In the early 1970s, a number of trials took place to assess the line’s capability for high speed running at 200km/h.
Today, the 153km (95 mile) lines sees a busy mix of high speed and commuter passenger trains alongside regional and international freight trains. The line is probably most well-known for its record breaking feat – on 13 August 1980, locomotive 120 002 set a new world speed record of 231km/h for rotary current locomotives between Celle and Uelzen. Covering an area of 280 hectares, the yard is around seven kilometres long and has a total track length of 300km, handling up to 11,000 goods wagons each day. South of Hamburg is also Maschen Marshalling Yard, Europe’s largest such facility and the second largest freight yard in the World.