Karwendel (train)

Karwendel

VT 11.5 (Class 601) in DB Touristik livery
Overview
Service type
Locale  Germany
 Austria
First service 1930
Current operator(s) Deutsche Bahn
Former operator(s)
Route
Start Munich / Hamburg
End Innsbruck /Seefeld, Tirol
Line used Karwendelbahn
Technical
Rolling stock
  • DRG E 16 (1930-1940)
  • VT 11.5
  • BR 120
  • ICE (since 2008)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)
Electrification 15 kV AC

The Karwendel is an international train service between Germany and Austria. The train was named after the mountain range forming the German-Austrian border south of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The train was introduced as Karwendel Express in 1930 by the Deutsche Reichsbahn, linking Munich with Innsbruck using the scenic route Mittenwald Railway through the mountains with the border crossing at Mittenwald and calling at the 1936 Winter Olympics venues in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The operation ceased in World War II.

In 1969 the Deutsche Bundesbahn reintroduced the train using VT 11.5 TEE diesel multiple units.[1] The Saturday only train was classified as touristtrain serving several wintersport resorts along the Karwendelbahn between Garmisch and Seefeld. The service started in Frankfurt am Main, much farther north then the pre-war start at Munich.[2] From the introduction of the Intercity system in 1979 the train was named IC Karwendel[3]

In May 1979 a daily Intercity service from Bremen to Innsbruck named Karwendel has been introduced.[3] On 31 May 1987 it was one of the initial EuroCity services.[4] The EuroCity started as far north as Hamburg but its initial southern terminus Innsbruck was already changed to Seefeld by September 1987 and after only one year as EuroCity the train was reconverted into an Intercity[5]

Since 2008 the Karwendel has been an ICE service, with Berlin the northern terminus and serving the region south of Munich only at weekends.[6]

References

  1. Reisen 1.Klasse page 93
  2. Timetables of FDt Karwendel 1969 and 1970 at www.welt-der-modelleisenbahn.com
  3. 3.0 3.1 Timetables of IC Karwendel from 1971 to 1984 at www.welt-der-modelleisenbahn.com
  4. Deutsche Bahn, timetable Ihr Zugbegleiter 1987, shown at www.grahnert.de
  5. "EuroCity-Net Gewijzigd". De Kampioen (in Dutch) (The Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB)): 61. July–August 1988. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  6. Current DB-timetable, kursbuch.bahn.de, table (Kursbuchstreckennummer) 960

Works cited

  • Berndt, Torsten (2002). Reisen 1. Klasse VT 11.5 (in German). Irsee: Märklin.