Large construction sites in North Rhine -Westphalia: Train failures and diversions from February 2025!

Large construction sites in North Rhine -Westphalia: Train failures and diversions from February 2025!

Deutsche Bahn has announced extensive changes to train traffic in North Rhine-Westphalia, which will come into force from 7 to 23 February 2025 due to extensive construction work in the Hagen area. The work affects a 28-kilometer route between Hagen Central Station and Hagen-Westhofen, where the tracks are renewed. These measures are part of the "S 3" renovation program, which is intended to improve the infrastructure. In addition, adjustments to the "Block Heide" valley bridge are planned with the installation of new overhead line masts.

The effects on long -distance transport are considerable. The ICE sprinter from Bonn via Cologne to Berlin is completely canceled during the construction period. The ICE line from Cologne via Wuppertal to Hamm to Berlin is also affected; Here there are diversions between Hagen and Hamm with a travel time extension of about 10 minutes. The ICE line from Koblenz via Cologne to Berlin is completely discontinued until February 21, 2025 and then only available between Hannover and Berlin.

changes in local transport

In local transport, there are also numerous changes. For the RE 7, the Nationale Express replacement buses between Unna and Hagen are provided. For the RE 13 of the Eurobahn there are replacement buses between Hamm and Hagen, and bus traffic between Schwerte and Hagen is also set up for the RE 17 of the DB Regio. In addition, the RE 57 and RE 53 are affected that run between Dortmund and Schwerte as bus connections, from 14 to 21 February.

Significant restrictions can also be expected on the weekend of February 22nd and 23rd if the RE 13 between Hagen and Hamm and the RE 7 between Unna and Hamm fail. An hourly replacement traffic is set up here. Deutsche Bahn has updated its online information system and plans to inform passengers at train stations about all changes.

long -term plans of Deutsche Bahn

These construction sites are part of a larger strategy of Deutsche Bahn that drives extensive renovation work on the rail network in Germany. By 2030, a total of 40 important sections are to be blocked for months and fundamentally renovated. A currently completed renovation affects the Riedbahn between Mannheim and Frankfurt am Main, which was completed on December 14, 2024.

Other important construction sites in 2025 include the route between Koblenz and Cologne, which remains closed from December 20, 2024 to February 27, 2025. The knot Darmstadt and the Hanover knot are also affected, with construction work that will last until the end of February.

Overall, those responsible face the challenge of making train traffic sustainable during the extensive construction work and causing them to cause timetable changes as little as possible. Richard Lutz, CEO of Deutsche Bahn, emphasizes the importance of the measures for punctual and sustainable train traffic and thanks the federal government for the provision of up to 45 billion euros for this comprehensive infrastructure projects.

The measures for renovation and conversion to future stations are part of a larger infrastructure program that aims to solve bottlenecks on the rail network and increase capacity through various measures. One focus is also on the digitization of the rail network to further increase the efficiency and reliability of rail traffic.