freight yard to Eyach in order to carry scrap and timber towards Mengen. In Eyach, the train changes to the Eyach–Hechingen railway. There is no regular freight traffic between Eyach and Horb. All sidings on the line have been closed and some have been built over. For example, Rottenburg goods yard disappeared years ago in favour of a new bus station. Hohenzollerische Landesbahn also runs cement trains from Dotternhausen to Switzerland via Tuttlingen. After the track was lowered at the Rastatt tunnel in mid-August 2017, the route was temporarily used around the clock on weekdays. About 35 freight trains ran on the line every day. Operational issues Due to the topography and the lack of a second track between Horb and Tuttlingen, the trains on this section are still comparatively slow today. In addition to intercity, regional express and freight traffic, since 2003 the line has also had to accommodate Ringzug traffic between Rottweil and Immendingen, so that there are a particularly large number of train crossings. The line is also in competition with the modern Autobahn 81. Planning For several years it has been planned to establish new or reactivated stations on the Tübingen–Rottenburg section, including at Buhl, Kilchberg and Weilheim. However, this would require sections of double track. The electrification of the line has been discussed on several occasions as a diversion route for the Stuttgart–Horb railway. For several years discussion have been under way on plans to integrate the line with the Neckar-Alb Railway line, together with other regional lines (Ammer Valley Railway, Erms Valley Railway, Swabian Alb Railway and the Zollernalb Railway), into the Neckar-Alb Regional Stadtbahn on the Karlsruhe model. This would require electrification of the lines. Because of the general financial situation, however, implementation is not currently in sight. It is planned in the long run to integrate train control technology on the line, along with the Nagold Valley Railway and the Zollernalb Railway, with the regional electronic interlocking in Freudenstadt. References Footnotes Sources External links Railway lines in Baden-Württemberg Railway lines opened in 1859 19th-century establishments in Württemberg Buildings and structures in Tübingen (district) Buildings and structures in Tübingen Buildings and structures in Reutlingen (district) Buildings and structures in Esslingen (district) Buildings and structures in Freudenstadt (district) Stuttgart S-Bahn Plochingen