Rheinpfeil (train)
Overview | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Service type |
Fernzug (F) (1952–1953) (1958–1965) Trans Europ Express (TEE) (1965–1971) InterCity (IC) (1971–1987) EuroCity (EC) (1987–1991) | ||||
Status | Replaced by an ICE | ||||
Locale |
Netherlands Germany Switzerland | ||||
First service | 18 May 1952 | ||||
Last service | 2 June 1991 | ||||
Former operator(s) |
Deutsche Bundesbahn / Deutsche Bahn (DB) SBB-CFF-FFS | ||||
Route | |||||
Start |
Hoek van Holland / Dortmund Hbf / Hannover Hbf / Hamburg-Altona | ||||
End |
München Hbf / Basel SBB / Zürich HB / Chur | ||||
Service frequency | Daily | ||||
Technical | |||||
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | ||||
Electrification |
15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz (Germany, Switzerland) | ||||
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The word Rheinpfeil was used to name a number of express trains that ran in Germany between the 1950s and 1991. For much of that period, a train carrying the name Rheinpfeil also linked Germany with at least one neighbouring country.
Rheinpfeil is a German word meaning "Rhine arrow", and alludes to the Rhine valley, which always formed part of the route of the train carrying that name.
During its time as a Trans Europe Express (TEE), the Rheinpfeil's formation (consist) included a "vista-dome car",[1] a rarity on European railways. Seating in the dome car was unreserved.[1]As Eurocity,nr 8/9,conveyed two through DB 2 clas carriages Hannover-Koln-Basel-Bern-Lotschberg Bergstrecke-Brig-Milano Porta Garibaldi-Florence-Rome,in summer 1990/1991,conveyed in EXP 324/5 Rome-Milan-Brig-Basel
Route
The core of the Rheinpfeil's route was the West Rhine Railway, a 185 km (115 mi) section of line through the Rhine valley:
- Köln Hbf – Bonn Hbf – Koblenz Hbf – Mainz Hbf
However, the northern and southern parts of the train's route, and its termini, varied a great deal over the years.
See also
- History of rail transport in the Netherlands
- History of rail transport in Germany
- History of rail transport in Switzerland
- List of named passenger trains of Europe
References
Notes
- 1 2 "Table 19: Rheinpfeil (Rhine Arrow)", Cooks Continental Timetable (February 1967 edition), p. 63; also p. 61. London: Thomas Cook & Son, Ltd.
Bibliography
- Goette, Peter (2008). TEE-Züge in Deutschland [TEE Trains in Germany]. Freiburg i.B.: EK-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-88255-698-8. (German)
- Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; Mertens, Maurice (2007). TEE: la légende des Trans-Europ-Express [TEE: The Legend of the Trans Europ Express]. Auray: LR Presse. ISBN 978-29-03651-45-9. (French)
- Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; Mertens, Maurice (2008). TEE: la leggenda dei Trans-Europ-Express [TEE: The Legend of the Trans Europ Express]. Salò: ETR – Editrice Trasporti su Rotaie. ISBN 978-88-85068-31-5. (Italian)
- Mertens, Maurice; Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; von Mitzlaff, Berndt (2009). TEE - Die Geschichte des Trans-Europ-Express [TEE - The History of the Trans Europ Express]. Düsseldorf: Alba Publikation. ISBN 978-3-87094-199-4. (German)
External links
Media related to Rheinpfeil at Wikimedia Commons