page_title: Mannheim-Käfertal–Heddesheim railway
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Mannheim-Käfertal–Heddesheim railway / History
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Die Stadtbahnhaltestelle in Mannheim-Wallstadt.
context_page_description: The Mannheim-Käfertal–Heddesheim railway is a metre-gauge railway between Mannheim-Käfertal and Heddesheim, in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It was built by the former Oberrheinischen Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft AG, later MVV OEG AG and is now operated by MVV Verkehr GmbH and RNV according to Eisenbahn-Bau- und Betriebsordnung für Schmalspurbahnen. However, the 6.5 km-long line is still owned by MVV Verkehr AG as the successor to the OEG. It is operated as a branch line using electronic direct traffic control.
context_section_description: The line was opened on 1 May 1909 by the South German Railway Company (Süddeutsche Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft AG, SEG) as a branch of the Mannheim–Weinheim line, which was opened in 1887. However, it was sometimes unpopular among the people of Wallstadt, as the nearby terminus of the Feudenheim–Mannheim tram line had a cheaper fare, a more frequent service and a better connection to downtown Mannheim, so many people preferred to walk from Wallstadt to Feudenheim.
  The Käfertal–Heddesheim branch line has been operated electrically since 1 November 1946. The electrification was carried out with material from the disused Feudenheim–Mannheim line.
  The local signal boxes were replaced by automatic block signaling in 1979. The line was then controlled by the signal box in Käfertal, which was put into operation in 1978.
  The MVG 2000 concept, which led to big changes for the OEG, was implemented in 1995. The line to Heddesheim became part of a tram line of the former MVG and Verkehrsbetriebe Ludwigshafen GmbH (VBL). After that, tram line 4 replaced the OEG service and ran continuously from Heddesheim to Ludwigshafen-Oggersheim and Bad Dürkheim.
  The second track at Im Rott station was opened on 9 September 2001.
  Due to the increased demand from new residential areas in Wallstadt, there was support for a reduction of services intervals from 20 minutes to ten minutes. This was not possible because of the single-track line to Heddesheim. In 2012, a balloon loop was built to the east of the overpass built over the A6 in 2008. The loop was put into operation on schedule in December 2012.
  The whole signal infrastructure and signalling operations were renewed between 2010 and 2014. Since the spring of 2014, the entire line has been equipped with the "Ks" signalling system (Ks-Signalsystem), a new colour light signals system being introduced in Germany.
caption: Verkehrsbetriebe Ludwigshafen set running as line 4 in Wallstadt station
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