Cycling where freight trains used to run
The tracks have been dismantled where freight trains used to run for Offenbach businesses. Since 1996, the route of the former industrial railroad between Sprendlinger Landstraße and Lämmerspieler Weg has become a path for pedestrians and cyclists. Locals like to use it to avoid the heavy traffic on the Taunusring - Odenwaldring - Spessartring - Rhönstraße road. The path is also part of the Route of Industrial Heritage and offers interesting information on Offenbach's economic history.
In 1993, the last companies gave up using the industrial track for freight traffic. Many of the former companies no longer existed, while new companies such as the postal distribution center, the "Ringcenter" shopping center or the publishing house of the regional newspaper "Offenbach Post" no longer needed a rail connection. And so the city of Offenbach, as the owner of the route, was able to think about alternative uses.
The new cycle and footpath was not asphalted, but simply water-bound. The existing track ballast serves as a substructure. The route, which crosses the city center in an east-west direction, is still home to a number of important Offenbach businesses as well as residential areas, retail outlets, daycare centers, playgrounds, the Ketteler Hospital and Offenbach East train station.
Whether as a fast, safe district connection for cyclists, as an excursion route or as a convenient footpath for shopping - the potential uses are many and varied. And not all of them have been exhausted. A connection to the green ring from Main to Main (opens in a new tab)is to be created via Backstraße and Georg-Oswald-May-Weg, thus completing the leisure cycle path network.
In addition to its use as a transport link, the route's historical course also lends itself to use as an industrial museum. Exhibits that are weatherproof and robust as well as display and information boards and billboards are intended to commemorate the railroad itself and the former residents. In the further design, the footpath and cycle path can create spaces for seating areas, objects or sculptures; art or advertising exhibitions by planting and using the side and side areas. A wide range of activities, events, lectures and festivals can take place in these areas. The largely open concept is dependent on sponsors. The project has so far been supported by Rewe AG and Offenbacher Verkehrsbetriebe.
Below you will find further information on the history of the Offenbacher Industriebahn as well as the texts of the information steles which, as part of the Route of Industrial Heritage, refer to former industrial companies, among other things.
The course of the route is marked on the map by small goods wagons.