Bahnchaos between Cologne and Bonn: Massive closures are announced!

Bahnchaos between Cologne and Bonn: Massive closures are announced!

On May 2, 2025, an important construction project of Deutsche Bahn begins, which will have a significant impact on rail traffic between Cologne and Bonn. The construction work, which lasts about two weeks, leads to a complete blocking of the important railway node. This was announced by Tagesschau.de The measure is part of a comprehensive modernization plan that aims to commission two new electronic signal boxes.

The construction work starts on Friday evening at 9 p.m. and will lead to numerous train connections affected. Long-distance transport is redirected, while large-scale restrictions on various regional and S-Bahn lines are expected in local transport. Passengers have to prepare for failures and long waiting times.

affected train connections

The affected connections in regional transport include:

• Cologne Hbf - Horrem: Re 1 (RRX), RE 8, RE 9, RB 27, RB 38, S 12, S 19
• Cologne Hbf - Koblenz Hbf: RE 5 (RRX), RB 26, RB 30, RB 48
• Cologne Hbf - Euskirchen: RE 12, RE 22, RB 24, S 23
• Bonn Hbf - Walporzheim: RB 39
• Düren - Zülpich: RB 28

Long-distance transport is also affected: ICE trains towards Amsterdam do not stop at Cologne Central Station, but in Cologne Messe/Deutz. ICE and IC trains to Bonn, Koblenz and Mainz are diverted via the right side of the Rhine, which means that stop in Cologne Hbf and Bonn Hbf.

planned changes and replacement measures

In order to alleviate the effects of the blocking, a replacement of rails is set up with over 100 articular buses. These buses will cover a total of around 700,000 kilometers to transport travelers. In addition, Deutsche Bahn provides additional service staff at several train stations, including Cologne Hbf, Cologne Messe/Deutz and Bonn Hbf. These employees should offer support to travelers during the first four days of construction work.

The new electronic signal boxes, whose commissioning is planned for May 19, 2025, require intensive preparatory work. Over 100 signals must be assembled and old systems have to be broken down. In the course of comprehensive modernization, Deutsche Bahn has already laid 400 kilometers of cables over the past five years and has installed 200 new signals. The project is realized with an investment of around 360 million euros in order to improve the performance of rail traffic and to ensure the financial load capacity of the DB, such as Deutschebahn.com reported.

The modernization aims to increase the efficiency and reliability of the rail connections in the Knot Cologne node. Travelers should prepare for possible changes in changes and find out about the current information on the Deutsche Bahn website and at Zuginfo.nrw.

Although the construction work is necessary to ensure more robust rail traffic, passengers must also expect construction noise. Deutsche Bahn has announced that it does everything as low as possible while the new positions are put into operation.

Further information on the situation can be found in the details on the Deutsche Bahn website and the linked.