Train passengers can experience delays and problems on the route between Koblenz and Cologne in March. The railway has announced extensive construction work and diversions.
According to Deutsche Bahn, work will be carried out on a new electronic signal box for the left bank of the Rhine in the Cologne area in the coming weeks. This affects train passengers on the railway line between Koblenz and Cologne.
According to the information, around 100 million euros will be invested in the new signal box in order to relieve the Cologne railway junction. More than 500,000 commuters travel there every day.
Long-distance traffic diverted via the right bank of the Rhine
As reported by Deutsche Bahn, signals will be renewed and cables replaced for four weeks from March 3rd. Long-distance traffic between Koblenz and Cologne will be diverted to the right side of the Rhine during this time – and the main train stations in Cologne and Bonn will not be approached. Instead, IC trains stop on the right bank of the Rhine in Cologne-Deutz and in Bonn-Beuel. In order to compensate for the longer travel time, trains departing from Koblenz, Frankfurt or in the Ruhr area are up to 15 minutes earlier.
The Rhine line via Koblenz is a railway line with many delays. People who commute have known this for a long time. Now numbers from the Zugfinder.net portal also underpin this.
Restrictions also apply to local trains
As the railway further explained, there are also restrictions and diversions in local transport, which will vary depending on the construction phase and line. The changes are contained in online information systems and are announced on notices on the platforms.
The Rhineland-Palatinate regional rail passenger transport association (SPNV Nord) points out that the construction work on the route posed a major challenge for rail passengers and commuters. A spokesman told the SWR that it is absolutely necessary to use the Deutsche Bahn app to check whether and when a train is actually running before each trip.
Construction work already in January and February
From January 6 to February 10, 2023, there were restrictions on the Rhine route – due to construction work at various points. Even at this time long-distance trains were diverted via the right bank of the Rhine. There were also repeated delays and cancellations in regional rail services.
According to the railway, an attempt is being made on the Rhine route to combine several construction measures at the same time and carry them out in several steps. The second phase of work will begin in March. In addition to the signal box work in Bad Godesberg and at the Cologne-West train station in North Rhine-Westphalia, there are also some larger construction sites in Rhineland-Palatinate. Among other things, the platforms at Bad Breisig station will be renewed and noise protection walls will be built in the section between Urmitz and Remagen.
