Glauchau–Gößnitz railway

Overview

Locale

Saxony and Thuringia, Germany

Termini

Glauchau-Schönbörnchen
Gößnitz

Line number

6265

Technical

Line length

12.373 km (7.688 mi)

Track gauge

1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) standard gauge

Minimum radius

398 m (1,306 ft)

Electrification

15 kV/16.7 Hz AC Overhead catenary

Operating speed

100 km/h (62 mph) (maximum)

Maximum incline

1.0%

Route number

540

Route map

from Dresden

0.00

Glauchau-Schönbörnchen

258 m

to Zwickau–Werdau

0.19

Weststraße (10 m)

0.86

Wirtschaftsweg (12 m)

2.63

Dennheritz (until 2011)

281 m

2.95

Dennheritz

3.52

Meeraner Straße (11 m)

5.76

Hans-Sachs-Straße (18 m)

5.98

Brüderstraße (18 m)

6.53

(11 m)

6.70

Meerane

251 m

10.78

Pleiße bridge (31 m)

10.93

flood bridge (12 m)

11.09

flood bridge (20 m)

11.21

flood bridge (8 m)

12.37

208 m

Source: German railway atlas

The Glauchau–Gößnitz railway is a single-track electrified main line railway in the German states of Saxony and Thuringia. It was originally built and operated with the support of the Saxon government and eventually became part of the Royal Saxon State Railways. It opened in 1858 and it is one of the oldest railways in Germany.

The route is an important part of the long-distance connection between the industrial district of west Saxony and western Germany (the Mid-Germany Connection). It runs from a branch on the Dresden–Werdau in Glauchau-Schönbörnchen via Meerane to a branch on the Leipzig–Hof line near Gößnitz.

During the planning of a westerly extension of the Riesa–Chemnitz line, several routes were investigated for a connection to the Saxon-Bavarian Railway. Connections towards Zwickau, Crimmitschau and Gößnitz were discussed. A connection to Gößnitz or Crimmitschau would shorten the line from Chemnitz to Leipzig, while a line to Zwickau offered major advantages for coal transport. Ultimately, the route towards Zwickau was selected. In addition it was decided to build a short connecting line from Gößnitz to Glauchau. Its construction began on 25 June 1855 and it was opened on 15 November 1858.

The line was duplicated between 1908 and 1912.

After the Second World War the second track was dismantled in 1946 for reparations to the Soviet Union.

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Wikipedia