This meant that the name Carl Railway was applied to the branch from Hümme to Carlshafen. The name of the Frederick William Northern Railway was transferred to the much longer line between Warburg and Gerstungen. Thus, from the Hessian perspective, the Frederick William Northern Railway was the first stage of a plan to build a rail network in the Electorate. Only the western branch and the Main-Weser Railway were completed during the existence of Hesse-Kassel. The eastern branch from Bebra to Fulda and Hanau (the Frankfurt–Bebra line),—all Hessian cities and thus of highest priority for the Electorate—crossed difficult topography and therefore was not completed until Hesse-Kassel was annexed by Prussia in 1866. Construction On 1 July 1845 the groundbreaking ceremony was celebrated for the construction of the line and by 29 December 1849 the entire route was opened to traffic. It connected in Gunterhausen with the Main-Weser Railway and in Kassel with the Carl Railway. Between Guntershausen and Bebra it follows the Fulda Valley. Sections of track were opened as follows: Bebra–Malsfeld–Guxhagen: 29 August 1848 Gerstungen–Bebra: 25 September 1849 Guxhagen–Baunatal: 25 September 1849 Guntershausen–Kassel: 29 December 1849 (Main-Weser Railway) The route is now used by several Intercity lines. References Railway lines in Hesse Standard gauge railways in Germany Railway lines opened in 1848 North Hesse