Train failures in NRW: Emergency timetable extended by June 2025!

Train failures in NRW: Emergency timetable extended by June 2025!

Kassel, Deutschland - Train traffic in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) faces another challenge. Like ruHR24.de Regional express lines RE 4 (Aachen Hbf-Dortmund Hbf) and RE 11 (Düsseldorf Hbf-Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe) extended by another six months until June 15, 2025. This decision was made to counteract the tense personnel situation that has been burdening rail traffic in the region for months.

Passengers already feel the difficulties. Important night connections are almost entirely out about commuters. For example, travelers who are traveling between Aachen and Düsseldorf have to do without several trains, and the main train stations in Duisburg, Essen, Bochum and Dortmund must also be reduced. In order to reduce the inconvenience, National Express recommends alternative connection options with lines RE 1 and RE 6, which also lead through NRW. These measures force passengers to adjust to longer travel times, as well as nationalalexpress.de

Lack of personnel and insufficient trains

In addition to the acute lack of personnel, the railway also has to deal with technical difficulties. According to reports, only trains with a single compartment were used in some cases, which led to overcrowded trips. This mainly affects peak times when many commuters are traveling. The initiative "Fokus Bahn", a NRW program on the acquisition of skilled workers, is already dealing with the introduction of career changers as a train driver in order to quickly counteract the lack of drivers.

The recently introduced emergency plans are a sign that the railway companies have to make serious efforts to ensure stable and reliable operation. As long as the problems last, passengers have to be patient and fall back on alternative connections.