1295i

INTERNATIONAL SUPPLEMENT TO BLN 1295 16 DECEMBER 2017

BRANCH LINE NEWS

INTERNATIONAL

This newsletter covers the World outside the British Isles from information
supplied by members.

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Compilers or of the Society.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS TEAM:-
International Editor (to whom all email and postal contributions should be sent):
Paul Griffin, 7 School Bell Mews, Church Lane, Stoneleigh, COVENTRY, CV8 3ZZ
Email: [email protected]
Deputy International Editor: Derek Woodward, 68 Church Street, Matlock, DERBY, DE4 3BY

________________________________________________________

German railway society DGEG ran a railtour with the catchy title ‘Gütergleis zwischen Dortmund und Hamm’ on 25
November 2017. As parts of the advertised route dropped out in the planning stage (not unusual with DGEG tours)
the branch from Bockum-Hövel to Stockum was added to the itinerary. The tour is seen at Stockum opposite the
former station building, dating from 1904, but recently rebuilt and now used as a sort of community centre. The
history of the line is commemorated by the signs on the building. This was once part of the Werne-Bockum-Höveler
Eisenbahn, displayed above the station name board, and continued to the colliery at Werne, closed in 1975, with the
line beyond Stockum subsequently closed. Today the 5.2km remaining is used to bring in coal for the Gersteinwerk
power station to the right of the picture. There was insufficient time to find out whether the backshunt from the end
of the line towards the massive electrical substation was still extant. The Werne-Bockum-Höveler Eisenbahn ran
passenger trains until 1985, and more recently there was a period of heritage train operation.

EUROPE

[482] Bulgaria – Line to close
The last remaining Dupnitsa - Bobov Dol passenger train pair finished 9 December, leaving the line
freight only, serving the power station.

[483] Czech Republic – Kačerov Depot by train and metro
KŽC Doprava are offering two “unrepeatable” opportunities to ride into Kačerov metro Depot (close to
Praha Krč) by train from Praha hl.n., and out on a special metro train to Nádraží Holešovice and back.
The two tours, marketed under the name MOTORÁČKEM NA METRO, run on 20 January 2018 and 17
March 2018 at 10:00 and 14:00 each day. Note that the 20 January tours are sold out already.
Reservation essential. Price 350CZK. Try booking on http://www.prahatechnicka.cz/specialni-metro/
or try the email contact at http://www.prahatechnicka.cz/kontakt/

[484] Czech Republic - Praha Mrázovka funicular railway to close
The funicular railway in the Mrázovka Park in Praha-Smíchov is life expired and the last working day
will be 31 December 2017. It will be replaced in March 2018 by a modern inclined lift built by Swiss
company Inauen-Schätti. The funicular has been connecting the lower and upper buildings of the four-
star hotel NH Praha City for 22 years with around 3.7 million trips and 14.8 million passengers.

[485] Europe – Selected openings and re-openings in the new timetable period
Czech Republic - Čelákovice to Mochov reopens from 3 April 2018.
France – A new line, the Raccordement de Redessan (Montpellier-Sud-de-France – Racc. de Lattes)
opens from 7 July 2018). Autun – Etang and Cannes – Grasse reopen.
Germany: The new curve from Berlin Warschauer Straße to Berlin Treptower Park opens.
Meinerzhagen – Brügge (Westf) finally reopens. Also the new high speed line from [Nürnberg] –
Ebensfeld – Erfurt, along with two curves to allow trains to call at Coburg.
Hungary/Slovakia - Rajka to Bratislava Petržalka reopens
Lithuania/Latvia - Daugavpils to Turmantas has international services restored.
Poland - Skarżysko-Kamienna SKA – SKE (Skarżysko-Kamienna avoiding line) has a service. Sandomierz
to Grębów reopens as does Zamość Wschód – Hrubieszów Miasto. New curve from Kraków Zabłocie to
Kraków Podgórze allows Zakopane trains to avoid Kraków-Płaszów.
Poland/Czech Republic - Seasonal reopening of Boguszów Gorce Wschód (Poland) to Meziměstí (Czech
Republic) from 28 April 2018
Russia – New railway from Žuravka to Bočenkovo

Switzerland/Italy - Mendrisio to Varese (from 7 January 2018)

[486] France - Gisors to Serqueux line visited
The SNCF line from Serquex to Gisors between Rouen and Amien is closing, allegedly for two years
from the December timetable change, for electrification works to become an alternative freight
route from the port of Le Havre. This has a budget estimate of €260 million which provides for a new
south-to-west chord at Serqueux to avoid a reversal even though the forecast total freight traffic
level is only 25 freights a day. This curve will require substantial works as the Rouen – Amien line is
on an embankment where the north curve will be and there are a number of factories in the area of
the south junction, but once complete this line would connect with the already electrified line at
Gisors to/from Paris. SNCF claim this expenditure is necessary as the two track tunnel bottleneck
though Rouen is already saturated and will be fully pathed as soon as 2018. When the works are
complete all freight can also use the already-electrified 36.8km Monterolier-Buchy - Motteville
freight line which bypasses Rouen to the north.
As the Normandie journey planner confirmed the complete service is bustituted from 10 December
2017, a short notice trip was arranged just in case the current limited train service never resumes. So,
on Wednesday 22 November our member took the short walk from his hotel to Rouen-Rive-Droite
station for the 07:17 service to Amiens to find it displayed but with no platform shown. This first
service of the day has only an eight minute connection onto the 07:53 from Serqueux and was
obviously not going to make that, so contact was made with the relevant staff to ask for it be held as
the next train was just the nine hours later! It was confirmed this was being arranged and on arrival at
Serquex three other passengers also transferred joining just one person already on the single railcar.
Leaving around 15 minutes late no time was recovered, in fact the delay increased due to a lengthy
PW restriction en route where preliminary work appeared to have already started. On the return
journey this slack meant the 11 minute connection towards Paris was missed as this service was not
held. No-one apart from your correspondent was affected by this.... Only a few passengers had joined
or left at the intermediate stations on the southbound journey, and only two caught the delayed 08:51
return service from Gisors. It was not expected that the complete route to Gisors was double track and
billiard table smooth CWR, but no freights were passed on the 38 minute 50km journey, so as stated
on the publicity notice for the electrification scheme, perhaps even now any freight using this route
runs at night. Eeven in the 2017 timetable there were extra SNCF scheduled buses over and above the
three pairs of trains, some running beyond Serquex following the route of a long closed line north to
Dieppe. So it will of interest to see what service does resume, as on the evidence of this journey Gisors
– Serqueux at least would seem to be a huge loss maker.

[487] France - Some lines to re-open in December 2017
Quimper - Landerneau. (Bretagne): In the far west of Bretagne, a single track un-electrified line links
Quimper to Brest (104 km) via Chateaulin and Landerneau. The stretch from Quimper to Landerneau
was closed in December 2016 for a regeneration (RVB) along 70 km. The track has been replaced and
optimised, platforms have been raised at key stops, the signalling has been modernised and bridges, a
viaduct and a tunnel have been repaired. The total cost was 78 million euros.
From 10 December the line will re-open with a timetable of 9 return services daily, an increase of 3
return services.

Le Puy - Firminy (Haute Loire): This single track un-electrified line is built along the narrow, sinuous
upper valley of the Loire and includes many short tunnels and bridges and overhanging cliffs. The line
was closed in 2014 to renew 36 km of track, to repair bridges and tunnels and fix protections on the
cliffs. In 2017 the line was again closed from 4 April until 9 December to complete similar work along
29 km. It is expected that trains will be able to operate at up to 100 kph along the line in the future.
Paray-le-Monial - Lozanne (Bourgogne Franche-Compté / Auvergne Rhône-Alpes): This line will re-
open on 10 December after closure from 29 May for repairs and renewals. The line is single track for
60 km and there is only one passing point at Lamure-sur-Azergues. There are only 4 return services on
weekdays from Paray-le-Monial to Lyon. Two trains start from Nevers and one from Tours. The journey
from Paray to Lyon takes approx. 2 hours. The engineering work in 2017 concerned renewal of
sections of the track between Lamure and Lozanne, suppression of 3 level crossings and replacement
of two bridges. The budget was 44 million euros.
Autun - Etang (Bourgogne Franche-Compté): A year ago SNCF suddenly announced the closure of this
short branch line due to signalling problems. The local population was somewhat upset and the Region
promised that the line would quickly re-open. This has now been confirmed locally and six or seven rail
shuttles each way are scheduled from 10 December between Autun and Etang (connections with the
TER railcars to Dijon and Nevers). Courtesy of the French Railways Society

[488] Germany - Information on Nürnberg to Erfurt high speed line
An extremely detailed information pack on the new line with nearly 200 photographs and all the data
you could require is available for download. The 23MB pdf is in German, of course. Aerial pictures
show some amazing viaducts.
http://fahrweg.dbnetze.com/file/fahrweg-
de/13575944/ECvg6A2iyLep0f9RkamH31n1zOI/16108576/data/2017_45_Streckenprospekt.pdf

[489] Germany – Update on rebuilding of Halle station
The east side of the station returned to use on 10 December, following an eight day complete closure.
The S-Bahn to Halle-Nietleben will remain on platform 13a and will continue to travel via the freight
train tracks to Halle Rosengarten. Construction is now moving to the west side for two years.

[490] Germany - Noteworthy German train services during 2018
Baden-Wüttemberg: Normally a very limited number of trains run between Neu Edingen-
Friedrichsfeld (previously Mannheim-Friedrichsfeld) and Schwetzingen. However, numerous IC trains
between Frankfurt am Main and Stuttgart or Karlsruhe are diverted this way from 10 September until
8 December. Most can be identified by omitting a call at Heidelberg. A few EC trains to and from
Klagenfurt do not stop at Stuttgart Hbf between 20 May and 29 July, running direct between Langes
Feld and Stuttgart-Zazenhausen. Even more unusual are the overnight ICE trains between München
and Dortmund which do call at Stuttgart Hbf, but from 19 May to 20 October they reverse at
Waiblingen and use the curve between Nürnberger Straße and Stuttgart-Untertürkheim.
Berlin: From 10 December 2017 until 31 March IC trains between Berlin and Stralsund via Eberswalde
run between Berlin-Gesundbrunnen and Berlin-Karow via Berlin-Lichtenberg. On Sundays train IC1924
from Köln departs Berlin Ostbahnhof at 18:20 and runs to Stralsund via Rummelsburg and Biesdorfer
Kreuz. The only other passenger service between Rummelsburg and Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd West are
the Locomore trains between Berlin-Lichtenberg and Stuttgart, but IC1924 is the first passenger train

between Biesdorfer Kreuz Süd West and Biesdorfer Kreuz Nord for several years. The summer
weekend overnight trains, IC1048/1049, between Köln and Ostseebad Binz are routed via the south-
west quadrant of the Außenring, including the curves between Werder (Havel) and Potsdam Wildpark
West and between Genshagener Heide and Großbeeren Süd.
Hessen: From 8 September until 8 December many IC trains between Gießen and Darmstadt call at
Frankfurt am Main West instead of the Haupbahnhof and run direct to and from Neu Isenburg.
Niedersachsen: There are significant diversions in the Hannover area between 1 and 14 October.
Numerous long-distance trains omit a call at Hannover Hbf and use the ring line around the south of
the city. This includes trains to and from Hamburg which are diverted via the north to west curve at
Lehrte. A number of overnight trains via Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe and reversal at Hannover Hbf run via
Hannover Kurve, Ahlem and Empelde, and also the Altenbeken Kurve (in NRW).
Nord Rhein Westfalen: There are noteworthy diversions in the Dortmund area between 14 July and 9
September. ICE trains hourly between Dortmund and Hamm, together with a few IC trains, are
diverted via Lünen Preußen and Bergkamen. Two of the IC trains, IC1959 Düsseldorf to Leipzig (Fridays
and Sundays) and IC2222 Aachen to Berlin Südkreuz (Mondays to Fridays) are also diverted between
Dortmund-Mengede and Dortmund-Kirchderne via Dortmund-Deusen. Trains IC1918 Köln to Dresden
(Fridays) and IC1924 Köln to Stralsund (Sundays) are diverted between Duisburg and Hamm via
Recklinghausen Süd and Bergkamen.
Note that these arrangements are as currently scheduled and may be subject to change. Many can be
checked by looking for omitted station stops. Further details will be on the EGTRE website when 2018
information has been posted.

[491] Germany – A visit to the railways of the East Friesian Islands - Sept/Oct 2017
Having visited the Borkum island railway about 20 years ago our member has had the other East
Friesian island railways in his sights ever since. Accordingly he formulated a plan to combine a week’s
holiday with an East to West island hop, taking in the 3 railways, plus the museum railway Norden-
Dornum Sunday operation: (Museum Kursbuch NI/HB20). Initial research indicated that the timing and
order of visits would not be straightforward. The ferries to both Wangerooge and Spiekeroog are tidal
dependent, publishing annual, daily timetables. These can change radically in time and frequency,
between 2 and 5 per day, making worthwhile day trips difficult and occasionally impossible. Eventually
a Thursday – Sunday itinerary was identified as feasible and the plan implemented.
Wednesday 27 September Hamburg- Harlesiel. Four trains and a bus with several tight connections
achieved. Overnight stay in Carolinensiel.
Thursday 28 September Wangerooge. With the next ferry at 14:45, the 07:15 was the only option. A 25
minute walk in the misty darkness with luggage to Harlesiel Anlager was not ideal. Ferry “M S
Wangerooge” was particularly busy, presumably due to the 7 hour 30 minute gap. The narrow channel
was bounded by a combination of thick wooden poles and what appeared to be very thin tree trunks
at various angles with branches attached to the top. The early morning mist and calm lent a certain
eeriness to the passage. The connecting train to the “city” of Wangerooge (actually a small town) is on
the quayside. The 4 flat waggons for luggage are loaded and then shunted forward to join the 6
carriages by Schöma diesel 399-108 (built 1999). The train was well-filled and departed within 10
minutes for the 15 minute journey.
With 5 hours on the island there was ample time to visit the adjacent depot (Locos 0-6-0 steam 99261,
diesels 399-106+399-107). The other item of interest was the branch to Westen. All information he

could acquire beforehand was that the branch was not regularly used, but no advanced information
was available. Our member had not expected to be able to cover this line, but following the old gricers
adage “If you don’t ask, you don’t get”, he approached the station manager. His initial response was
positive and he went to check the timetable. “Oh! There is a train today.” A further question
established that it would return to connect with the 13:45 ferry. Permission to travel on the ECS was
readily granted. Scoop of the week! Faur built diesel 399-105 took the ECS to Westen. The branch
points were hand operated. Arriving at Westen the purpose of the branch became clear; transporting
students and their luggage to an educational holiday school.

399-105 at the end of the line and loading at Westen

The 100+ students eagerly helped to load their luggage before boarding the train. Staff suggested 10
days were a few days too long! He surmises from this that the branch service is no more than weekly
or less frequent, depending on the duration of school party visits. Departure from Wangerooge was
standing room only. There is a further short branch just outside the flood gates serving a waste
disposal site. M S Wangerooge departed 15 minutes late. The reason was not clear until later, but it
did mean the ongoing connection was missed by seconds, the bus leaving just as the passengers
disembarked. Introduced to an English-born staff member, the explanation was a mutual non-co-
operation between the ferry and bus operators. Ferries cannot wait for late buses due to the tide,
buses therefore do not wait for the ferries! The 15 minute delay was due to a 3 day easterly wind
which “pushed up” the tide and caused the depth of water in the channel to be unsafe for passage of
the ferry. Overnight stay in Neuharlingersiel
Friday 29 September Spiekeroog - The Neuharlingersiel to Spiekeroog ferries were inconveniently
spread, the 08:10 departure and 14:00 return being the most feasible option. However, with the first
horse tram departure at 13:00, according to the Museum Kursbuch, a ride seemed unlikely. On arrival
at the station a 12:00 departure was indicated. Problem solved. The proprietor soon arrived to prepare

the horse and tram 21. His name was Christian Roll, he spoke good English and was very enthusiastic
and informative. After the railway had closed in 1981, his father Hans, operated the tram from 1982 to
2001. Various less successful operators followed until Christian took over in 2013.

The 12:00 departure approaches the flood gates

Motive power consisted of “Timme” from Ireland and “Tamme” from England, both acquired from
Irish travellers. Tamme was in service on this occasion. Christian claimed that it is the only European
horse-tram operating a regular timetable. During the 20 minute trundle he pointed out the trackbed of
the closed railway diverging left. At the western end, Sturmeck (windy corner) there is a school and a
youth hostel within a couple of minutes of the beach. After a 10 minute re-fuel and trot round,
followed by a personal horse needs break a brisker return ensued.

Tamme arrives at Sturmeck

Christian gave our member a 22 page booklet found in a basement in 1971, “Inselbahn Spiekeroog” by
Gerd Wolff. He was keen to publicise the railway especially in the U.K and our member promised to
pass details on to BLS. (During the week’s stay they met no U.K. tourists.) He has a website:
www.pferdebahn-spiekeroog.de and his e-mail is [email protected]. 2 Night stay in Esens.
Saturday 30 September Langeoog. The Langeoog ferry times are regular with up to 8 daily in high
season and 4 or 5 in winter. The crossing from Bensersiel Anlager with ferry “Langeoog IV” took 30
minutes.
The island platforms were filled with 2 trains, the first top and tailed by Lok 2 and Lok 4, the second
top and tailed by Lok 3 and Lok 5, all modern centre-cab. The individually coloured coaches (yellow,
green, orange, red and lilac) created a vibrant scene.

Lok 5 on the multi-coloured 09:30 from Langeoog Anlager to Langeoog

Lok 2 passes through the flood gates before Langeoog Anlager with the 11:30 ferry connection

On arrival at the single platform terminus after an 8 minute journey, a slick operation followed. The
first train rapidly emptied of passengers and reversed into the depot to make way for the second with
the remaining passengers and luggage trolleys, the whole operation taking just a few minutes. Uniting
passengers and luggage was also a well-rehearsed affair with trolleys moved into marked platform
positions for luggage retrieval.
With 4 hours 30 minutes before the return ferry bikes were hired at 9 Euros per day for an exploration
of the island. It was possible to cover many of the flat, car-free paths to the almost deserted east of
the island before the first rain curtailed the exercise. The missing Lok 1 was viewed in the depot on
departure.
Sunday 1 October. The S.G. heritage railway 11:30 departure from Dornum was the final piece in the 4
day jigsaw. V60-062 was well turned out and punctual.
The museum line joins DB just north of the station and uses the platform nearest the museum. The
arrival of the connecting train to Bremen did not permit a visit.

260-555 arrives at Dornum with the 10:30 ex Norden

Summary - A highly recommended itinerary. They were lucky with the railway content and most of the
weather. A good time of year to visit. The horse-tram and the S.G both finish in October. All three
islands are electric transport only (emergency vehicles excepted) which makes for a quiet and calm
atmosphere, perhaps less so in high season. Spiekeroog is arguably the most quaint, residents using
hand pulled trolley boxes to transport groceries, other goods and even children! It also had a small

railway museum, but limited opening hours made a visit impossible. Wangeroog is more compact and
touristy. Langeoog has a busy centre but more opportunities to explore.

[492] Montenegro/Albania – Tuzi railway station inaugurated
On 20 November 2017 Montenegro and Albania jointly inaugurated Tuzi railway station, which is
located on the border between the two countries. The Albanian minister of infrastructure stated that
the work is part of a joint initiative to offer more services at the Albanian border crossing point of Hani
i Hotit which is located opposite the Montenegrin town of Tuzi. On 3 August 2017, the Montenegrin
leadership and the Council of Ministers of Albania signed an Agreement on the organisation of border
railway traffic with the sole aim "to shorten travel time for passenger and off-road trains at border
crossings". Montenegro has prepared an application (presumably to the EU) for the reconstruction,
electrification and modernisation of the 24.7km of line from Podgorica to the state border with
Albania.

[493] Romania – Ilva Micǎ to Rodna Veche getting some new sleepers
This branch line in the north of the country reopened on 1 August 2017, but aroused media attention
because the Minister of Transport present at the reopening was aware of the poor condition of the
tracks. Perhaps this is why 1900 wooden sleepers and 11400 concrete sleepers are now to be replaced
by the end of February 2018.

[494] Switzerland – Recent developments on the old Gotthard route
Swiss Express reports that SBB has changed the maintenance regime on the old Gotthard route from
'preventative' to 'curative', meaning that repairs are undertaken when something goes wrong. There is
already single-track working near Amsteg, because of a problem with a retaining wall, but as the wall
also supports a Cantonal road it will presumably be repaired. In an effort to reduce maintenance costs,
106 sets of points have been taken out of use between Erstfeld and Biasca, with crossovers remaining
only at Gurtnellen, Göschenen, Airolo and Lavorgo. The speed limit through the Gotthard Tunnel has
been reduced from 140 km/hr to 120 km/hr. The number of passengers travelling through the tunnel
is down to about 500/day, but there is still some freight via the old route, following imposition of a ban
on open wagons carrying loose material through the Base Tunnel. A combination of air speed and
tunnel cross-section was causing fine particles to be sucked from wagons, resulting in an unacceptable
build up of dust. It is also reported that public services through the Monte Ceneri Base Tunnel should
start on 13 December 2020.

[495] Switzerland – People power in action
59% of voters in Engelberg rejected plans for a better use of space around the railway station. There
were plans to erect a new station building with more space for private flats and a youth hostel instead
of the Post building.
Olten-Läufelfingen-Sissach line. Already reported on in BLN as under threat. The referendum reported
has been held and 2/3 of voters in Basel Canton were in favour of retaining the line.
The city of Bern has voted for a credit to extend the tramway network to Ostermundigen (today bus
line 10). Ostermundigen have already said yes and federal funding has been approved. The final
decision lies with the canton of Bern, where a referendum will take place in March 2018.

REST OF THE WORLD
[496] Democratic Republic of Congo - Kipushi to Munama branch railway line to be rebuilt
Ivanhoe Mines has agreed to rebuild 34 km of track to connect the Kipushi zinc-copper mine with the
DRC national railway at Munama, south of Lubumbashi. The Kipushi-Munama spur line, which has
been inactive since 2011, will be rebuilt under terms of a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
signed by Ivanhoe Mines and the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC’s) state-owned railway
company, Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo (SNCC). Construction on the Kipushi-
Munama spur line could start in late 2018. Ivanhoe will finance the rebuilding.

The map (e-BLNI only) shows Ivanhoe's Kipushi and Kamoa-Kakula projects, the railway spur line to
Kipushi, and the national railway. The inset shows the Kipushi to Munama spur line. The DRC national
railway is a key part of the international rail corridor that links the DRC Copperbelt to major seaports
at Durban and Richards Bay in South Africa, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Lobito in Angola. The World
Bank is overseeing and financing the rehabilitation and upgrading of large sections of the main DRC
national railway between Lubumbashi and the Zambia border crossing at Sakania. The work has

focused on replacing the ballast beneath the tracks and installing new concrete sleepers and heavier-
gauge steel rails along with new signalling and telecommunications equipment.

List of Special Trains on Lines without Passenger Services

Germany 2017 Ankum - Bersenbrück (- Goslar) and return

17. 12. + Osningbahn Ennigerloh - Neubeckum - Münster(Westf)Hbf and return
23. 12. ET
27-29. + DB Diversions of ICE between Dortmund Hbf and Hannover Hbf via VBK Hamm (-
Altenbeken -) Empelde - Ahlem
12.

Europe 2017 NL
IT
11-17. 12. + NS Diversion of ICE between Arnhem Centraal and Utrecht via Betuwe route
26. 12. Molise Sulmona - Castel di Sangro and return

Germany 2018

06. 01. ET (Lengerich(Westf) -) Münster(Westf)Hbf - Neubeckum - Lippstadt - Warstein and return

17/18. 02. + Sauren Freight lines and curves around Hannover

24. 02. + DGEG Ulm-Söflingen Em West - Ulm Rbf - Ulm Hbf Em Nord

10. 03. + DGEG Emmelsum

17. 03. + LDC (Cottbus -) Peitz Ost - Schwarze Pumpe

14/15. 04. + IBSE Special trains. In planning

28. 04. + Pursche "Unruhestandstour". Deferred until 2.VI

01-06. 05. DGEG Special train around Chemnitz

05. 05. + LDC (Cottbus -) Guben - Czerwieńsk) (- Wolsztyn) and return [DE/PL]

12. 05. + Sauren Curves and freight lines around Minden

19. 05. BSM Seitzsteg - Augsburg Ring - Augsburg Messe - Seitzsteg [also 18.VIII]

19. 05. ??? Operating day Ziegeleibahn Herzfelde

30. 06. + DGEG Lathen - Werlte, AB Dörpen, Meyer-Werft Papenburg

13-15. 07. Press Shuttles Greifswald - Greifswald-Ladebow Hafen

26. 08. ET Shuttles Ibbenbüren-Aasee - Dörenthe Hafen

08/09. 09. + Sauren 8.IX: Neubrandenburg - Friedland(Meckl) 9.IX: Hafenbahn Neustrelitz

06. 10. + Sauren Meppen - Herzlake Bf and return

Europe 2018

09-11. 03. + KŽC Special train around Břeclav CZ
Special train in Central and Northern Finland PLANNED FI
20-24. 04. + BLS Übg Čáslav [CZ/SK/DE/AT] CZ
Special train in Hungary [HU/HR] HU
05-08. 05. Steam Story Special train in Slovakia VI SK
Balkan-Special train [BG/RS/MK/GR] MK
17-22. 05. PTG Special train in Portugal PT
Special train um Český Krumlov CZ
04-12. 08. + KŽC

29. 09. -07. 10. PTG

18-23. 10. PTG

16-18. 11. + KŽC

Overseas 2018 Narrow gauge railways in India IN
18. 03.-04. 04. Darjeeling