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When the timetable changed in May 1998, there was a notable change in the Erfurt-Eichenberg RE service: in the timetable, all journeys were now diverted to Gotha Central Station, a first! The previously practiced operational management of directing the REs before Gotha via the bypass curve directly via Gotha East was abandoned. Now 219-led push-pull trains came to Gotha station! That was almost a sensation, because this series was rarely seen in Gotha. But that wasn't enough, three 219s were now to meet in Gotha at the same time! Gotha became a local transport hub: the regional train from Bad Langensalza reached Gotha around 15 minutes before the full even hour and returned around 30 minutes later. The RE from Erfurt arrived in Gotha 10 minutes before the hourly hub, and the RB Eisenach-Halle waited for its departure when the opposing train from Eichenberg arrived on time shortly afterwards. Now the RB to Halle and the RE to Eichenberg left at the same time, and the RB from Halle came towards the two trains at the Gotha exit! There was such a busy hustle and bustle of many trains, something that hadn't been seen in Gotha for a long time and wasn't seen again afterwards. I took in what I found to be a sensational innovation from various angles.