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OSTERREISCIIE BUDESBARN : DAS KURSBUCH 1995-96
Changes from 1994~95 : An Initial Look at the New Timetable

by Richard Arthur

General;

The legend "Elektrtscher Betreib" has been dropped from all KBS headings as has the kilometres column except for the first occurrence of each direction in every table (as on BR).

The designation for halts (Hu) is replaced by a symbol (supplied by Richard but I have been unable to reproduce it- Ed)

Openings:

Although opened some time ago primarily for the RoLa services from Germany direct to

Graz and the south, the Linz avoiding line from Marchtrenk to Traum now has two passenger

services (see 135 1 and 14a) in each direction on most days. These are standard Linz -

Salzburg Eilzuge and are presumed to be loco-hauled (has anyone any further info?).

Electrification of the Franz Josef Bahn from Sigmundsherberg to Grnund NO (KBS 8) is scheduled to start on 24th September 1995. There will be no real change in schedules except for the time saved by the omission of the traction change at Sigrnundsherberg. In April, the electrification was complete except for (i) the rebuilding of the station and raising of a bridge at Alleinsteig and (il) a short section just east of Vitis.

New Overnight Service:

The Graz - Basel overnight service (was D464/D465) now runs between Graz and Zurich. It

achieves EuroNachi status (EN464/EN465), is named the Zurichsee and has a portion

D434ID435) to/from Budapest. This section runs via Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurth and Wiener

Neustadt to Bruck an der Mur where it combines with/detaches from the Graz portion.

New Stations (opening in Spring 1996):

(1) Handelskali on the Schnellbahn (KBS 9) between Wien Nord and Florisdorf to connect into the Vorortelinie extension from Floridorfer Brucke (KBS 10a).

(2) Spittelau between Wien FJBf and Heiligenstadt (KBS 8 and 80)

Closures: MI the lines that were under threat of closures in early 1995 have been reprieved at least until the end of the surnrner timetable period. These lines are appended by the legend "Einstellung des Reiseverkehr ah 24. September 1995 beabsichtigt":

KBS 13: Hieflau-Eisenerz

KBS 14a: Rohr - Bad Hall (the bus service not the main line)

KBS 16: Lambach - Gmunden Seebf (the 'bus service)

KBS 52c: Wittmansdoff- Wollersdorf only

KBS 53: Murzzuschlag - Neuberg Ort

KBS 62a: St. Paul - Lavamund

KBS 64: The Launsdorf-Hochosterwitz - Klein St. Paul branch

KBS 71a: The Siebenbrunn-Leopolsdorf- Engelhartstetten branch

KBS 93a: The Pirawath - Gaweinestal Brunnerstrafle section

Diversions:

Due to reconstruction work on the bridge over the Danube between Wien Sudbf (Ostseite) and Stadlau, the Eilzuge to/froni Bratislava (KBS 71a and 93a) are diverted from 1st July to 3rd August to run to/via Wien Nord/Mitte travelling via the Ganserndorf - Marchegg line During the same period, EC trains to/from Praha/Warsaw, etc. (KBS 93) are diverted via Florisdorf and through the Schnellbahn to Wien Meidling for reversal to Wien Sudbf (Sudseite), departing earlier or arriving later to ensure their normal times at Hohenau. Loco-hauled through the Schnellbahn tunnels !!) Wien "Ost" trains on KBS 70 (to Hausfeldtrasse) and KBS 71 (to Mistelbach and Laa an der Thaya) appear to be unaffected.

Table-by Table (where noticed):

KBS I: Daytime EC trains to Germany now depart at 15 minutes past the even hours instead of on the even hours. At these times (0815,1015,1215 and 1415), the xx.12 R-zuge to Amstetten or St.Valentin depart at xx.05 and wait eight minutes at Tullnelbach-Pressbaum (20 kms from Wien Westbf) for the EC to overtake.

KBS 4: Includes the section to/from St.Margrethen (SBB) that was KBS 43.

KBS 7/73/73a: Some changes to the commuter services to/from Wulkaprodersdorf and Pamhagen.

KBS I Ic: Very curtailed service between Ruprechtshofen and Wieselburg an der Erlauf (as a prelude to closure?).

KBS 13 is now Amstetten/St.Valentin - Selzthal only.

KBS 14 (Linz - Graz) incorporates Bichofshoferi - Selzthal plus the Linz-Rohr through trains.

New KBS 1 4a incorporates the Linz - Rohr local service plus the new service between Traun and Marchtrenk (see "Openings" section above)

New KBS 14d is Linz - Summerau (was KBS 14a).

KBS 73: Neusiedl am See - Wulkaprudersdorf only. The hall service to Lackenbach is included in KBS 52f (avoids previous duplication).

KBS 73a: An improved service from Neuseidl am See to Pamhagen.

KBS 83/83a: Services on the Schwarzenau branches are (for no apparent reason) drastically revised when electrification to Gmund starts. New platform arrangements at Schwarzenau would support the intent to continue with these services to Zwettl and Waldhofen an der Thaya.

KBS 84: No sign of the proposed cut back to Steinbach-Grofss Pertholz. Steam services (Sats, Suns & holidays) are scheduled to Gross Gerungs as usual.

KBS 93/93b: Reflect the "bridge diversions" (see above) for the from period 1 VII to 3.VII1