Gaubahn (Rheinhessen)
The Gaubahn was a railway project at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in Rheinhessen , but only parts of it were built and went into operation.
planning
Was intended between the existing railway lines Mainz-Mannheim and Worms-Bingen of Worms to perform a third distance to the north, which Westhofen , Gau-Odernheim and Nieder-Olm far as in Ingelheim lead and then on the West Rhine Railway meet should. The project was called the "Gaubahn". The purpose of the route was also to strengthen the infrastructure in Rheinhessen and the city of Worms and to counter the migration of people and goods to the Rhine-Main area .
The route layout was, however, very controversial in detail. Some Rheinhessen municipalities that were not included but also wanted a railway connection felt they were disadvantaged. This affected communities immediately north of Worms, most of which are now Worms districts. Osthofen feared that a route via Westhofen would lead traffic past Osthofen and that the Osthofen – Westhofen railway line (in operation since 1888) would be reduced in its importance for traffic.
execution
Railway line Gau Odernheim – Osthofen
While the government of the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt supported the project, its provincial governments (Landtag) spoke out in favor of the cheaper solution of a route via Osthofen. This led to the construction of the Gau Odernheim – Osthofen railway by the Hessian Ludwig Railway . The line went into operation on May 27, 1897 - now under the direction of the Prussian-Hessian Railway Community . Between Monzernheim and Gau Odernheim the route corresponded to that of the “Gaubahn” project.
Worms – Gundheim railway line
The Worms – Gundheim railway line was built by the Prussian-Hessian Railway Community and went into operation on October 1, 1903 as the southernmost section of the project. Instead of from Abenheim northwest to Westhofen, the railway was led west to Gundheim. The pipeline route was also based on the great influence of the Worms industrialist and former Herrnsheimer Landtag Cornelius Wilhelm von Heyl to Herrnsheim who owned a large part of the village and the Herrnsheim Herrnsheim Castle served as a summer residence.
Selztalbahn
The northern section of the Gaubahn project was also implemented. The Süddeutsche Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft opened the Ingelheim – Jugenheim – Partenheim ( Selztalbahn ) line on October 23, 1904 .
Conclusion
The resulting sections formed branch lines that connected to main lines but had no connection with one another. These fragments turned out to be insufficiently economical to survive the great "railroad death" of the 1950s and 1960s. They were all shut down during this period .