It has been an interesting week using the local train system (U-Bahn) to get to appointments and to the Hessentag in Oberursel.

The first couple of days were particularly chaotic, as the trains were forced to slow down so much on the part of the line that runs from the main station up to Lahnstraße, that by the time the train had reached the first level crossing the trackside signals had reverted to “halt”.  The driver then had to use his signal key to re-activate them, losing more time.

The new passenger information system was also not coping with the slow trains very well.  They must have been passing over the sensors so slowly, that the boards still showed the train as being in the station.

A U3 train waits to cross the Kupferhammerweg

Since Sunday this has been improved (more…)

The trains to the Hessentag today (Whit Monday) are running to a special bank holiday timetable.

Although this has been extended for the Hessentag, it still means that until 11am the trains only run every 30 minutes.

Which I why when I arrived at the station this morning, this was the information board that greeted me:

The same timetable will be in operation next Sunday (19th June).

Whilst the train may offer one of the most convenient ways to get to the Hessentag in Oberursel, the question a lot of visitors will be asking is when the last train leaves so that they can get home again.

This is going to be especially relevant to those visiting events such as the “Just White” concert and the YOU FM Clubnight which finish at 2am and 5am respectively, as both the U-Bahn and S-Bahn do not normally run through the night. (more…)