Narrow-gauge railways

Why not let off some steam – and travel with one of Saxony’s narrow-gauge railways. Here you can find out about the fares, where to get tickets, group trips and youth group trips.

The Lößnitzgrundbahn

Fondly referred to as the “Lößnitzdackel” (the Lößnitz sausage dog!), this is one of the oldest narrow-gauge railways in Germany. The steam trains run along the route from Radebeul Ost to Moritzburg and on to Radeburg. The Lößnitzgrundbahn was inaugurated in September 1884 as the fourth narrow-gauge railway in Saxony. The steam trains operate daily, weather permitting with open carriages. On special occasions vintage trains are used.

The Weißeritztalbahn

Daily steam railway trips into the eastern Erzgebirge, the home of the oldest German narrow-gauge railway running to a regular timetable: the Weißeritztalbahn (Weißeritz Valley Railway). It passes through all kinds of landscapes; because of this natural variety it is considered one of the loveliest routes in Europe.

The Weißeritztalbahn has connected the town of Freital, just outside Dresden, with that of Schmiedeberg since as far back as 1882. On 3 September 1883 the service started operating on the whole 26-km line to the spa town of Kipsdorf. The 750 mm gauge railway is still an attraction today.

On its travels the Weißeritztalbahn climbs a 350 m difference in altitude, crossing the wild, romantic Rabenauer Grund valley with the little Rote Weißeritz river, the Malter dam area and the low mountains of the eastern Erzgebirge. On the 26-km route the train crosses 34 bridges.

The floods of August 2002 severely damaged a large part of the line. Following extensive repairs, the section between Freital-Hainsberg and Dippoldiswalde was put back in operation on 31 December 2008. All year round there are sights and museums to visit along the line.