Filsbahn

The Filsbahn (Fils line) - also called "Filstalbahn" (Fils valley line) or sometimes "Württembergische Ostbahn" (Württemberg eastern line) - designates the Württembergian line from Stuttgart via Göppingen to Ulm. It runs from Plochingen to Geislingen an der Steige through the Fils valley.

History

The Filsbahn was built as the central part of the Württemberg mainline from Heilbronn through Cannstatt and Ulm to the Bodensee.

The Stuttgart-Esslingen section of the line was built as part of the Zentralbahn (central line) between 1844 and 1846. It was extended to Plochingen in December 1846 and on 28 June 1850, the first train rolled over the new single-track line of the Königlich Württembergische Staats-Eisenbahnen (Royal Württembergian state railways). It is considered also as the first crossing of the low mountain range in Europe because of Geislinger Steige (Geislinger ascent). The upward gradient amounts to 1:44.5 or 2.2%

It completed a continuous line from Stuttgart central station through Ulm central station to Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. The Filsbahn is a section of the Schwäbische Eisenbahn.

Electrification

The line was electrified in 1933. Before that special bank engines helped push trains up the Geislinger Steige. Goods trains are still pushed up the slope by additional Baureihe 151 locomotives between Geislingen West and Amstetten.

War damage

The Rosenstein bridge across the Neckar in Stuttgart was destroyed in the Second World War. Until its replacement by a temporary bridge, all services ended in Bad Cannstatt station and a shuttle service operated between the Neckar and Stuttgart station. [ Kurt Seidel: Die Remsbahn, Stuttgart, 1987, p 134 f de icon]

Development plans

Due to the high traffic levels on this main line, the 1985 federal transport plan contained proposals for sections of new and upgraded line for this route. Planning options ranged from the upgrading of the existing line (which would not have permitted high-speed services) to the building of a completely new line between Plochingen and Günzburg, bypassing Ulm. All options considered then bypassed the difficult Geislinger Steige section. The option being pursued today is the Stuttgart–Augsburg new and upgraded line, which includes the Wendlingen-Ulm high-speed line and the Stuttgart 21 project. Several parts of the planning procedures have not yet been finalised and its funding has not been resolved.

Services

All kinds of services run on the Filstalbahn. While the Stuttgart Plochingen section is integrated in the Stuttgart S-Bahn network, Regionalbahn services run on the eastern sections of the line. These run from Plochingen to Geislingen and Geislingen to Ulm, usually once an hour, as Class 425 or Class 426 electric multiple units or Class 110/Class 143 locomotives hauling silberling carriages.

RegionalExpress (RE) trains run hourly between Stuttgart and Neu-Ulm (some continuing to Donauwörth) and additional hourly RE trains run between Stuttgart Plochingen and Tübingen. They are operated by double decker carriages hauled by Class 146.2 locomotives. Some RE trains from Ulm continue through Stuttgart on the Frankenbahn to Mosbach-Neckarelz.

InterRegioExpress Sprinter services operate between Stuttgart and Lindau, hauled by Class 146.2 locomotives to Ulm or by two Class 218 locomotives in order to pass the Geislinger Steige without a substantial loss of speed.

ICEs usually run once an hour over the Filsbahn without intermediate stops. IC or EC trains generally run hourly, stopping alternatively in Plochingen and Göppingen and occasionally also in Geislingen an der Steige. From the winter timetable change of 9 December 2007, EC services will be replaced by French TGV POS services between Paris and Munich.

Route

Beginning in Esslingen am Neckar the line climbs gently next to the Neckar until Plochingen; by the time it reaches Süßen it has climbed 120 metres. From Süßen to Geislingen it climbs continuously another 100 m. Emerging out of the Fils valley, the route makes a large curve with a radius of 469 m around Geislingen. During the 112 meters climb up the Geislinger Steige, there is a monument on the left to the designer of line: Michael Knoll. The summit is reached at Amstetten, at 582 m above sea level. The line reaches Ulm through the thinly settled Alb highlands.

References

*de|Filsbahn