before the opening of the saarbrücken city centre line, there was a trial operation between saarbrücken central station ("hauptbahnhof") and hanweiler with saarbahn vehicles. however, as it was still in the deutsche bahn timetable, replacing the previously locomotive-hauled trains on this section, it was operated by deutsche bahn. this forward operation began on 29 september 1997 and ended on 24 october 1997, the opening day of the new line through the city centre.