Bad news for all commuters and rail travelers in autumn: Cologne Central Station will be closed for a whole ten days in mid-November. This means numerous cancellations and detour – even more than you are already used to.
The reason for the closure is a renewal of the signal box. It is already 50 years old and ensures that the points, barriers and signals are well coordinated. The old technology has repeatedly caused delays and failures and led to many a hassle for rail travelers. At least that is now set to change: The new, completely digital interlocking is intended to ensure trouble-free train services. Together with the “Linker Rhein” electronic interlocking, which has already been converted, Deutsche Bahn is investing around 360 million euros in this project.
Closures and detour only after 11.11.
From November 14 at 9 p.m., we will therefore have to be patient so that Cologne Central Station can improve. From this time, the station will be closed to all regional and long-distance trains. The closure will last until November 24 at 5 am.
Most long-distance trains will be diverted between these two dates, mainly via Deutz station. However, some connections will also be canceled completely. Regional trains – with the exception of the RE 25 – will be routed around Cologne Central Station and there will be alternative stops. The S-Bahn trains will continue to run as normal and will be available as replacement connections, as will the KVB.
There is one exception: during the night from November 19 to 20, Cologne Central Station will be completely closed and S-Bahn services will also be affected – only the S 12 and S 19 lines will run as usual. A rail replacement service will help out that night.
Regional train detour at a glance
Deutsche Bahn has drawn up a comprehensive plan showing the cancellations and detour of the trains. The changes will be available in detail around two weeks before the start of construction and can be accessed at zuginfo.nrw, for example. Here is an overview of the changes to regional trains:
- RE 1 (RRX): Diversion via Neuss. Stops canceled Düsseldorf-Benrath, Leverkusen Mitte, Cologne-Mülheim, Cologne Messe/Deutz, Cologne main station. Replacement stops: Neuss Hbf, Dormagen.
- RE 5 (RRX): Diversion via Neuss. Stops canceled: Düsseldorf-Benrath, Leverkusen Mitte, Köln-Mülheim, Köln Messe/Deutz, Köln Hbf. Replacement stops: Neuss Hbf, Dormagen.
- RE 6 (RRX): Diversion via Leverkusen. Stops canceled: Düsseldorf-Bilk, Neuss Hbf, Dormagen, Cologne Hbf. Replacement stops: Düsseldorf-Benrath, Leverkusen Mitte, Köln-Mülheim, Köln Messe/Deutz (low).
- RE 7: Diversion via Düsseldorf. Stops canceled: Solingen Hbf, Opladen, Köln Messe/Deutz, Köln Hbf, Dormagen. Replacement stop: Düsseldorf Hbf.
- RE 8: Partial cancellation Cologne-Ehrenfeld – Linz (Rhine).
- RE 9: Diversion via Südbrücke. Replacement stop: Köln Süd.
- RE 22: Partial cancellation Hürth-Kalscheuren – Köln Messe/Deutz.
- RB 24: Partial cancellation Cologne West – Cologne Messe/Deutz.
- RB 26: Partial cancellation Cologne South – Cologne Messe/Deutz.
- RB 27: Diversion via Südbrücke. Cancellation of stops Cologne Central Station, Cologne Messe/Deutz. Replacement stop: Köln Süd.
- RB 38: Partial cancellation Horrem – Köln Messe/Deutz.
- RB 48: Partial cancellation Cologne-Mülheim – Bonn-Mehlem.
Anyone who has survived these massive cancellations and detour at Cologne Central Station is at least well prepared for further closures. The railroad has announced that the signal boxes in Cologne-Mülheim, Bonn Bad Godesberg, Bonn main station, Roisdorf, Sechtem, Brühl and in the Aachen area will also be modernized over the next few years. It is to be hoped that train services will run smoothly afterwards.