Train accident on Kerpen: Aachen railway line - Cologne closed until Christmas!

Train accident on Kerpen: Aachen railway line - Cologne closed until Christmas!

Köln, Deutschland - A serious train accident occurred on the night of November 22nd near Kerpen when a freight train collided with a construction train. In this incident, not only the locomotive derailed, but also several wagons of the freight train. As a result, over 1000 meters of tracks are badly damaged, and Deutsche Bahn has now announced that the repair work is progressing as the Aachener Zeitung . The completion of the main work planned on December 23 promises slowly restarting the route between Horrem and Cologne. While the tracks are almost completely renewed, the 1800 damaged concrete thresholds, which serve to stabilize, require special attention and take delivery.

timetable changes and diversions

The train accident has a massive impact on rail traffic, especially on long-distance and local transport. Numerous trains between Frankfurt (Main) and Brussels fail and buses were used as a replacement. Although regional express lines RE1 and RE9 have been in operation again since Tuesday, they have to drive in the affected area at reduced speed. The S-Bahn lines 12 and 19 can also run only to a limited extent, reported WDR .

Deutsche Bahn has determined extensive damage to leading and security technology that are larger than initially assumed. This has an impact on the provision of replacement traffic and the overall reduced number of trains. Travelers report massive disorders and delays on the route, which are caused by slow journeys and signal changes. Many customers are increasingly frustrated because the S-Bahn height in Düren is no longer sufficient for the regional trains and passengers had to wait for other trains to achieve their goal. By the beginning of 2025, further work on the overhead lines should be carried out to restore regular operation.