Prinz Eugen (train)

The Prinz Eugen was an express train that linked northern Germany with Wien Westbf in Vienna, Austria. Introduced in 1971, it was operated by the Deutsche Bundesbahn / Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB).

Prinz Eugen
Overview
Service typeTrans Europ Express (TEE)
(1971–1978)
InterCity (IC)
(1978–1987)
EuroCity (EC)
(1987–1998)
Intercity-Express (ICE)
(1998–2004)
StatusNo longer a named train
LocaleGermany
Austria
First service26 September 1971 (1971-09-26)
Last service2004 (2004)
Former operator(s)Deutsche Bundesbahn /
Deutsche Bahn (DB)
ÖBB
Route
StartBremen Hbf /
Hannover Hbf /
Hamburg-Altona /
Kiel Hbf
EndWien Westbf
Service frequencyDaily
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz
Route map
The original route of the Prinz Eugen (Bremen Hbf–Wien Westbf), 1971.

The train was named after Prince Eugene of Savoy, who was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna.

History

Over the years, the northern terminus, route, classification and formation (consist) of the Prinz Eugen varied significantly. However, the route always included the main line between Würzburg Hbf, in Germany, and Wien Westbf, in Vienna, via Passau Hbf, on the border between Germany and Austria.

During the train's time as a Trans Europ Express (TEE), its route was originally Bremen – Würzburg – Nuremberg – Vienna, but in 1976 was altered to Hannover – Cologne – Frankfurt – Würzburg – Nuremberg – Vienna. It was the only TEE route ever to serve Vienna.[1] In the 1970s, it was one of just three TEEs to run within Austria, the others being the Mediolanum and the Blauer Enzian,[2] but later, a short-lived, summer-only branch of the TEE Rheingold terminated in Salzburg, in 1985 and 1986 only.

The Prinz Eugen's final day as a TEE was 27 May 1978, and on the following day it was reclassified as a two-class InterCity (IC).[3] This train, which initially kept the same route, was first-class-only between Hannover and Frankfurt, and carried both first- and second-class cars between Frankfurt and Vienna.[3] On 1 June 1980, the route of the IC Prinz Eugen was changed to Hamburg – Würzburg – Nuremberg – Vienna.[4] This was almost identical to the train's 1971–1976 route, except north of Hannover, where the route now ran to/from Hamburg instead of Bremen.

On 31 May 1987, the Prinz Eugen was included in the then-newly introduced EuroCity (EC) network.[5] Its route remained unchanged until 2 June 1991, when it again returned to a routing via Cologne and Frankfurt, now running Hamburg – Bremen – Cologne – Frankfurt – Würzburg – Nuremberg – Vienna.[6]

On 24 May 1998, the Prinz Eugen became an Intercity-Express (ICE) train, still connecting Hamburg with Vienna but reverting again to a more direct routing, Hamburg – Hannover – Würzburg – Nuremberg – Vienna.[7]

The Prinz Eugen ceased to be a named train in 2004.

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See also

References

Notes
  1. Tennant, David D. (1975). "Planning Your Trip: Rail Travel in Europe". In Eugene Fodor; Robert C. Fisher (eds.). Fodor's Europe 1975. Fodor's Guides. New York: David McKay Company. p. 99.
  2. Nock, O.S. (1978). "Trans-Europe Expresses", in World Atlas of Railways, pp. 86–87. New York: Mayflower Books (original publisher: Artists House, London, UK). ISBN 0-8317-9500-X.
  3. Thomas Cook International Timetable (August 1978 edition), p. 74. Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing.
  4. Thomas Cook International Timetable (March 1–April 5, 1980 edition), pp. 107, 589.
  5. Thomas Cook Continental Timetable (May 1–30, 1987 edition), pp. 67, 472–473.
  6. Thomas Cook European Timetable (April 1991 edition), pp. 90, 516–519.
  7. "Summer services from May 24". Thomas Cook European Timetable (May 1–23, 1998 edition), pp. 3 and 531; also pp. 77, 538.

Bibliography
  • Goette, Peter (2008). TEE-Züge in Deutschland [TEE Trains in Germany]. Freiburg i.B.: EK-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-88255-698-8. (in German)
  • Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; Mertens, Maurice (2007). TEE: la légende des Trans-Europ-Express [TEE: The Legend of the Trans Europ Express]. Auray: LR Presse. ISBN 978-29-03651-45-9. (in French)
  • Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; Mertens, Maurice (2008). TEE: la leggenda dei Trans-Europ-Express [TEE: The Legend of the Trans Europ Express]. Salò: ETR – Editrice Trasporti su Rotaie. ISBN 978-88-85068-31-5. (in Italian)
  • Mertens, Maurice; Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; von Mitzlaff, Berndt (2009). TEE - Die Geschichte des Trans-Europ-Express [TEE - The History of the Trans Europ Express]. Düsseldorf: Alba Publikation. ISBN 978-3-87094-199-4. (in German)

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