Ulm main station: four weeks of standstill! What does this mean for travelers?

Ulm main station: four weeks of standstill! What does this mean for travelers?

From January 13, 2024, Ulm Central Station will be closed for around four weeks. Deutsche Bahn has explained the need for this full closure in order to install a new electronic signal box. This is part of efforts to modernize rail services and improve the reliability of connections, such as the Swabian newspaper reported. Around 40,000 commuters and travelers use this junction every day, which offers connections in all directions, including the Südbahn, Brenzbahn and the new Wendlingen-Ulm line.

However, the closure has a significant impact on local and long-distance transport, as no trains can reach the station during this time. Mayor Martin Ansbacher (SPD) has already expressed concerns and is calling for the work to be postponed or at least relief measures for travelers. He emphasizes that there are numerous large-scale projects in municipal and national transport that already entail a lot of burdens. Ansbacher sees an urgent need for action and would like to receive early and clear information about possible replacement services, as provided by SWR Current be addressed.

Extensive construction work and the signal box of the future

The old signal box at Ulm main station dates from 1967 and has reached the end of its life. In the coming weeks, over 1,000 new signals, switches and overhead lines will be installed to bring the station system up to date. The new electronic signal box is intended to not only improve punctuality, but also reduce operating costs. However, there are currently doubts among experts about the need for a complete lockdown for this period. The federal government responded to a request from Ulm member of the Bundestag Marcel Emmerich (Greens) that the closure was considered necessary, which met with little understanding from the city administration.

A binding presentation of the replacement concept for the period of the closure is still pending, and the city and the railway are still in communication. The information about the planned rail replacement services and train connections should shed more light on the matter at the beginning of November. Until then, travelers are encouraged to plan alternative routes and means of transport, as shown on bahn.de currently is explained.

Further challenges for Ulm

The announced closure of Ulm Central Station is not the only infrastructure project that will affect the city. From November 29th, the B10 bridge at the Blaubeur roundabout will also be closed, which is likely to further complicate the traffic situation. The Federal Ministry of Transport has responded to the mayor's request to postpone the work, stating that such a postponement is only possible in 2028, which is due to the lack of resources in the construction industry.

The coming weeks promise a real challenge for the city and its residents, and the questions of how local transport and commuters will be organized in the future remain unanswered for the time being. It remains to be hoped that those responsible will quickly find a transparent solution to make life easier for Ulm's citizens and travelers during the construction work.