Evening all!

 

With the new national timetable for 2014 having been enabled this past night, one of the major items associated with it has been the opening of the Central German suburban railway system – known in German as S-Bahn Mitteldeutschland. This system took several years in preparation and has almost completely replaced the old Halle-Leipzig suburban network, which in any case had been reduced to a bare minimum since about 2009.

 

The new Central German suburban system is quite extensive and therefore should be considered to be more of a hybrid regional/suburban operation. The first stage, which went on-line today, comprises the following lines:

• S1: Leipzig-Miltitzer Allee – Leipzig Central Station – Wurzen ( – Riesa for individual workings) // additional short-turn workings from Leipzig Trade Fair Centre to Leipzig-Stötteritz
  
• S2: Bitterfeld – Delitzsch – Leipzig Central Station – Markkleeberg – Gaschwitz
  
• S3: Halle Central Station – Schkeuditz – Leipzig Central Station – Leipzig-Stötteritz
  
• S4: Hoyerswerda – Falkenberg-upon-Elster – Torgau – Eilenburg – Leipzig Central Station – Markkleeberg – Gaschwitz – Borna – Geithain
  
• S5: (Halle Central Station for individual workings – ) Leipzig-Halle Airport – Leipzig Central Station – Markkleeberg – Böhlen – Regis-Breitingen – Altenburg – Crimmitschau – Werdau – Zwickau
  
• S5X: Halle Central Station – Leipzig-Halle Airport – Leipzig Central Station – Markkleeberg – Böhlen – Altenburg – Crimmitschau – Werdau – Zwickau
  
• 
  S7: Halle-Trotha – Halle Central Station – Halle-Nietleben
  

 

In 2015, the S2 line is to be extended to Dessau and Lutherstadt Wittenberg on its northern end, while the new S8 line is to work from Dessau and Lutherstadt Wittenberg to Halle Central Station. Furthermore, the S1 short workings are to work the entire route from Miltitzer Allee to Wurzen and Riesa, bringing the entire line to a 15-minute interval.

 

While the extended S2 line and the S8 line were originally intended to be franchised to Abellio Rail, legal and financial issues caused the franchise treaty to be re-examined and the lines to also be awarded to Deutsche Bahn.

 

Rolling stock on the new Central German suburban system comprises 36 three-segment and 15 four-segment class 442 "Talent 2" EMUs from Bombardier. More precisely, these 442s for suburban services are actually designated class 1442.

 

*****

 

To take a break from my desk work, I decided to take my camera and capture a couple of first impressions from the system's first day in operation – concentrating on the northern branch of the S1 line between Central Station and Miltitzer Allee.

 

 

 

The biggest infrastructure project which needed to be accomplished for the new suburban system is a trunk line tunnel going north-to-south right through Leipzig's city centre. Hampered by various geological difficulties to have been encountered during the construction period and therefore significant delays and cost overruns, this tunnel comprises the following stations:

• Central Station suburban level (Hauptbahnhof tief)
  
• Market Square (Markt)
  
• Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz
  
• Bayerischer Bahnhof
  
• Leipzig MDR (the name referring to the headquarters of public broadcaster Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk located nearby)
  

 

The tunnel is double-tracked, designed for an operating speed of 80 kph, and measures about 3.6 kilometres in length between the north and south portals.

 

In the above image, 1442 109 has just arrived on the S 37131 working to Wurzen.

 

 

 

1442 123 was working the S 37430 service to Eilenburg...

 

 

 

...and 1442 127 was on the S 37330 working to Halle Central Station.

 

 

 

This is one of the train departure indicators in "overview" mode...

 

 

 

...and in "detail" mode just prior to the next arrival. Here, the indicator announces the S 37633 working from Leipzig Trade Fair Centre to Stötteritz.

 

Station dwell times at the trunk line stations average about one minute.

 

 

 

1442 112 was working the S 29516 service to Delitzsch.

 

 

 

 

A look at the northern access ramp.

 

 

 

For improved emergency durability, overhead conductor rails with inlaid copper wire were installed in place of conventional OHLE.

 

 

 

This is the northbound track, coming up from the trunk line which was built as two single-tracked, individual tunnels in between stations.

 

 

 

...and looking north along the "down" track into the trunk line.

 

 

 

In addition to visual departure indicators, audio train announcements are provided, calling out the next three to four connecting trains for every arriving service.

 

 

 

Here, the S 37132 working is roaring in from the trunk line.

 

 

 

Once aboard, I noticed how, in an attempt to maximise seating capacity, fold-down seats were installed to either side of the stairs to the raised-floor sections in the cabbed modules.

 

 

 

 

The Miltitzer Allee terminus could yet use a bit of refurbishment, I am sorry to have to say...

 

 

 

This is the unit I had travelled on: 1442 105, now standing by for the return trip to Wurzen as S 37137.

 

 

 

 

One of the lateral destination displays. Note how there are separate display segments for line number and destination.

 

 

 

A closer look at Bogie 3...

 

 

 

 

...and the pantograph, circuit breaker and voltage sensing devices.

 

 

 

 

On the 442s, these gap bridges extend before the doors will open. This is something which in my impression passengers will still need to get used to!

 

 

 

Inside, I noticed how the small seating bay tables have been decorated with combined maps and network diagrams as what I think is a rather nice touch.

 

 

 

And after disembarking at Coppiplatz, I captured 1442 101 on the S 37136 working to Miltitzer Allee before walking home.

 

 

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for further photo strips to appear in what I hope will be the near future...