dresden to Düsseldorf is the only long-distance service that runs through the City Tunnel, twice a day. All other long-distance to/from Dresden from western Germany (like the Saarbrücken/Wiesbaden-Dresden ICE) are (I think) routed via Thekla.

For whoever asked about the routing for this diversion:
(From Düsseldorf) Into Leipzig via Leutzsch/Gohlis, down into the City Tunnel, back out the tunnel by Bayerischer Bahnhof, past Leipzig MDR. It then turns left off towards Leipzig Völkerschlachtsdenkmal and then past Anger-Crottendorf to Engelsdorf and onwards towards Riesa/Dresden.

The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2015 (when the Erfurt-Halleipzig line opens), so the routing should last until then at least.

The City Tunnel is indeed incredible, but it's very controversial because they overspent massively and lots of people argue it's more of a prestige object (and they're probably right). The stations are works of art, truly breathtaking.

 

[starrymarkb]

The City Tunnel is indeed incredible, but it's very controversial because they overspent massively and lots of people argue it's more of a prestige object (and they're probably right). The stations are works of art, truly breathtaking.

TBF it is at least open, unlike Berlin Airport (a similar grand prestige project)

 

[gordonthemoron]

It would probably be cheaper and quicker to demolish Berlin Brandenburg Airport and start again

 

[fandroid]

Leipzig is only getting what every other major German city with a terminal station has already got - a tunnel to take the S-Bahn through and link with services on the other side of the city. Stuttgart is getting a second go at it with monster tunnels, with major demonstrations and protest votes at elections all part of the German way!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
By the way, the Dresden S-Bahn is also more like a real DB railway- DD trains and ticket checks. Perhaps it's an east German thing.