Hermann-Hesse-Bahn resumes service between Calw and Weil der Stadt

The roughly 23 km line between Calw and Weil der Stadt (part of the Württemberg Black Forest Railway) reopened for passenger service on 1 February 2026 as the "Hermann-Hesse-Bahn" (operator SWEG, line RB76). Reactivation investment was put at about EUR 50 million; services currently run with diesel railcars. An extension to Renningen is planned for summer 2026. Update (2 Feb 2026): The opening was celebrated on 31 January 2026 and regular service between Calw and Weil der Stadt began on 1 February 2026, mostly hourly from about 05:30 to 18:20. SWEG runs Siemens Mobility Mireo Plus B battery-electric trains rather than diesel railcars. A half-hourly Monday-to-Friday timetable is planned from April 2026, and the Weil der Stadt–Renningen section is due to open in June 2026 (LOK Report, 2 Feb 2026). Update (15 Jun 2026): Since 14 June 2026 trains have run through from Calw via Weil der Stadt to Renningen, every 30 minutes on weekdays (except at peak times, when they terminate at Weil der Stadt because of path conflicts with the S62). This required a new platform on track 4 at Renningen and additional block signals; acceptance runs took place on 13 June 2026. The project body puts the cost of the reactivation at about EUR 240 million and cites around 25,000 passengers a month; after faults in the bat-deterrent technology, trains have again run at normal speed since 5 September 2026 (LOK Report, 15 Jun 2026).