Hello,

in Germany, Hauptbahnen (main lines) connecting Germany in all, in longer distances: east to west, north to south. It is irrelevant if they are still not electrified or (only) are still single-tracked, e.g. Husum- Sylt.
https://www.openrailwaymap.org/?lang=null&lat=54.619002575293116&lon=9.047927856445312&zoom=10&style=standard

Years after the Second World War, some east-west railroads lost their importance, had less traffic, were not be electrified and the second track was sometimes dismantled e.g. Altenbeken - Ottbergen - Höxter - Kreiensen / - Ottbergen - Nordheim. They are still main lines ( with less traffic bevor the Second World War ). https://www.openrailwaymap.org/?lang=null&lat=51.74021097589667&lon=9.342842102050781&zoom=11&style=standard

To give you an idea of a typical branch line (Nebenbahn) in Germany, the route from Kassel to Naumburg is an example.
https://www.openrailwaymap.org/?lang=null&lat=51.2578327482091&lon=9.353313446044922&zoom=12&style=standard

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see also:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Germany#Nebenbahn

Nebenbahn

As the main line network consolidated, railways were driven into the hinterland, serving local needs and commuter traffic. This was the age of the branch line or Nebenbahn (plural: -en), also variously called the Sekundärbahn ("secondary line"), Vizinalbahn ("neighbourhood line") or Lokalbahn ("local line") depending on local laws and usage.

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Best Regards,

Michael


Am 18.10.2020 um 22:43 schrieb JJJ Wegdam via Openrailwaymap:
Hello,

The German definition is different than what was internationally agreed upon in OSM. In my opinion German mappers should allow me to change the usage tags on German lines in accordance with the international definition. Does anyone disagree?

Best regards,
JJJWegdam

Background
the German definition for Hauptbahne
"Rechtliche Grundlagen
Deutschland
Die Strecken werden entsprechend ihrer Bedeutung nach Hauptbahnen und Nebenbahnen unterschieden. Die Entscheidung darüber, welche Strecken Hauptbahnen und welche Nebenbahnen sind, treffen
  1. für die Eisenbahnen des Bundes das jeweilige Unternehmen,
  2. für Eisenbahnen, die nicht zum Netz der Eisenbahnen des Bundes gehören (nichtbundeseigene Eisenbahnen), die zuständige Landesbehörde."
the definiton on the OpenRailwayMap tagging page
"Main line, mostly double tracked and electrified. Use this tag on railways with high maximum speed and dense traffic. Railway crossings are mostly elevated. In North America, this can include single-tracked non-electrified line, especially over very long distances."
"Branch lines, which are mostly single tracked, not electrified and with lower maximum speed. Railway crossings are mostly at the same level as tracks."


Op 3 oktober 2020 om 23:54 uur schreef Michael Kümmling <michael@kuemmling.eu>:

Hi,

JJJWegdam noted, that the usage of the tag usage=main/branch differs
between Geramany and other countries (see
https://www.openstreetmap.org/changeset/20641783).

In Germany, it is usually applied based on the legal status of a line as
branch line or main line. This means, that sometimes single track lines
with low speed and rather local relevance are tagged usage=main.

What's your opinion?


Regards,
Micha