in 1899, a line to hollenbek was opened from mölln by the prussian state railways, connecting with the ratzeburg–hagenow line. in 1903, the ratzeburg light railway ("ratzeburger kleinbahn") was opened from ratzeburg and in 1904 the alt-rahlstedt–volksdorf–wohldorf electric light railway ("elektrische kleinbahn alt-rahlstedt–volksdorf–wohldor") was opened from rahlstedt, where it connected with the lübeck–hamburg line. there were numerous industry sidings, especially in the urban areas of lübeck, hamburg and wandsbek.