Bridge demolition in Hanau: Train travelers have to prepare for chaos!

Bridge demolition in Hanau: Train travelers have to prepare for chaos!

After Christmas, rail travelers in the Hanau area face massive traffic disruptions. The reason: the demolition of the dilapidated main station bridge, which begins on December 30th. From this date until January 4, 2025, all tracks in the northern area of ​​Hanau station will be closed, leading to numerous train cancellations, diversions and delays in regional and long-distance traffic. In addition, the S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 between Offenbach-Ost and Hanau Hauptbahnhof will be replaced by buses. These stop at the surrounding stations, such as Mühlheim and Hanau Hauptbahnhof. As Deutsche Bahn announced, this dismantling will have serious consequences for rail traffic. Other trains between Frankfurt and Fulda are also experiencing cancellations or running at different times.

The main station in Hanau is a central traffic junction in Hesse that was opened in 1867 and has played an important role in the railway network ever since. The existing bridge, which dates back to 1958 and is 120 meters long, will be demolished because renovation was not considered possible. These closures not only affect regional traffic, but also long-distance traffic, with trains such as the ICE line suffering from diversions and extended journey times. The total costs for the bridge demolition and the subsequent new construction amount to around 56 million euros, half of which is covered by Deutsche Bahn. Another portion of the bridge will be dismantled in February 2025, with the new bridge scheduled to be completed by 2027.

The diversions affect both trains on the Dortmund-Cologne-Frankfurt-Nuremberg route as well as those between Hamburg and Frankfurt, which can expect delays of up to 30 minutes. These measures ensure that traffic can be maintained despite the serious restrictions. Fanatical travelers are frozen in horror at the thought of impending forced breaks, and the nature of travelers reacting to these modern changes is already a hot topic within the community.

The current situation at Hanau Central Station and the upcoming changes are not only an important construction project, but also highlight the challenges at such an important transport hub. The station area is crucial not only for regional transport, but also for long-distance transport at a national level, which underlines the urgency and importance of this demolition project. More information on this topic can be found in the detailed reporting by hessenschau.de as well as details about the station's role in history Wikipedia.