Western approach to the Riedbahn

Western Entrance to the Riedbahn
ICE on the Western approach to the Riedbahn in Mannheim (2013)
Overview
Native name	Westliche Einführung der Riedbahn
Locale	Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Termini	Mannheim Hbf Mannheim-Waldhof
Line number	4011
Technical
Line length	9.5 km (5.9 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	15 kV/16.7 Hz AC overhead catenary
Operating speed	160 km/h (99.4 mph) (maximum)
Maximum incline	1.3891%
Route number	655
Route map Rhine Railway from Karlsruhe High-speed railway to Stuttgart Line from Mannheim marshalling yard Rhine Valley Railway from Heidelberg Riedbahn from Frankfurt via Mannheim Käfertal 0.0 Mannheim Hbf Mannheim–Saarbrücken railway Line to Mannheim main goods yard 2.1 Mannheim Handelshafen Western Riedbahn bridge over the Neckar (240 m) 3.5 Mannheim-Neckarstadt Mannheim Port Railway from Mannheim-Neckarstadt ("Riedbahnhof") 5.5 Mannheim-Luzenberg Riedbahn from Mannheim via Mannheim Käfertal Line from Mannheim-Sandhofen 6.4 Mannheim-Waldhof 9.5 Riedbahn to Frankfurt am Main Stadion Source: German railway atlas

The Western Entrance to the Riedbahn (Westliche Einführung der Riedbahn, WER) is a 9.5 km-long line in the Germany state of Baden-Württemberg, which was opened in 1985. It gives direct access from the Mannheim–Frankfurt railway (known as the Riedbahn) from the north to the western end of Mannheim Hauptbahnhof, allowing trains to the east and the south (and vice versa) to continue without reversal.

The new line passes under the passenger and freight tracks of the Mannheim–Saarbrücken railway on the northwestern approach to Mannheim Hauptbahnhof and then runs over a 2,200 m long viaduct that crosses several intersecting roads in the port area. This viaduct is interrupted by two tied-arch bridges, one over a port channel, while the other is the Western Riedbahn bridge (Riedbahnbrücke West) over the Neckar. Adjoining the viaduct is an almost 2,000 m–long embankment, which is interrupted by a five-span prestressed concrete bridge; it lies partly on the route of the Riedbahn’s approach to the original Riedbahnhof (Riedbahn Station) in Mannheim, which had been disused since 1971. It connects with the old Riedbahn (Mannheim–Frankfurt railway) at a level junction in Mannheim-Waldhof station, which was extensively adapted. Three new stations were built on the line to the west of Mannheim: Mannheim-Hafen, Mannheim-Neckarstadt and Mannheim-Luzenberg. The line follows the route of the Neckarstadtbahn (Neckar light railway), which was closed in the 1960s.

Heavy and slow freight trains still use the original (eastern) approach to the Riedbahn.

The line has been built for a top speed of 160 km/h. The maximum gradient is 1.25% (apart from a 1.39% ramp at Mannheim Hauptbahnhof). In cross-section it has been built with a distance between the two tracks of 4.00 m and a formation width of 10.0 m. The line is now operable in the region of Mannheim Hauptbahnhof (to kilometre 1.4) at 60 km/h, increasing on the way to Handelshafen station to 120 km/h and on the rest of the line at 160 km/h. It is equipped with the traditional H/V signalling system and Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung train control system and from kilometre 5 and beyond with the Linienzugbeeinflussung (LZB) in-cab signalling and train protection system.