Trains and other things: Esbjerg to Munich

Day 2 of my interrail trip starting in Esbjerg. Today I will travel almost 1000km to south of Germany, Munich.

Starting this morning at Esbjerg station. Here is a train to Tønder, operated by Arriva - a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn.

DSB IC3 train to the left and Arriva Lint train to the right. Today I will take the left train.

Arriva has since 2003 been operating services in Denmark. Today there are 7 lines in Jylland region.

Inside the train

There are more than 500 units of this type, most of them in Germany, 86 of these trains are in service in Denmark.

Manufactured in Salzgitter

I'm on my way to Germany. Time to fill in the Interrail diary.

In Denmark it is optional to book seat reservation, but I did it anyway.

In the morning train, (between 04:00-10:00) a light breakfast is served for the 1st class passengers. Instant Starbucks coffee is also served on the train.

I have arrived to Lunderskov, where I will change train for my further journey.

While waiting for my train, I had a chance to view other trains. Here is IC4 train, a disaster project from italian manufacturer Ansaldobreda.

The line through Lunderskov is used by cargo trains operating to/from Germany and Sweden (aka DanLink), as this is the only electrified line through Denmark

It is the third EG locomotive (EG 3102) I see during my trip. There are totally 13 units and the operator is DB Cargo Scandinavia a joint venture between DB Schenker and Green Cargo. Today these locomotives are operated only between Padborg and Malmö.

EG locomotive is part of Eurosprinter family and it is among Europe's most powerful locomotives.

My next IC3 train is arriving

Despite being a diesel multiple unit, it can reach 180km/h

Tinglev station

Bombardier Traxx F140 AC parked nearby Padborg, which is the last stop in Denmark

DSB IC3 train has arrived to Flensburg, where an easy change for German train is possible.

My next train is Regional Express to Hamburg (RE7 Line). Here is the 4th generation of the double-deck coach.

Some of the IC3 services are continuing all the way to Hamburg, but my schedule made me change trains here in Flensburg.

Inside the double-deck coach.

A stop in Rendsburg

Second class 1st floor

The train is now leaving Rendsburg before climbing up on the High Bridge built in 1913. The line is routed through a 360-degree loop

Lint train on the bridge

The bridge is situated above the Nord-Ostsee-Kanal (Kiel Canal), 42m above the water level.

At Neumünster my journey took an abruptly end. Thanks to DB application in my smartphone, I could find out the reason for it (my german knowledge is not good enough to understand the train staff explaining the situation).

Yes, I could not believe my eyes first. The trains were suspended due to "World War II bomb being disarmed". I wonder how they could manage to pass this route through all these years.

All passenger were supposed to take a much smaller Lint train (service to Bad Oldesloe). I took another service, AKN line A1 to Hamburg-Eidelstedt.

The line is operated with older cars and newer LINT 54 (the longer version).

Looks like a bit cheaper railway sleeper version suited for this type of local train railways. This type of railroad tie is called Y-type

Quickborn staion

Final stop is Hamburg-Eidelstedt.

Same plattform is used for local commuter S-Bahn train which takes me to Hamburg Hbf

With only 3 min change time I managed to change between platform 2 and 14 at Hamburg Hbf, and now I'm very lucky to be onboard ICE train to Munich.

On board ICE 25 line Hamburg-Munich (operated by ICE1 train set).

Hamburg-Harburg station

Passing by Siemens ES 64 F

Restaurant coach is offering drinks and food

The roof of the restaurant coach is higher than other coaches in order to fit all the kitchen equipment

Railroad works are everywhere

Nice decoration in the train WC

Hannover

A bit longer stop here, the crew is outside as well

Bombardier Traxx P160 AC2 for Metronom service

Göttingen station

Fulda station

After Fulde, the railway is split into the south part to Munich and the west part to Frankfurt (Main).

Arriving to Würzburg

Marienberg fortress in Würzburg

ICE-T train on the other platform

The first railway line in Germany was built between Fürth and Nuremberg

Siemens Vectron AC from SBB Cargo International nearby Nürnberg

Nürnberg Hbf

I have now entered Nuremburg-Ingolstadt high speed line which opened 2006. The line is part of the Line 1 (Berlin-Palermo) of Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T). ICE1 train is doing 250km/h here. Next to the railway is Autobahn 9 (Berlin to Munich).

Passing by the München-Nürnberg-Express which is the fastest RegionalExpress train service in Germany, with its maximum speed of 200 km/h and it is the only regional service using high-speed line in its full length.