The Hamburg – Bremen Main Line The Hamburg – Bremen railway is a vital corridor in northern Germany, running for approximately 126 kilometers between two major metropolitan hubs: Hamburg Hbf and Bremen Hbf. Unlike high-speed-only routes like Kassel – Würzburg, this line provides a rich mix of long-distance, regional, and freight traffic. It’s a true mixed-traffic route, and perfect for variety-driven gameplay. The Route Starting at Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, the largest railway station in northern Germany, trains head southwest through the suburbs and onto open stretches of flat, fast-running lines. Major stops include: Hamburg Hbf Hamburg-Harburg – A key long-distance and regional interchange Buchholz (Nordheide) – Served by regional trains Tostedt Rotenburg (Wümme) – A key regional connection point Verden (Aller) Bremen Hbf This is a fully electrified main line, with regular speeds up to 160 km/h, and double-track throughout. The route includes viaducts, wide river crossings, dense wooded sections, perfect for visually appealing gameplay. Trains Long Distance Included: ICE 4 ICE services run between Hamburg and Bremen and on to destinations such as Munich, Stuttgart, and Basel. The ICE 4 would be an ideal modern fit. Layer: IC2 (BR 147 + Dostos) Intercity 2 trains are commonly seen here, with BR 147s hauling double-deck coaches. These could layer from routes like Bremen – Oldenburg or Dresden – Riesa. Regional Included: DB BR 146 + Dostos (Metronom) RE and RB services dominate this corridor, especially between Bremen and Hamburg. These are typically operated with BR 146 or BR 112 and double-decker coaches. S-Bahn (Hamburg) Layer: BR 474.3 / BR 490 (from Hamburg S-Bahn route) While the S-Bahn doesn’t run the full length of the route, services around Hamburg Hbf and Harburg could appear as AI, adding dense urban traffic. Freight Included: MRCE BR 185 / DB BR 187 / BR 189 The Hamburg – Bremen route is an essential freight corridor. Expect regular container traffic from Hamburg’s port heading west or south. Layer: Freight services from Ruhr Sieg Nord, Main Spessart Bahn, etc. Services This is where things get interesting — there’s a surprising amount of variety packed into the Hamburg – Bremen corridor, and the traffic is anything but boring. ICE While not a dedicated high-speed line, this route is a key artery in the long-distance network. Hamburg Hbf is one of the busiest hubs in Germany, and Bremen connects to the Ruhrgebiet, southern Germany, and beyond. The following ICE lines would be featured: ICE 615: Hamburg – München(via Bremen, Osnabrück) ICE 109: Hamburg – Basel SBB(via Bremen, Münster) ICE 517: Hamburg – Stuttgart(via Bremen, Frankfurt(Main)Hbf) Typical trainsets: ICE 4 (included) ICE 1 (layer from Kassel – Würzburg) ICE 3 (layer from Köln – Aachen or other routes, if desired for AI) These ICEs blast through most stations but create high-speed overtakes and add contrast to the slower regional services. Regional (Metronom & Others) This is the main attraction — the Metronom trains make this line feel alive, with packed commuter runs and solid regional coverage. RE4 – Hamburg – Bremen The flagship service. Runs almost the entire route with limited stops. Operated by Metronom BR 146 + Dostos (included) RB41 – Hamburg – Bremen Stops at Every Stop between Hamburg and Bremen Metronom BR 146 S-Bahn (Hamburg – AI only) While the line doesn’t include full S-Bahn operations, expect to see BR 474.3 or BR 490 units running AI services near Hamburg-Harburg and Hamburg Hbf — great for immersion. Freight The freight potential here is massive — Hamburg is a global port, and Maschen is Europe’s largest classification yard. Expect to see: Intermodal container trains heading to/from the Port of Hamburg Mixed freight to Bremen cargo terminals Block trains heading toward the Ruhr and Hannover Playable freight could use: BR 185 (Riesa – Dresden, MSB) BR 187 (DLC or layer) MRCE BR 189 (for variety) AI freight could be routed through sidings or across the main line for dynamic meets. Route Hopping & Connections The Hamburg – Bremen line could be expanded or linked via future DLCs: To the west: Bremen – Oldenburg To the east: Hamburg – Lübeck Conclusion Hamburg – Bremen is the perfect medium-length mainline route, featuring: A variety of passenger services (ICE, IC, RE, RB) Heavy freight operations Urban and rural scenery Excellent layering opportunities with existing German DLCs It’s a perfect balance of realism, variety, and high playability, and would fill a significant gap in TSW’s German route map—connecting the North in a way no other route currently does.
