.JPG) DB Class 103 on theMunich–Rosenheim railway | |||||
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | EuroCity (EC) (1987–2002, 2017–) Former: InterCity (IC) (1979–1987) Trans Europ Express (TEE) (1965–1979) Fernschnellzug (F) (1951–1965) | ||||
| Status | Active | ||||
| Locale | Germany Austria | ||||
| First service | 1951 (1951) | ||||
| Former operators | ÖBB Former: Deutsche Bundesbahn / Deutsche Bahn (DB) | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | Frankfurt (Main) Hbf (since 2017) Former: Dortmund Hbf (1979-2002) Hamburg-Altona (1951-1979) Klagenfurt Hbf (since 1969) Former: Zell am See (1970-1973) München Hbf (1951-1969) | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily | ||||
| Train numbers | EC 112/113 (since 2017) Former: EC 114/115 (1991-2002) EC 20/21 (1987-1991) | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | ||||
| Electrification | 15kVAC, 16.7Hz (Germany, Austria) | ||||
| |||||
TheBlauer Enzian is a namedexpress train service that currently runs betweenFrankfurt in Germany andKlagenfurt in Austria. Introduced in 1951, it originally ran via the GermanNorth–South railway line betweenHamburg andMunich. Labelled as an internationalTrans Europ Express (TEE) train, it also linked withZell am See andKlagenfurt inAustria from 1969. Trains were operated by theDeutsche Bundesbahn (DB) and itsDeutsche Bahn successor, from 1970 also by theAustrian Federal Railways (ÖBB).
The train's classification and formation (consist) varied over time. Since 1981, trains run fromDortmund to Klagenfurt, categorised asEuroCity service from 1987. It ceased to be a named train in 2002, but was revived in 2017 as an ÖBB EuroCity from Frankfurt to Klagenfurt, withthrough coaches onwards toZagreb in Croatia.
In 1953 the train was named after themountain flower Blue Gentian (blau, German for blue, andEnzian, the German vernacular forGentian, speciesGentiana verna;German:Frühlings-Enzian).[1][2] The name was the result of a prize competition initiated by Deutsche Bundesbahn among its passengers. Similar to theEdelweiss express train service introduced in 1928, it was associated withalpinism and theAlps.
Over the years, theBlauer Enzian's termini and route were altered so significantly that there is no section of line over which it always travelled. However, the train always either originated, terminated, or reversed direction, atMünchen Hauptbahnhof.
In 1951, theWest German Deutsche Bundesbahn announced the introduction of theBlauer Enzian as part of the then-newFernzug network.[3] It originally was planned that the North-South train would begin service on 1 July 1951, as FT 55/56. However, theFernTriebwagen (long-distancemultiple unit) trainsets planned for the new service were not yet available by then, and the train instead entered service in autumn 1951 or later with normal carriages.[4]
The route of the F 55/56 express train, fromHamburg-Altona station toMünchen Hauptbahnhof, included that of the first German high-speed railway, built later. Initially the train consisted of pre-warstreamlinedReichsbahnSchürzenwagen carriages and a UIC-X prototype, hauled bysteam locomotives ofclass 01 anddiesel locomotives of classV 200,[3] onelectrified sections also byE 10 and pre-warDRG E 18 locomotives. In 1953 Deutsche Bundesbahn also performed extensive practical trials using a USEMD MRS-1 diesel-electric locomotive.
From December 1953 until 1959 the formerHenschel-Wegmann Train was used,[5] which was extensively restored including anobservation car and formerRheingold 1928diners. A second adjustedBlauer Enzian train was specifically built for the service running in the opposite direction.
After the electrification of the railway lines around Hamburg in 1965, theBlauer Enzian was upgraded to a domesticTrans Europ Express.[6] The train began using TEE coaches hauled by the prototypes of theclass E 03 (later class 103) high-speed locomotives. In 1968, theBlauer Enzian was the first German train with a scheduled operating speed of 200 km/h.
In 1969,through coaches to Austria were introduced,[7] with a final destination ofKlagenfurt Hauptbahnhof viaSalzburg and theTauern Railway line. These cars were hauled by an ordinary express train south of Munich, still calledBlauer Enzian and first-class-only, but not designated as a TEE.[8]
In 1970, the full Trans Europ Express route renumbered TEE 80/81 was extended to Austria and the train was split inRosenheim, with one part going to Klagenfurt and the other toZell am See viaKufstein andWörgl.[9] Although the Zell am See service had disappointing passenger numbers, it remained[6] in the timetable to serve the expected tourists related to the1972 Summer Olympics. In 1973, the Zell am See service was withdrawn.
In the late 1970s, theBlauer Enzian was one of only three TEE trains running within Austria, the others being theMediolanum and thePrinz Eugen.[10] Until 1977, the TEEBavaria also ran through Austria, but for a distance of less than 20 km.
On 27 May 1979, theBlauer Enzian was downgraded[11] to a two-classIntercity, no longer serving Hamburg, but instead, running southbound asDortmund – Munich – Klagenfurt and northbound as Klagenfurt – Munich – Dortmund –Braunschweig.[12] The TEE service between Hamburg and Munich was taken over by the TEEDiamant.[12][13] By 1981, the northbound route was also terminating in Dortmund.
On 31 May 1987, theBlauer Enzian became part of the newly introduced internationalEuroCity network,[11] with train number EC20 northbound and EC21 southbound[14] (later renumbered EC12/13).[15] Interesting was the change ofthrough coaches among ECBlauer Enzian, EXPDachstein (Lindau–Graz–Lindau), ECTransalpin (Basel–Vienna/Graz/Klagenfurt) in summer 1990, in Schwarzach St Veit and Bischofshofen. The ECBlauer Enzian conveyed through coaches Dortmund–Klagenfurt/Graz/Lubljana.
Until the opening of the first German high-speed railway on 2 June 1991, the route remained unchanged. On 2 June 1991, the route betweenMainz andAugsburg was changed, to run viaMannheim,Heidelberg, andStuttgart instead ofFrankfurt,Nuremberg, andWürzburg – but still running Dortmund–Klagenfurt overall – and the train was renumbered to EC114 northbound and EC115 southbound.[15] The nameBlauer Enzian was abandoned from 14 December 2002.
The name was revived in 2017 for the Frankfurt to Klagenfurt service, EC 112/113. This train meets the EC 212/213Mimara atVillach and exchanges through coaches for services onwards toLjubljana andZagreb.[16][17] The Dortmund to Klagenfurt service, still numbered EC 114/115, was renamedWörthersee.
