Cologne Central Station: Large rail replacement traffic starts

After the extensive blocking of train traffic at Cologne Central Station, Deutsche Bahn has announced that the rail replacement traffic has started successfully and without any noteworthy disorders. A spokesman for the railway praised the careful preparation, which includes the use of 100 buses in order to compensate for the failure of several regional lines. This blocking has become necessary to put a new electronic signal box into operation, which replaces a 70 -year -old technology.

The current block is one of the largest that were carried out around the city of Cologne. It lasts until the early morning of May 19 and affects the railway line from Cologne to Bonn and Koblenz as well as connections between Cologne and Aachen and Cologne and Euskirchen. Affected passengers have to switch to buses that are available at Cologne Central Station, especially at the outcome of the Breslauer Platz.

long-distance traffic

long -distance transport is also affected by the measures. The connection of the ICE sprinters from Bonn to Berlin fails and trains to Brussels are diverted via Krefeld. While some ICE and IC trains continue to drive over the right side of the Rhine, the company remains normal on the connection between Hamburg and Bremen and Cologne.

With around 180,000 travelers Daily, the Cologne main train station is the most visited train station in North Rhine-Westphalia and plays a central role in the regional transport network. The city also records the highest commuter rate in NRW. The first test for the functionality of replacement traffic will be the upcoming rush hour traffic in which a high passenger volume is expected.