Mannheim–Karlsruhe–Basel railway

Rhine Valley Railway
Rhine Valley Railway
Overview
Native name	Rheintalbahn
Line number	4002 (Mannheim–Heidelberg); 4000 (Heidelberg–Karlsruhe); 4280 (Karlsruhe–Basel);
Locale	Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Termini	Mannheim Hbf; Basel Bad;
Service
Route number	665 (Mannheim–Heidelberg); 701 (Heidelberg–Karlsruhe); 702 (Karlsruhe–Basel);
Technical
Line length	270.7 km (168.2 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	15 kV/16.7 Hz AC overhead catenary
Operating speed	250 km/h (160 mph) (max)
Route map
Route map
	from Ludwigshaven
	S1S2S3S4 (RheinNeckar)
	to Mannheim-Friedrichsfeld and Frankfurt
	via the Main-Neckar line
	Heidelberg-Wieblingen (junction)
	(flying junction)
	17.5
	19.1
	Katzbach Railway from Odenheim S 31
	and Kraich Valley Railway from Menzingen S 32
	76.4
	77.4
	former level crossing of
	Müllheim–Badenweiler railway (metre gauge)

The Mannheim–Karlsruhe–Basel railway is a double-track electrified mainline railway in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It runs from Mannheim via Heidelberg, Bruchsal, Karlsruhe, Rastatt, Baden-Baden, Offenburg and Freiburg to Basel, Switzerland. It is also known as the Rhine Valley Railway (German: Rheintalbahn) or the Upper Rhine Railway (Oberrheinbahn).

The line was built as part of the Baden Mainline (Badische Hauptbahn). Between Mannheim and Rastatt it runs parallel to the Baden Rhine Railway (Rheinbahn). The Karlsruhe–Basel high-speed railway, called the Ausbau- und Neubaustrecke Karlsruhe–Basel in German (literally: "Upgraded and new line Karlsruhe–Basel"), has been under construction since April 1987. This includes upgrading the current line to four-tracks in places and the construction of new line elsewhere. It was originally envisaged as being completed in 2008. The new construction work will be completed by 2035. The existing Rhine Valley Railway will then be expanded in the Offenburg – Hügelheim section by 2041 for speeds of up to 200 km/h.

The Mannheim–Basel railway is one of the most important routes in the Deutsche Bahn network.