back in service. A new halt was built in Prora East. Binz benefited as Rügen's role as a tourist destination grew. This also increased the importance of the line again. Prora was a military out-of-bounds area in GDR times and large barracks were set up using the KdF blocks. Accordingly, the railway line became important for military traffic. Several express trains (D-Züge) bringing conscripts stopped at Prora. Depending on the summer timetable, up to six pairs of express trains ran. They connected Binz, to places such as Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Erfurt, and, in the late 1980s, even Bratislava. Local passenger services were also relatively frequent; for example, in 1988 a total of twelve pairs of trains operated. Despite its importance, thanks to its high traffic density, the line remained, operationally, just a branch line. Together with the Sassnitz and Stralsund railway, and the connexion to the Mukran Ferry Port, the line was electrified. Electrical services began on 27 May 1989. In 1991, the route was connected to the Deutsche Bahn's Intercity network using IC train "Rügen". Long-distance services were restructured several times, the basic services on the line changed little, however. The number of commuter trains was reduced somewhat in the early 1990s. Several early and late connexions, among other things, were dropped on the closure of the Army barracks at Prora. In the late 1990s, capacity was gradually increased during the day by moving to an hourly timetable. Train services Local passenger rail services run hourly, the line being worked by Regional Express Line No. 9 (Regionalexpresslinie 9). Trains run alternately to Lietzow (with connexions to the Sassnitz-Rostock-Stralsund services) and to Stralsund. Three to five pairs of long-distance services run daily, most going to Rostock via Berlin to west or south Germany. At weekends, there is a direct Eurocity connexion to Prague. External links Route description and track plans of Lietzow, Prora and Binz at ralfs-eisenbahn.de Railway lines in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Rügen Vorpommern-Rügen