commuters be careful: Cologne main train station is faced with massive restrictions

Construction work
Heavy time for commuters: Hardly any train

The Cologne main station will experience significant restrictions on train traffic in the coming weeks. The reason for this is extensive construction work that should lead to commissioning a new electronic signal box. These measures result in a blocking of train traffic, which will continue from Friday evening to Monday morning. Deutsche Bahn announces that almost all trains are being redirected or replacement buses are used.

The consequences for commuters are considerable. Regional traffic and some long -distance traffic connections are particularly affected. The connection between Cologne and Koblenz on the left side of the Rhine is completely set. Routes to Euskirchen and Aachen are also affected. This represents one of the largest closures in Cologne and affects a variety of travelers every day.

To cushion the effects of this block, a replacement of rails is set up. A fleet of over 100 buses will be in use to replace six regional express lines, several S-Bahn connections and regional train lines. As expected, the buses cover about 700,000 kilometers during this phase to ensure that travelers can still get their destinations.

During the construction work, not only the conversion of the signal box is completed, but also the technology of a further future expansion is checked. The total costs of both projects amount to 360 million euros and should lead to the long term to a more stable rail traffic in the region.

The Cologne Central Station is the most frequented train station in North Rhine-Westphalia with 180,000 travelers every day. Those responsible emphasize that they are aware of the difficulties for commuters and demand a certain patience while the construction work is completed. The new signal boxes are designed to ensure increased flexibility and reliability in rail operations in the future.