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Prior to 1920, small, sovereign territories and kingdoms (for example Bavaria, Saxony, and Prussia) operated their own railways. These Staats- and Länderbahnen [State and Territorial Railways] united to form the Deutsche Reichsbahngesellschaft (DRG) [German Imperial Railway Company].
Post World War II, Germany (and therefore the DRG) was divided into 4 zones: American, British, French and Soviet. The first three eventually combined to form the Federal Republic of Germany ( West Germany) and the Russian zone became the German Democratic Republic ( East GermanyFor the historical eastern German provinces, see Eastern Germany East Germany officially the German Democratic Republic GDR , German Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR , was a Communist Party-led state that existed from 1949 to 1990 in the former Soviet).
From 19491949 is the common year starting on Saturday. see link for calendar) Events January-February January 4 RMS Caronia of the Cunard Line departs Southampton for New York on her maiden voyage January 4 February 22 Series of winter storms in Nebraska, Wyoming,, the new governments assumed authority for railway operations. The DRG's successors were named Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) [German Federal Railways] in the West, and Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) [German Imperial Railways] in the East -- even though the empire had ceased to exist.
Unlike the DRG, which was a corporation, both the DB and the DR were federal institutions, directly controlled by their respective transportation ministries. Railway service between East and West was restricted; there were around five well-controlled and secure checkpoints between West Germany and East GermanyFor the historical eastern German provinces, see Eastern Germany East Germany officially the German Democratic Republic GDR , German Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR , was a Communist Party-led state that existed from 1949 to 1990 in the former Soviet, and about the same number between East GermanyFor the historical eastern German provinces, see Eastern Germany East Germany officially the German Democratic Republic GDR , German Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR , was a Communist Party-led state that existed from 1949 to 1990 in the former Soviet and West BerlinWest Berlin was the name given to the western part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the American, British and French allied sectors that were installed in 1945. The Soviet sector became East Berlin, part of East Germany. West Berlin was su. Four transit routes existed between West Germany and West BerlinWest Berlin was the name given to the western part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the American, British and French allied sectors that were installed in 1945. The Soviet sector became East Berlin, part of East Germany. West Berlin was su; citizens of West Berlin and West Germany were able to use these without too much harassment by the East German authorities.
In 1989, the Wall fell. Train frequency rapidly increased on the existing East/West corridors; closed links which had formerly crossed the border were re-opened in order to help Germans explore their newly found freedom.
On October 3, 1990, Germany was reunified; however, this was not the case with the railways. Administrative and organisational problems led to the decision to reform the organisation of Germany's railways. The so-called Bahnreform [Railways Reform] came into effect in 1994, when the Deutsche Bundesbahn and the Deutsche Reichsbahn joined to form the Deutsche Bahn AG (DBAG).