Large changes in rail traffic: NRW suffers from construction work!

Large changes in rail traffic: NRW suffers from construction work!

Deutsche Bahn has announced significant changes in rail transport in North Rhine-Westphalia for the coming weeks. From February 7th to 23rd, 2025, extensive construction work will be carried out in the Hagen area, which will have a significant impact on various train connections. These measures are part of the "S 3" renovation program, which aims to improve the infrastructure and react to the increasing need for mobility.

As part of this construction work, 28 kilometers of rails between Hagen Central Station and Hagen-Westhofen are renewed. Adjustments are also planned at the "Block Heide" valley bridge, including the installation of new overhead line masts. This is an important step to fix existing defects in the rail network and to expand the capacities of what is of crucial importance for the future of mobility in NRW.

affected train connections

The changes concern both long -distance transport and regional traffic in the region. The following applies to the long -distance traffic lines:

• The ICE Sprinter line between Bonn, Cologne and Berlin is completely eliminated.
• The ICE line from Cologne via Wuppertal to Hamm and on to Berlin is diverted between Hagen and Hamm, which results in a travel time extension of about 10 minutes.
• For the ICE line Koblenz-Cologne-Berlin, no traffic is planned until February 21. From February 22nd there will be a limited operation between Hanover and Berlin.

In regional transport, travelers must also expect restrictions:

• RE 7 (Nationale Express): Here replacement buses are used between Unna and Hagen.
• Re 13 (Eurobahn): The connection between Hamm and Hagen is replaced by buses.
• Re 17 (DB Regio): For this route there is bus traffic between Schwerte and Hagen.
• RE 57 and RE 53: From 14 to February 21st, buses run between Dortmund and Schwerte.

In addition, on the weekend of 22/23. February the connections of the RE 13 between Hagen and Hamm and the RE 7 between Unna and Hamm fail. An hourly replacement traffic is set up to support travelers.

information and recommendations for travelers

In order to be prepared for the upcoming changes, Deutsche Bahn recommends travelers to regularly inform themselves about the online information systems and use timetable apps. Especially in one year, which is known as the year of change for rail traffic in NRW, it is important that travelers always remain informed. Alternatives such as the use of bicycles or the temporary use of home office should also be considered to minimize possible inconvenience.

The Bauinfoportal provides further information on the current and planned construction projects in Germany. Residents' information and visual representations of the construction projects can also be called up here. Travelers who want to stay up to date can even subscribe to the construction projects there.

Overall, these extensive measures form one step towards a more reliable and more powerful rail network in North Rhine-Westphalia. Deutsche Bahn emphasizes that the challenges in rail traffic are great, but the planned improvements are urgently necessary to ensure a modern infrastructure.