As the line from Armsheim to Mainz is single-track only, services can be operated at most every half-hour, with oncoming trains forced to wait in stations, usually in Saulheim and Mainz-Marienborn (RB) or Mainz-Gonsenheim (RE).
Rail services
The line is now served by Regionalbahn service RB 31 and Regional-Express service RE 13.[3][4] Until the timetable change in December 2014, the line was operated by DB Regio, after which vlexx GmbH took over the service from Mainz to Kirchheimbolanden. The company had won the tender for the passenger operations.
The Elsass-Express (Alsace Express) to Wissembourg uses this part of the line on weekends and on public holidays.
Rolling stock
DB Regio
The track is served by both trains consisting of class 218 diesel locomotives hauling three double-decker carriages and by class 628 diesel multiple units, sometimes in coupled sets. In fact, class 629, a variation of class 628, was specially built for the very steeply graded line.
vlexx
vlexx GmbH has operated Alstom Coradia LINT diesel multiple unit since December 2014. Services are operated with LINT 54 as two-part diesel railcars with 162 seats or three-part diesel railcars with 264 seats.[5]
References
^Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland [German railway atlas]. Schweers + Wall. 2009. pp. 76, 85, 151. ISBN978-3-89494-139-0.
^"Line overview" (in German). www.amiche.de. Retrieved 7 May 2013.