Umleiterzüge Mecklenburg Lübeck Hamburg Grevesmühlen Bad Kleinen Rostock Binz – IC 2263 – IC 2268

Due to the months-long total closure of the Hamburg–Berlin line, an interesting pair of Intercity trains is running in northern Germany in late summer 2024. For a few weeks, ICs 2263 and 2268 are the only direct connection from Hamburg to Binz on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen. The trains use the non-electrified line from Lübeck to Bad Kleinen on Lake Schwerin. The two ICs reverse direction at Lübeck Central Station. The plan was for the diesel locomotive to arrive in Lübeck and take over the train to Binz. However, the ten-minute layover scheduled for this proved far too short. Now, IC 2263 takes the 218 locomotive back to Hamburg in the afternoon, and IC 2268 brings it back to Lübeck the following morning. Why is 218 497 called the Märklin-Piko locomotive, and why does it have this unusual paint scheme? This diesel locomotive belonged to DB's vehicle maintenance depot in Cottbus for several years until mid-2023. There, the idea arose to turn it into an advertising locomotive. The black section was intended to evoke the tradition of repairing steam locomotives, while the light-colored section represented the maintenance of modern vehicles. The two model railway manufacturers Märklin and Piko contributed financially to the locomotive's restoration and released it as a model. Initially, the model manufacturers' logos were affixed to the driver's cabs of the prototype locomotive. The sides featured advertisements for DB's vehicle maintenance depot in Cottbus. Today, the locomotive belongs to DB Long Distance. Since then, all advertising has been removed. The non-electrified line from Lübeck to Bad Kleinen became part of the German Unity Transport Project No. 1 after German reunification. It was supposed to be upgraded by 1995. After the ceremonial groundbreaking, the work has progressed slowly and remains incomplete to this day. With a few exceptions, the line is now used only by regional trains. The two Intercity trains between Hamburg and Rostock, and vice versa, are very heavily used every day. A second daily train pair would certainly have attracted enough passengers. Other connections between Hamburg and Binz require multiple changes and usually take longer. The Märklin-Piko locomotive was replaced on September 3rd by the traffic-red 218 322, whose service, however, only lasted four days. It was then replaced by the old-style red 218 373. The locomotive only carries this number because of its historical livery. Its correct designation is 218 838. The Märklin-Piko locomotive is actually used for rail service to Sylt. It returned there after its service with the replacement Intercity trains. The Märklin-Piko locomotive's usual operating area is Sylt. IC 2263 and 2268 will run from August 16th to September 29th, 2024. UPDATE: The service of these trains was prematurely terminated on September 22nd because the line from Herrnburg to Bad Kleinen was completely closed due to urgent construction work.