After the end of passenger service

The final end of the railway line

A mini-excavator on rails tears out the rails and sleepers near Waltersdorf on Tuesday (November 2nd, 2004), removes the last traces of the disused railway line and thus buries the last hope for a possible reactivation of the route.
The last tracks between Hengersberg and Eging are being torn out these days. After 90 years, the railway line is only history. Hardly anyone cares. Railway enthusiasts see the tear down with sadness. The Model Railway Association (MEV) Deggendorf and the art and museum friends Hengersberg will be honoring the railway on November 5, 2004 at 7 p.m. in an "Obituary Event".

View of the railway station of Hengersberg

Architecture

At first glance, the course of the route was rather inconspicuous. Elaborate engineering structures such as viaducts and tunnels were missing. However, the train stations were varied. The architecture of the train stations Hengersberg, Aussernzell and Eging was rare. Nowhere else can you find station buildings with mansard roofs.

Freight transport saves the last section

The section between Hengersberg and Deggendorf escaped demolition because it is of considerable importance for the timber transport of the local sawmill. Since September 2007, the section Hengersberg - Deggendorf Hafen has been owned by DHB Grundstücks GmbH + Co. KG, which belongs to Sägewerk Schwaiger GmbH & Co. KG.
About 3000 large wagons of round timber is delivered to the sawmill and lumber is transported from there per year. The wood is transported by rail from Hengersberg to major seaports such as Bremerhaven and Rotterdam. From there it is then shipped to the USA, England, Scotland and partly also to the Middle East. Transport by rail saves more than 9000 truck trips per year.
The rail connection is extremely important for the sawmill. DB Netz would have shut down the route that had previously been in need of renovation, which is why Josef Schwaiger sought to save the line. Despite the grandly announced traffic turnaround, in which the shift of freight traffic from road to rail plays a major role, DB Netz is withdrawing from rural areas.
It was not easy to secure the railway line service for Hengersberg. Josef Schwaiger negotiated with the German railway company for over four years, supported by the member of the Bundestag, Barthl Kalb.
But even after the takeover, the sawmill has to do a lot for the route. The route was completely renovated. Two factory fitters had to be trained as railway operations managers and passed an exam. The route has to be checked and serviced regularly, even by external experts. The sawmill is now also responsible for the bridge constructions.