Mittelhessen-Express

RB 40/41: Mittelhessen-Express
Line map
Technical
Operating speed	160 km/h (99 mph) (maximum)

The Mittelhessen-Express is a train service operated by DB Regio AG in the German state of Hesse on the Main-Weser Railway and the Dill Railway, which was put into operation at the commencement of the 2007 timetable on 10 December 2006.

After a re-tender of operations for twelve years, operations of the services from 11 December 2011 were taken over by the DB Regio Hessen GmbH, a newly formed wholly owned subsidiary of DB Regio. The operation of Bombardier Talent 2 electric multiple units were intended to be used from the beginning of the contract, but were delayed by problems in obtaining certification for their operation from the Federal Railway Authority as on other routes.

The Mittelhessen-Express runs on the Treysa–Giessen–Frankfurt (RB41) and Dillenburg–Giessen–Frankfurt (RB 40) routes. Trains coming from Treysa and Dillenburg are normally coupled together in Giessen and run together for the rest of the route. In the opposite direction the trains are uncoupled at Giessen. On Sundays and on Saturday afternoons and evenings trains are not coupled or uncoupled. On the common section the Mittelhessen-Express stops only at the stations of Frankfurt West, Friedberg, Bad Nauheim and Butzbach. Since the beginning of the 2010 timetable, the Mittelhessen-Express has stopped every two hours in Bad Vilbel and at stops that were previously served only by Regionalbahn trains between Giessen and Friedberg.

The two sections of the Mittelhessen-Express consist of class 425 electric multiple units. During peak hour two (three between Giessen and Frankfurt) units are coupled together. Some trains are also operated by the shorter class 426 sets either individually or together with class 425 sets.

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