Sassnitz-Trelleborg train ferry

[davidgiles]

I travelled on this unusual service on Sunday night/Monday morning, and the guard confirmed that it was 'probably' the last time it would ever run in this guise.

Here are a few pictures and links to videos:

Shunting towards the ferry: http://youtu.be/pDLdVVrtet4
Propelling on to the ferry: http://youtu.be/48DmmecBnaQ

 

[duesselmartin]

sorry to see that connection dying. Even the well used Puttgarden-Rodby train ferry is always in discussion. I guess overheads are very high on that type of service.

 

[Searle]

I traveled on it in the opposite direction about a month ago, from Malmo to Berlin. Really enjoyed the service, and we arrived at Sassnitz at 11pm, and were free to explore the ferry terminal, which was deserted at that time of night. Very creepy! I'll add my photos as well if you don't mind


Malmö Central by Mikez2605, on Flickr


Trelleborg by Mikez2605, on Flickr


Trelleborg by Mikez2605, on Flickr


Berlin Hauptbahnhof by Mikez2605, on Flickr

 

[30907]

sorry to see that connection dying. Even the well used Puttgarden-Rodby train ferry is always in discussion. I guess overheads are very high on that type of service.

2 ĺocos, 2 shunters and only 3 coaches. Inevitable but sad, especially once Stena withdrew the ferries the service had traditionally used. Puttgarden-Rodby being MU operated is safe till the fixed link opens.

 

[306024]

Many years since I used this link, the train I travelled on left Malmo at about 07.00 with a loco, two coaches, and three passengers.

So the question is how many passenger train ferries are there still operating anywhere in the world?

Puttgarden-Rodby already mentioned, any more?

P.S. Just looked up Seat61.com which says the Sicily train ferry still operates

 

[stut]

The Haikou train ferry is still going strong (and very popular!)

 

[eastwestdivide]

Excellent stuff. Liked the buffer stops at the far end of inside the ferry. You'd hope they were never run into at any speed. Must get my trip on the Puttgarden ferry arranged for next year.

 

[dutchflyer]

In this case the reason is a bit diffferent: this whole route is going out. It once-in times of austerity and hammer&sickle, a valuta gaining enterprise for DR=The railways of the DDR, together with the Swedish then State rails.
A few years ago and well into the age of capitalism all those train carrying routes were sold to Stena. This comp. has now decided to merge these routes into Rostock-trelleborg. and the Rodby-Puttgarden lines.
Also the German end-Sassnitz, was not the original in the town port, but moved to,i an about 7-8 kms away former port specific made for the ferries to big bro: the then CCCP, now slimmed and toned down to Rossye. In Sassnitz town there was a spectaculair steep slope to get from station to port.
Used it once from the Swedish side-halfway in the night- had to pay my fare at the buffet-less as 8 eur. Had to rely on some friendly soul next morning to get me out of that port, there as not even a hopeful taxi.
Now that Germany has very rapidly developed a network ala Nat.Express of ''Fernbusse'' FLIXbus has already jumped in and offers through fares from Berlin, via ROS-but the bus does not go over. fare includes even the local bus Trelleborg-Malmo in Sweden.

 

[Golghar]

The train from Turkey to Iran crosses Lake Van in Eastern Turkey on a ferrry:

http://www.tcdd.gov.tr/tcdding/ortadogu_ing.html

 

[reb0118]

I was on the very same train. What coach were you in?

 

[gordonthemoron]

When I've done puttgarten-rodby, the trains have been rammed

 

[Searle]

When I've done puttgarten-rodby, the trains have been rammed

I found this too, I was on a train from Berlin, empty until Hamburg, where there were people sat in the aisles! Even when an extra unit was provided in Denmark, it was still rammed because no one decided to move.

 

[itfcfan]

The train from Turkey to Iran crosses Lake Van in Eastern Turkey on a ferrry:

http://www.tcdd.gov.tr/tcdding/ortadogu_ing.html

I don't believe this is a train ferry in the same way as the others referenced in this thread, because (to my knowledge) two separate trains are linked at either end by the ferry - it's shown as one service in the schedule. From the accounts I've read online of the similar Aleppo ( - Lake Van) - Tehran service that ran until a couple of years ago, the reservation you were given on the first half of the journey wasn't strictly honoured on the second part of the journey (after the ferry) as the other second train has a different berth configuration to the first.

 

[duesselmartin]

one wonders why they run such a poor service on the Hamburg-Copenhagen route. There is certainly more potential than the current 4 to 5 services daily.
With the CNL trains not running to Copenhagen from December, the situation will most likely be aggrevated.

 

[Searle]

one wonders why they run such a poor service on the Hamburg-Copenhagen route. There is certainly more potential than the current 4 to 5 services daily.
With the CNL trains not running to Copenhagen from December, the situation will most likely be aggrevated.

Too much effort to use the ferry I presume. When the tunnel from Puttgarden - Rodby opens, I would imagine the services will become.more frequent

 

[davidgiles]

I was on the very same train. What coach were you in?

I was in Wagon 1... not the height of luxury, but I did manage to get some sleep.

 

[duesselmartin]

it now seems that the Puttgarden service is itself in danger as the Fehrmann-Belt bridge is in poor condition. Local media suggesting the bridge might close up to a year.