Freight in/around Strasbourg?

[BRX]

Does anyone know if Strasbourg sees that much freight traffic?

From what I can see online there is a fairly large intermodal terminal at its river port, and it looks like a number of container trains run to and from there, but maybe only in the order of 2 or 3 a day in each direction.

There's also the east/west line crossing the Rhine into Germany but it doesn't look like that's very heavily used by freight.

Is there freight running through Strasbourg in a North-south kind of direction and if so does it pass through the central station or go via avoiding lines?

(As an aside, are there still a few diesel hauled TERs running there or is that all gone now?)

 

[30907]

I don't know Strasbourg well, but the main yard is at Hausbergen to the north and there is an avoiding line to the west of the station.

 

[Richard Scott]

I've been to Strasbourg many times but never seen a freight through the station. In answer to the other question there are still 3 diagrams for 67400s on weekdays.

 

[gysev]

Does anyone know if Strasbourg sees that much freight traffic?

From what I can see online there is a fairly large intermodal terminal at its river port, and it looks like a number of container trains run to and from there, but maybe only in the order of 2 or 3 a day in each direction.

There's also the east/west line crossing the Rhine into Germany but it doesn't look like that's very heavily used by freight.

Is there freight running through Strasbourg in a North-south kind of direction and if so does it pass through the central station or go via avoiding lines?

(As an aside, are there still a few diesel hauled TERs running there or is that all gone now?)

Freight traffic uses the avoiding line. Most freight is on the (Belgium-) Metz - Basel route but there are trains to Germany as well. Wenn in strasbourg, take a moment to visit the German border station at Kehl. Several times a week, you can see a Slovakian Vectron stabled there that has brought a train with new cars for the French market.

As for freight on the main line to Basel: as is usual in France, this can be quite a challenge. I was there one tuesday last september and between 9.20 am and 4 pm I saw three (!) freight trains (two northbound and one southbound). The north-south line on the German side of the river sees a freight train every 10 - 15 minutes...

 

[Gloster]

I lived on the Strasbourg-Mulhouse line (well, not actually on the track) thirty years or so ago and the one thing I am fairly sure of was that Mondays were quiet. I can’t remember much detail of what operated, but this was before the increase in local services had really got going and (I think) while the German side of the Rhine had reduced capacity due to upgrade works, so much has probably changed. There was a gap in the passenger services in the early afternoon which saw a number of freights, if my memory is correct.

 

[BRX]

Thanks for the replies. I've just spent a couple of days in Strasbourg. I ended up in a hotel room with a view of the tracks at the south end of the station so got an idea of what goes through and I can confirm very little in the way of freight. I did see one container train go through quite late at night but that was about it.

Went for a quick spin on one of the 67400 hauled TERs. There are few of these each morning and evening peak. Perhaps predictably in February, all the windows were locked shut but still enjoyed a short trip in the bicycle compartment right behind the loco. Was a little reminiscent of being on a valenta era hst.

As well as the old diesels there are a few TERs hauled by the old style 'broken nose' electric locos, enough that around 6pm or so you can see a few in Strasbourg station at once which gave it all quite an old skool SNCF feel.

Other than that quite a few loco hauled regional trains with more modern locos, the increasingly common dmus etc and quite a mixture of different era TGVs passing through, plus the odd DB ICE. I think there is a nightjet service 2 or 3 days a week but didn't see that.

 

[Richard Scott]

Thanks for the replies. I've just spent a couple of days in Strasbourg. I ended up in a hotel room with a view of the tracks at the south end of the station so got an idea of what goes through and I can confirm very little in the way of freight. I did see one container train go through quite late at night but that was about it.

Went for a quick spin on one of the 67400 hauled TERs. There are few of these each morning and evening peak. Perhaps predictably in February, all the windows were locked shut but still enjoyed a short trip in the bicycle compartment right behind the loco. Was a little reminiscent of being on a valenta era hst.

As well as the old diesels there are a few TERs hauled by the old style 'broken nose' electric locos, enough that around 6pm or so you can see a few in Strasbourg station at once which gave it all quite an old skool SNCF feel.

Other than that quite a few loco hauled regional trains with more modern locos, the increasingly common dmus etc and quite a mixture of different era TGVs passing through, plus the odd DB ICE. I think there is a nightjet service 2 or 3 days a week but didn't see that.

The stock used with 67400s is fitted (I assume retrofitted as most of these I've been on didn't have it) with air con, I believe, so windows usually locked. Occasionally you'll get lucky and manage to find one that opens!

 

[BRX]

Freight traffic uses the avoiding line. Most freight is on the (Belgium-) Metz - Basel route but there are trains to Germany as well. Wenn in strasbourg, take a moment to visit the German border station at Kehl. Several times a week, you can see a Slovakian Vectron stabled there that has brought a train with new cars for the French market.

As for freight on the main line to Basel: as is usual in France, this can be quite a challenge. I was there one tuesday last september and between 9.20 am and 4 pm I saw three (!) freight trains (two northbound and one southbound). The north-south line on the German side of the river sees a freight train every 10 - 15 minutes...

I didn't get out there to look at it, but the Hausbergen yard looks on the map to be a quite substantial one - which you'd think might suggest a few more trains per day than that! I guess it might all happen at night.

The stock used with 67400s is fitted (I assume retrofitted as most of these I've been on didn't have it) with air con, I believe, so windows usually locked. Occasionally you'll get lucky and manage to find one that opens!

Probably not make yourself popular with the locals though...

 

[Richard Scott]

Probably not make yourself popular with the locals though...

Ok if in bike section, which is next to the loco! Had them open numerous times in winter season!

 

[StephenHunter]

Thanks for the replies. I've just spent a couple of days in Strasbourg. I ended up in a hotel room with a view of the tracks at the south end of the station so got an idea of what goes through and I can confirm very little in the way of freight. I did see one container train go through quite late at night but that was about it.

Went for a quick spin on one of the 67400 hauled TERs. There are few of these each morning and evening peak. Perhaps predictably in February, all the windows were locked shut but still enjoyed a short trip in the bicycle compartment right behind the loco. Was a little reminiscent of being on a valenta era hst.

As well as the old diesels there are a few TERs hauled by the old style 'broken nose' electric locos, enough that around 6pm or so you can see a few in Strasbourg station at once which gave it all quite an old skool SNCF feel.

Other than that quite a few loco hauled regional trains with more modern locos, the increasingly common dmus etc and quite a mixture of different era TGVs passing through, plus the odd DB ICE. I think there is a nightjet service 2 or 3 days a week but didn't see that.

Which hotel was that? I'm thinking of a trip.

There is a three times a week Paris-Vienna Nightjet, using 185s to Karlsruhe. It actually uses the same train numbers as the Orient Express did in its final years.

 

[BRX]

Which hotel was that? I'm thinking of a trip.

http://www.montempo.fr/fr/nosapparthotels/strasbourg-gare

You'd need to request a room on that side of the building though (I think they are the odd-numbered rooms). And maybe 2nd floor or higher as the railway's on a bit of an embankment.

It was about 45€ for a basic 'studio' room with a little kitchenette, handy if you are on a budget.

Strasbourg station in the evening.