12-15th October 2019 DB - DSB - SJ Trip Report

DSM ME 1537 in the attractive red livery stands ready to work the 09:38 to Nykobing Falster at Copenhagen H on 14/10/2019

Introduction:

One of a handful of daily 218's to visit Hamburg in 2019.
218 307 departs ECS after arrival with the IC from
Fehrman Berg on 12th October 2019.

One of the trains that had been on my list to take for some while was the DSB service from Hamburg to Copenhagen running over one of the last 3 train ferries to see at least semi-regular passenger use left in Europe. The train which boards the ferry itself these days from Puttgarden in Germany to Rodby in Denmark is a Danish IC3 DMU, but with loco haulage available both sides of the crossing the journey becomes more attractive. DSB run trains to Nykobing Falster (around 30 minutes from Rodby) regularly with a few diagrams continuing all the way to Rodby itself- these are formed of double deck push-pull rakes with a Henschel built ME locomotive dating from 1981. Traction on the German side is a little more tricky- DB Regio use a Kiel based 218 to work a couple of 'StrandExpress' services from Hamburg to Puttgarden but they only run twice a day, at weekends and only during high season- though this seems to last a good deal of the year.

DSB Desiro near Havdrup. 14/10/2019

It was announced in early 2019 that this would be the last year that EC trains from Hamburg to Copenhagen would operate via the train ferry, from 15th December 2019 the trains would divert via the fixed link via Flensbourg. The impact on journey times would be minimal and the pleasure (or inconvenience?) of disembarking onto the ferry would be removed. Ultimately a fixed link is planned between Puttgarden and Rodby which will really reduce journey times- but this is some years off yet!

Light is fading again as RC3 1435 picks up at Sodertalje Sud
with a commuter service to Stockholm. 15/10/2019.

Suddenly there was an urgency to get on and make this trip- but a problem- DSB had a series of major track works which meant that most dates when the German side could be achieved loco-hauled the Danish side could not, and worse would be a bus! I identified a few dates in the second half of the year where everything should just about work. Having reached Copenhagen I also added the journey into Sweden, a new country for me, aware that the RC3's days on commuter work out of Stockholm were very much numbered- would I get another chance?


Saturday 12th October:

110 043 makes a pleasant sight passing through Bremen HBF on 12/10/2019.

Flew to Bremen with Ryanair since all flights to Germany seemed extortionately expensive this particular weekend and this one was just about reasonable! The lady next to me was the only one on the plane to attempt to applaud at the pilot managing to do their job and land the plane... Weather forecast for the entire trip was pretty poor and it was into drizzle that I took the tram to Bremen Hbf.
A reasonable amount of freight action over a couple of hours featuring 155183, 193896, 386025, 185617, E37 524 (Prima), 193616, 140042, 152115, 110043, 185067 and finally OBB 1144 275. With the weather making photography difficult I had a quick run down to Kirchweyhe with some 146's and photographed the steam loco there.

50 3562-1 provide a little interest between trains at Kirchweyhe.

112 149 at Bad Oldesloe in failing light. 12.10/2019.

On to Hamburg with 101001 (Dud- and I've hardly had any of them!) on a 25 minute late IC due to some combination of trespassers and a signal failure- Somebody has clearly lent DB the UK's disruption reason spinner...
After checking into accommodation it was time to try to have a quick spin somewhere- as I arrived into the Hbf so did 218307 on the IC from Fehmarn Burg. This was watched departing before 112149 was picked up on an RE8 turn as far as Bad Oldesloe. After a short wait the return was 218470 on the returning Strandexpress from Puttgarden. I would see this again in the morning but seemed a nice little move! Back in Hamburg there wasn't much more on offer to I headed into town for some food and then finished the evening at Minature Wunderland. With the little trains running until 0100 it was a late night- I did contemplate whether the photos I had taken there would be better lit than any of the real thing I would take on this trip!?


Sunday 13th October

The train I should have been on, but one of the more interesting shots of the trip because I wasn't! DSB IC3 DMU's driver onto the M/F Prinsesse Benedikte for the short hop across to Denmark which was just visable on the horizon through the cloud. The train was the EC33 09:28 Hamburg Hbf - Copenhagen H - 13/10/2019

218 470 on the StranExpress nears journey's end as it reverses
at Fehrman Berg ready for the last push to Puttgarden. 13/10/19

Up and over to the Hbf to meet with 218470 on the Strandexpress to Puttgarden. Weather was still rubbish with low cloud obscuring the tops of the towers in Hamburg - but I had my Bunny!
The run up to Puttgarden (Via Fehmarn Burg) wasn't anything particularly exciting and a few minutes after our arrival EC33 pulled in with DSB IC3 units. It didn't look like the ferry was ready for boarding yet so when the IC3 then snaked off onto the M/F Prinsesse Benedikte without me on it I was a little withered! At least I managed to get some photos of the operation before running down the gangway to now board the boat as a foot passenger!

The train ferry 'Prins Richard' is passed heading back towards Puttgarden. The vessels on the route are Hybrid ferries with exhaust scrubbers making them a very clean fleet. The emissions you can see here are steam. 13/10/2019.

The IC3 within the depths of the 'Prinsess Benedikte' as
passengers re-board to head into Denmark. 13/10/2019.

Some 45 minutes later it was time to 'return' to the train for arrival into Rodby in Denmark and I made sure not to miss it this time! Got chatting to the three ladies on my table who were sad to learn that the train would no longer take the boat come December. I didn't have long for conversation as I was off at Nykobing Falster to try my luck at getting into Copenhagen loco hauled (well, pushed). I never expected the section from Rodby Faerge to produce a loco on a Sunday but was hopeful it could be achieved from Nykobing Falster. All was looking hopeful as there were two ME's in the sidings with lights on ready to come into the station. ME1531 sure enough formed the 13:19 to Copenhagen via Koge. This was handy as my B plan of finding a pub in Nykobing Falster had drawn a blank!

The big surprise of the trip- Mc651 on an excursion to Koge pictured at Copenhagen H. 13/10/2019.

A smart blue ME 156 departs empty from Copenhagen. 

Arriving into Copenhagen H a quick search of the departure screen threw up a surprise- there was a 'Veterantog' illustrated with a steam symbol due to arrive in around 20 minutes. Definitely worth checking out! A Danish enthusiast informed me that it was a sort of 'bus on rails from the 1920's'. This turned out to be Mc651 a partner and trailer which were working a special to Koge. It would have been rude not to having stumbled across it so I took a ride to Roskilde. Passengers were quire welcome to stand in the very large cab of this wooden vehicle on the mainline! Returning me to Copenhagen was one of the ill fated IC4's, which was very pleasant to travel on actually. Trains over for the day I got soaking wet walking across to Nyhavn where more beers than planned where consumed in a pub and I finished my evening on 'staff rate' drinks having made friends with the barman!


Monday 14th October

ME 1508 approaches Havdrup with the 10:38 Copenhagen H - Nykobing Falster - finally a sunny picture! 14/10/2019

A typically careworn ME 1519 departs Havdrup
for Copenhagen. 14/10/2019

Woke to some unexpected sunshine! What! A quick re-plan to try to get some photos of ME's was hashed together, the priority obviously being the very smart red ones.
1537 soon obliged and turned up at Copenhagen. This was then taken on a Nykobing Falster service just beyond the wires to Havdrup on the line to Koge. I found a spot and waited the train an hour later hoping the sun would last and a nice red ME would turn up- fortunately both were true and 1508 became probably the photo of the trip. The 'going away' shot of the train in the other direction produced an IC3.

MX1023 with an infrastructure train at Roskilde. 14/10/2019.

Back at Roskilde all evidence of the sunshine had disappeared however there was a surprise in the form of MX 1023 on a short infrastructure train. A couple more ME moves and a dash for my luggage and some lunch before boarding the 13:23 SJ X2000 for Stockholm. The journey was comfortable but would have been more pleasant without the contribution of three small children which between them managed to make some sort of noise almost the entire way to Stockholm! Arrival was 25 minutes late, a tie with my DB train, no reason given.
A quick stop for some meatballs on Gamla Stan on the way to my hotel and that was me done for the day.

Smart SJ X2000 Intercity Unit at Copenhagen H. ready for the journey through to Stockholm. 14/10/2019.

Sunday 15th October

Stockholm departures side by side with RC3 locos 1407 and 1352. A scene soon to disappear as EMU's take hold. 15/10/2019

1392 at Stockholm Central. 15/10/2019.

Ah- a grey day again! Any visitor to Stockholm will struggle to miss the massive Slussen construction project which is due to last long into the next decade- unfortunately this made access from my hotel to the main station more difficult than anticipated- to add further woe the footpath along the rail bridge south of Gamla Stan from where I had planned to take my photos was closed with part of it missing. Since May according to the signs and should reopen at the end of the month... there is a bit of work to go to achieve that! Some very dull photos of black RC3's were taken north and south of Stockholm main station- the highlights being a TAGAB loco and also a freight heading towards the station from the north- if for no other reason than the locos were not black!

RC3 1353 emerges from the Sweedish gloom into
Sodertalje Sud with a train for Stockholm. 15/10/2019

The light not improving it was time to go ride some trains. At least for now there are plenty of RC3's on offer on regional trains- the excellent SJ app reliably indicating which trains were hauled. I had struggled while preparing for the trip to work out how best to buy a ticket to cover these trains- they are not covered by the Stockholm 'travelcard' and it appeared that the only option would be to book an individual ticket on each train- which would get very expensive very quickly! Fortunately in the hotel the night before I had delved further into the SJ app and found an option once I had expanded season ticket to buy a fare offering 'unlimited travel' between two points on the day of purchase. The cost was approximately twice the single fare... If it did as it said that would be what I wanted!

A profile of 1365 near to the closed station of Karlburg north of Stocholm Central. 15/10/2019

Freight does work through Stockholm Central as demonstrated
by Green Cargo 1093 near Karlburg. 15/10/2019.

I am pleased to report it did (and hopefully this may be of use to others). Grippers seemed a bit confused by the ticket like they had never seen one before, but each time it was scanned it came up good and in all I completed four round trips to Sodertalje Sud. Sometimes there was a lengthy layover before a train back, but there were also a few very efficient moves with around +5 for a train back to Stockholm, the run being about 20 minutes. In total I managed to pick up 11 RC3's (1339, 1351, 1353, 1357, 1374, 1383, 1386, 1392, 1405, 1407 and 1414) with no repeats during my time. These trains are very comfortable IC coaches in various formats. Most appear to have opening windows but it didn't seem appropriate to give them a try given the weather!

Green Cargo's RC3 1031 hauls a freight through Sodertalje Sud. 15/10/2019.

It is dry and bright underground! One of the older subway cars calls at Solna
Centrum, one of the many spectacular stations in Stockholm. 15/10/2019.

With darkness now falling I headed underground to marvel at some of the incredible stations- my personal favourite being at Solna Centrum with its striking red colour.
Flying home at 21:00 from Arlanda airport I couldn't really risk the only loco hauled option arriving at 20:06- (that was tight even for me!) so elected to take one of the limited number of IC trains bookable between Stockholm and Arlanda- this at least being a comfortable ride and cheaper than the Arlanda Express.

Finishing the day with Tagab 1040 at Stockholm Central before heading to the airport. These trains seem to run to a very ad-hoc schedule and only a few were seen during my time in Stockholm. They are worth looking out for though as the coaches are of considerable vintage and the crew seemed very friendly! 15/10/2019.

Conclusions:

1387 on the bridge between the main station and Gamla Stan. Black locos do
not photograph well in dull conditions! 15/10/2019.

All in all an excellent trip- with the exception of the weather! Much of this will not be possible come the new year so I'm glad I've finally done the train ferry. Sweden was an interesting country and well worth a return at some point. The RC3's are around in great numbers and are clearly going to be easy to see for the foreseeable future, what will change is the ability to quickly and cheaply pick them up on local trains, and obviously without these the numbers to observe around Stockholm will fall dramatically.

DB IC3 unit near Havdrup in Denmark. 14/10/2019.