Main-Lahn railway
Encyclopedia
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The Main-Lahn railway (Main-Lahn-Bahn in German), also called the Limburg railway (Limburger Bahn), is a double-track, electrified main railway line in Germany
. The 66.5 kilometres (41.3 mi) long line extends from Frankfurt am Main Central Station
(Hauptbahnhof) to Eschhofen, a borough
of Limburg an der Lahn
.
From Frankfurt to Niedernhausen
, it operates as Rhine-Main S-Bahn
S-2 and carries Deutsche Bahn
route number 645.2. From Frankfurt Central Station to Frankfurt-Höchst
, it also carries S-Bahn S-1 (which then follows the Taunus railway to Wiesbaden
). From Niedernhausen to Eschhofen, it takes over Route number 627 from the Ländchesbahn
. From Eschhofen, the line leads into the Lahn Valley Railway.
between the Main
and Lahn River valleys had been considered since 1850. However, construction was only begun under Prussian
rule on March 25, 1872. The concession was awarded to the Hessian Ludwig Railway
(Hessische Ludwigsbahn, or HLB). The construction began from Eschhofen and each finished section initially served mainly to transport material to the construction further forward.
The first section between Eschhofen and Niederselters
was opened to traffic on February 1, 1875. The entire track was completed on October 15, 1877. The line from Niedernhausen to Wiesbaden Central Station
, called the Ländchesbahn
, was launched on July 1, 1879.
Between 1911 and 1913, the single-track line was converted to double track. In 1971, the track was electrified between Frankfurt-Höchst
and Niedernhausen, and in 1986 between Niedernhausen and Limburg.
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Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The 66.5 kilometres (41.3 mi) long line extends from Frankfurt am Main Central Station
Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof
is the central station for Frankfurt am Main. In terms of railway traffic, it is the busiest railway station in Germany. With about 350,000 passengers per day the station is the second most frequented railway station in Germany and one of the most frequented in Europe.- Proto-history :In the late...
(Hauptbahnhof) to Eschhofen, a borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of Limburg an der Lahn
Limburg an der Lahn
Limburg an der Lahn is the district seat of Limburg-Weilburg in Hesse, Germany.-Location:Limburg lies in western Hesse between the Taunus and the Westerwald on the river Lahn....
.
From Frankfurt to Niedernhausen
Niedernhausen
Niedernhausen im Taunus is a municipality in the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis in the Regierungsbezirk of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany, with almost 15,000 inhabitants.-Location:...
, it operates as Rhine-Main S-Bahn
Rhine-Main S-Bahn
The Rhine-Main S-Bahn system is an integrated rapid transit and commuter transport system for the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region, which includes the cities Frankfurt am Main, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Offenbach am Main, Hanau and Darmstadt...
S-2 and carries Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
route number 645.2. From Frankfurt Central Station to Frankfurt-Höchst
Höchst (Frankfurt am Main)
Höchst is a district of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It is part of the Ortsbezirk West, and is subdivided into 4 Stadtbezirke.Höchst am Main became part of Frankfurt am Main in 1928 together with its boroughs Sindlingen, Unterliederbach and Zeilsheim. It is situated 10 km west of downtown...
, it also carries S-Bahn S-1 (which then follows the Taunus railway to Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
). From Niedernhausen to Eschhofen, it takes over Route number 627 from the Ländchesbahn
Ländchesbahn
The Ländchesbahn is a single non-electrified branch railway line between Wiesbaden and Niedernhausen, Germany. The long line was opened in July 1879 by the Hessian Ludwig Railway...
. From Eschhofen, the line leads into the Lahn Valley Railway.
History
A middle route through the TaunusTaunus
The Taunus is a low mountain range in Hesse, Germany that composes part of the Rhenish Slate Mountains. It is bounded by the river valleys of Rhine, Main and Lahn. On the opposite side of the Rhine, the mountains are continued by the Hunsrück...
between the Main
Main river
Main rivers are a statutory type of watercourse in England and Wales, usually larger streams and rivers, but also include some smaller watercourses. A main river is defined as a watercourse marked as such on a main river map, and can include any structure or appliance for controlling or regulating...
and Lahn River valleys had been considered since 1850. However, construction was only begun under Prussian
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
rule on March 25, 1872. The concession was awarded to the Hessian Ludwig Railway
Hessian Ludwig Railway
The Hessian Ludwig Railway or HLB with its network of 697 kilometres of railway was one of the largest privately owned railway companies in Germany.- Early history :...
(Hessische Ludwigsbahn, or HLB). The construction began from Eschhofen and each finished section initially served mainly to transport material to the construction further forward.
The first section between Eschhofen and Niederselters
Niederselters
Niederselters is an urban district of the community Selters in Hesse, Germany....
was opened to traffic on February 1, 1875. The entire track was completed on October 15, 1877. The line from Niedernhausen to Wiesbaden Central Station
Wiesbaden Hauptbahnhof
is the Hauptbahnhof for the city of Wiesbaden, the state capital of the German state of Hesse. It is a terminal station at the southern edge of the city center and is served by over 500 long-distance and regional trains and used by more than 30,000 travelers each day.-History:The current station...
, called the Ländchesbahn
Ländchesbahn
The Ländchesbahn is a single non-electrified branch railway line between Wiesbaden and Niedernhausen, Germany. The long line was opened in July 1879 by the Hessian Ludwig Railway...
, was launched on July 1, 1879.
Between 1911 and 1913, the single-track line was converted to double track. In 1971, the track was electrified between Frankfurt-Höchst
Höchst (Frankfurt am Main)
Höchst is a district of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It is part of the Ortsbezirk West, and is subdivided into 4 Stadtbezirke.Höchst am Main became part of Frankfurt am Main in 1928 together with its boroughs Sindlingen, Unterliederbach and Zeilsheim. It is situated 10 km west of downtown...
and Niedernhausen, and in 1986 between Niedernhausen and Limburg.