The Bodensee Gürtelbahn is a single track diesel (half electrified after 2021) Route. it starts in Radolfzell am Bodensee and goes along the Lake to Lindau. there are many lines driving. Regional, Intercity, Interregioexpress and much more. Vehicles that could be used between Radolfzell and Friedrichshafen : (RB31) DB BR 650 DB BR 628 VR (IRE3) DB BR 612 Bwegt DB BR 245 + Dostos DB BR 218 + Dostos (IRE3 Freizeitexpress Südbahn) DB BR 218 + N-Wagen (Cargo) DB BR 232 (Ludmilla) DB BR 218 (Ludmilla) Vehicles that could be used between Friedrichshafen and Lindau (if Electrified) : IRE3 : DB BR 425 RE5 : DB BR 146.2 + Dostos DB BR 612 Bwegt RB93 : DB BR 425 DB BR 650 DB BR 426 IC118/119 : ES64U2 + IC coaches AI layers for 2022 : Radolfzell : RABe 523 146.2 + Dostos Friedrichshafen : DB BR 426 DB BR 425 DB BR 612 Bwegt DB BR 245 ES64U2 + Cargo Lindau : ÖBB 4024 612 VR DB BR 425 Friedrichshafen to Lindau if not electrified : IRE3 : not existing RE5 : DB BR 245 + Dostos DB BR 218 + Dostos RB 93 : DB BR 628 VR DB BR 650 IC 118:119 218 + IC coaches AI for : Friedrichshafen : DB BR 628VR DB BR 612 Bwegt DB BR 245 + Dostos DB BR 218 + Dostos/Cargo Lindau : DB BR 612 DB BR 650 DB BR 218 + Dostos/Intercity coaches The route is about 72km long . it is an really nice route . beeing not even 10 meters away from the lake
For the people asking how the IRE3 is Diesel and Electrified, its complicated. There are 2 different runs. Electrified: Br425/426 or Br146 + Dostos, on Ulm - Friedrichshafen - Lindau. Diesel: Br218/245 + Dosto or Br612, on Basel - Singen - Friedrichshafen Stadt / Hafen - Ulm but for that, some only drive Basel - Singen (i think) and Basel - Singen - Friedrichshafen. the ones ending in Friedrichshafen, sometimes end in the Stadt station (City station, which is the main station where also ICE's stop), and sometimes in the Hafen station (Boat Port station). In General its a bit weird how the trains drive, and how different trains run on it, But hey doesnt that add a bit of spice? Just wanted to give an small explaining, even tho maybe no one needs it
I actually dig this idea, it'd be pretty unique since we don't actually get that much German diesel action. Also, we still don't have the BR 232?
I'd buy this one in an instant! For one, it is a VERY scenic and beautiful route. At times rubbing elbows with Lake Constance (Bodensee), then veering off into the rolling countryside, through forests and hills... And especially between Friedrichshafen and Lindau, a wide variety of gorgeous cherry, pear and apple orchards as well as some vineyards. This scenery would be fun to drive through in all seasons! If this wouldn't be set in the (near-)present, but rather some years earlier, like around 2010, the whole route would be non-electrified. The 218 still is sorely lacking a worthy playground. Also, at this time, n-Wagen were still in use in some services there, so the diesel-cab n-Wagen could finally find some better use than the (honestly a bit boring) runs from Lübeck to Hamburg! Setting the route in the early 2010's would bring the added benefit that most of the relevant rolling stock is already available. -218 (check) -n-Wagen (check) -Dosto's (check) -628 (check) -612 (check) -650 (to be made, but could be subbed with 642) -something for cargo, either a 232 (pending?) or a 290 (to be made, would be the better fit here) Also, it MUST include the tiny branch from Friedrichshafen Stadt to Friedrichshafen Hafen. This gotta be Germany's shortest route... the platform ends of both stations are about 60 meters apart
Normally, we couldn’t sub the 650 with 642 as they don’t drive around here, I’d rather have the 628 as a layer as it’s not operating anymore. The branch to Friedrichshafen Hafen would be important, even though it’s 700-800 Meters.
The reason why there are 2 IRE 3s is that before the Südbahn (Ulm-Friedrichshafen) was Electrified the IRE 3 was one line between Ulm and Basel (Via Friedrichshafen) after the electrification the train was split up into IRE 3 (Ulm-Friedrichshafen-Lindau) and IRE 3 (Friedrichshafen-Basel), even though there are 2 Direct Diesel Trains also called IRE 3 from Ulm to Basel.
