This route goes from busy Frankfurt(Main)Hbf via Offenbach/Maintal and Hanau Hbf to Aschaffenburg Hbf. It has a lot of trains for the S-Bahn, Regional Trains, ICE's and freight trains. The main route has a length of 46,1 km (28,6 miles); the S-Bahn tunnel from Frankfurt(Main)Hbf (Tief) to Offenbach(Main)Ost adds 12,2 km (7,6 miles) underground railways, plus around 900 meter/yard between Ostendstraße and Frankfurt(Main)Süd. Last, the line from Frankfürt Süd to Hanau Hbf via Maintal adds 17,8 km (11,1 miles) to the route. In total 76,1 km (47,3 miles). It has the following stations for regional and long-distance trains: - Frankfurt(Main)Hbf* - Frankfurt(Main)Süd* - Offenbach Hbf -- Frankfurt Ost -- Frankfurt-Mainkur -- Maintal West -- Maintal Ost -- Hanau-Wilhelmsbad -- Hanau West - Hanau Hbf* - Hanau-Großauheim - Großkrotzenburg - Kahl (Main) - Dettingen (Main) - Rückersbacher Schlucht - Kleinostheim - Aschaffenburg Hbf* The stations with a * are ICE stations. Stations with a -- are a detour, served by some of the RE54, RB58 & RB59. It has the following S-Bahn stations for the S8 & S9: - Frankfurt Hbf (Tief) - Frankfurt-Taunusanlage - Frankfurt-Hauptwache - Frankfurt-Konstablerwache - Frankfurt-Ostendstraße - Frankfurt-Lokalbahnhof* - Frankfurt Südbahnhof* - Frankfurt-Mühlberg - Offenbach-Kaiserlai - Offenbach-Ledermuseum - Offenbach-Marktplatz - Offenbach Ost - Mühlheim - Mühlheim-Dietsenheim - Steinheim(Main) - Hanau Hbf Lokalbahnhof & Südbahnhof are branch stations for the S3, S4, S5 & S6 The S1 & S2 are driving on the S-Bahn between Frankfurt Hbf & Offenbach Ost. the S-Bahn trains run usually every 30 minutes per line per direction. The RE's & RB's run usually one per hour per direction. The ICE's are quite frequent, but not called by a number per hour. The S-Bahn service is operated by the BR 430 series. The RE54 & RE55 are operated by the BR 445 (Twindexx), but replaceable by the BR 146 loc with DoSto Cars. The RB58 & RB59 are operated by the BR 1440 (Coradia Continental) from the Hessische LandesBahn. The ICE services are mostly done by the BR 401 & BR 403 (ICE 1 & ICE 3), but the BR 412 (ICE 4) can be placed too (possibly as a separate add-on). The line also has some freight trains, but these trains are mostly an extension of the Main-Spessard layout. The RE85 on the route is a BR 615 Itino DMU. It could be replaced by a repaint of the BR 642 Desiro DMU. The BR 642 also drive between Hanau Hbf and Kahl (Main). West from Frankfurt(Main)Hbf the S-Bahn lines go upgrond. Two turns to Bad Vilbel and the other to the Airport, Wiesbaden and... the maintenance depot for the S423 and S430 trains. The trains from to/from Hanau depart and arrive in Frankfurt Hbf at platforms 4 to 13. A big benefit is that Aschaffenburg Hbf has already been built twice. And Frankfurt(Main)Hbf could be used for other layouts, like heading Mannheim, Köln (Cologne) via the High-Speed Line, Gießen, Fulda and Königstein(Taurus). And the tunnels should make the route easier to build. The S-Bahn uses his own tracks. The other trains share two tracks. The whole route is equipped with PZB, including the S-Bahn.
The route is longer than you think. For example: - Aschaffenburg to Gemünden is 51,1 km (31,8 miles) - Aschaffenburg to Miltenberg is 37,2 km (23,1 miles) - Köln to Aachen is 69,9 km (43,4 miles) - Duisburg to Essen via Bochum is 48,1 km (29,9 miles) - Hamburg to Lübeck is 62,8 km (39 miles) Then 76,1 km (47,3 miles) is not so short. And don't forget that this route had a lot of Frankfurt city and other villages and cities. And the route asks for three new trains. In combination with the amount of service, it is more likely too long than not long enough. I think long routes like Londen to Brighton, Kassel to Würzburg and Peterborough to Doncaster let us think that routes should be long. But the last two have little villages and stations in between and that makes building the longer routes possible. And the Londen commuter layout is so busy, that the Class 700 couldn't be added into the route.
This is 45km vs those routes being between 50 and 70. For a route being 90% 160 it will be short for the express services. But indeed I saw it wrong and it will still be a decent length although shorter. Going up the new MSB after the 160 bit would be cool since the current one is the old line. I personally would love a long route being Frankfurt to Würzburg over Gemunden and the HSL branch off past Lohr. But realistically this suggestion originally is good too
As much as I'd love to see any new Germany route, and I'd definitely give this one a shot if it would be created, I'd rather prefer one which adds a little bit of variety and scope. We've been in this area a few times before with Main-Spessart and Maintalbahn, plus Niddertalbahn isn't that far off as well. Also I can imagine this route to have a very similar "feel" like some already existing routes. Dresden-Riesa or the Ruhrgebiet routes come to mind. Instead, something like Vogelfluglinie, Marschbahn or the Usedom route would add some variety in scenery and rolling stock. Or, if at some point TSW will be able to venture into Baden-Württemberg: Schwarzwaldbahn or Höllentalbahn. Just my thoughts
News from FNP.de: The line between Frankfurt Süd and Hanau via Maintal is officially approved for a huge change. This line was used for the RE54, RB58 and RE59. It will be taken over by the S5, but you can see the plans in the last video in the official suggestion. It could be the last chance for the TSW creators to check this part of the route before it is demolished for rebuilding.
Let me guess you want to fill in the gap between Maintalbahn Main Spessart Bahn Niddertalbahn by making a segment to Frankfurt first and then Frankfurt am Main Hbf Bad Vilbel
No, that make the route too long and intensive to build. But the route how it is, is about to change and I just want to drive this route very much
Now the route Frankfurt - Hanau - Fulda is officially announced, I don't expect this route anymore to be made. Hopefully the have the route via Offenbach as Maintal. Also I hope for the BR 413 ICE 4, BR430 (S-Bahn) and BR445 (Twindexx) still to come in the future.
I think given the overlap is comparable to that of other routes (WCML South and Bakerloo for example) and regarding the route hopping this would be the perfect choice because we then have a network of KWG, Kinzigtalbahn, Main-Spessart-Bahn and Maintalbahn. Since Frankfurt-Hanau and Aschaffenburg Hbf already exist they only need to make 2/3 of the route plus the tracks are already 90% mapped in Kinzigtalbahn (S-Bahn Tunnel, the line along the north bank of the Main river and a good portion of the line from Hanau to Aschaffenburg). With one quite easily produced line we're looking at a potential rail network of about 400-450km (roughly 200km KWG, 100km Kinzigtal, 50 for both Main-Spessart and Maintal and about 50 additional between Frankfurt and Aschaffenburg)
