Moin, we've had the modern "pseudo S-Bahn" in the form of Rapid Transit. We've had (a tiny little bit of) the "classic S-Bahn" included in RRO - now let's take a look at the third major type of S-Bahn networks you can find in Germany, the "traditionals" as I call them: Dating back to the early 20th century, powered by third rail, using all custom rolling stock, and to be found exclusively in the metropoles of Berlin and Hamburg, the latter of which is to be the focus of this suggestion. Line S3 - by many definitions the most interesting part of the network: Begins unspectactularly in Pinneberg northwest from Hamburg, follows the mainline past the Eidelstedt and Elbgaustraße yards to the city, and then cuts across it underground to re-emerge at Hamburg Central station. Following a short elevated section, it turns south and cuts across about 8 kilometers of the port of Hamburg, before reaching Harburg. Here it dives below the surface for another few stops, before running along the mainline toward Cuxhaven up until Neugraben. Until fairly recently this was the terminus of the S3, everything north of here is powered by 3rd rail. However, S3 (on train per hour) has been extended some 30 toward Stade, using the existing overhead wires for electricity, meaning trains have to switch from one system to the other. Some of the older BR 474 have been equipped with a pantograph on the roof in addition to thei contact shoe. The brand new BR 490 currently being in delivery offers both options. As far as services go, we'd have the S3 of course, as well as the S31 which takes the above-ground route through downtown and doesn't go as far out. It would also be possible to include regional and InterCity trains along the mainlines. Cargo... now, cargo. Hamburg consists of two halves, one being Hamburg and the other being its port. So theorethically there'd be millions of opportunities for cargo destinations in the docklands. How many of these, if any, can be realistically included however is another question. Some basic freight hauling between Harburg and Stade should be viable whough. General Location: Greater Hamburg, Germany Era: Modern Length end to end: 46 mi/74 km (via Dammtor) max speed: 100 mph/160 km/h # of passenger stations: 36 (incl. 10 underground) Service types: Communter, Regional, InterCity, Cargo # of tracks: 2-4 Electrified: Yes (OHLE+3rd rail) Lines included at least partially: S3 (Pinneberg - Altona - Hamburg Hbf - Harburg - Fischbek - Stade) S31 (Altona - Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf - Harburg - Fischbek) RE5 (Hamburg Hbf - Harburg - Stade) InterCity (Altona - Dammtor - Hamburg - Harburg) S1,S2 (Altona - Hamburg Hbf - Berliner Tor) S21 (Elbgaustr. - Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf - Berliner Tor) S11 (Altona - Dammtor - Hamburg Hbf - Berliner Tor) Suitable vehicles (among others): DB BR 472 DB BR 474.3 DB BR 490 Metronom BR 146 Metronom BR 246 Metronom DoSto coaches Nordbahn BR 445/446 any cargo engine Spoiler: Maps Maps Key Locations Pinneberg Hamburg Hbf Hamburg-Harburg Fischbek Stade Further Impressions Thesdorf Hamburg-Eidelstedt Hamburg-Holstenstraße Hamburg-Altona Hamburg-Dammtor Reeperbahn Landungsbrücken Berliner Tor Hammerbrook Veddel Wilhelmsburg Heimfeld Buxtehude
Love this route. The extension to Stade isn't recent, however. That happened a decade ago. The S31 does take another route through the city (via Dammtor) and terminates in off-peak times as well as Sundays in Altona and Berliner Tor. Inside the city tunnel the lines S1 and S2 (only peak times) operate as well. Would be cool to do the S1 line afterwards (Wedel to Poppenbüttel/Airport).