train - Construction: Railway in the Ruhr Area soon to resume
Rail travelers in the western Ruhr Area will have to adapt once again: Due to construction work at Autobahn intersection Kaiserberg, the railway will close again for nearly two weeks starting on Monday (22. July) in Duisburg. In local transport, many trains in the western Ruhr Area will cease to operate altogether and will be replaced by buses, while long-distance trains will be rerouted extensively. Disruptions in train service already begin this weekend.
This is the third time that the central railway line in the Ruhr Area is closed for construction work. The cause of the closure, according to the railway, is the renovation of an Autobahn bridge at the intersection Kaiserberg. The Autobahn company intends to renovate a bridge on the A3 towards the north.
However, eight railway tracks run underneath the Autobahn where trains from Duisburg travel to the two central east-west axes through the Ruhr Area. While work is carried out above the Autobahn bridge, no trains may pass below for safety reasons, the railway emphasized. Additionally, 6,000 meters of track between Muelheim and Essen will be renewed, and several bridges will be repaired.
In Duisburg, Oberhausen, and Muelheim, almost no long-distance trains will stop.
The closure affects many cities in the Ruhr Area. In Duisburg, Oberhausen, Muelheim, and Dusseldorf-Airport, almost no long-distance trains will stop. The construction work also impacts ICE connections in Dusseldorf, Essen, and Dortmund. Since simultaneous construction work is taking place on the high-speed railway between Cologne and Frankfurt and further on to Mannheim, the train schedule for long-distance trains in the Ruhr Area and beyond will change "partially significantly," the railway announced.
In local transport, most commuters between Essen, Oberhausen, Duisburg, and partially Duesseldorf will have to switch to bus shuttle services. The railway companies are deploying buses on four lines between the major cities. Disruptions and rerouting affect over a dozen lines, including RE1, RE2, RE3, RE5, RE6, RE11, RE19, RE42, RE44, RB32, RB33, RB35, and S1. Furthermore, commuters cannot switch to the S6 line between Essen and Duesseldorf - the track is closed due to a landslide.
Disruptions begin already this weekend
Before the major closure begins on Monday, disruptions occur between Duisburg and Dusseldorf from Friday evening (21.00 hours). For six million euros, the tracks between Duesseldorf-Airport and Duisburg will be renewed. This results in cancellations and rerouting on lines RE2, RE3, RE5, RE11, and RE42. Passengers have the option to use trains on other lines instead, the railway informed.
- Commuters in North Rhine-Westphalia's Ruhr Area, specifically in Duisburg, Oberhausen, and Mülheim, should be prepared for adjustments in their rail travel plans due to the closure of a railway line.
- The closure of the railway line is a result of construction work at the Motorway interchange Kaiserberg in Germany, which will necessitate a two-week pause for the railway starting July 22nd.
- The Autobahn company is carrying out renovations on a bridge on the A3 towards the north, affecting eight railway tracks that run beneath the bridge, causing a safety hazard for trains traveling beneath during the renovation process.
- The interruption will also necessitate the renewal of 6,000 meters of track between Mülheim and Essen and repairs to several bridges, leading to significant disruptions in the Ruhr Area and beyond.
- In response to the closure, long-distance trains will be rerouted extensively, while many local trains will cease operation altogether and be replaced by buses.
- The weekend before the main closure starts on Monday, disruptions to rail services between Duisburg and Düsseldorf will already begin, as the tracks between Duisburg-Airport and Duisburg will be renewed for six million euros.
- Commuters traveling between Essen, Oberhausen, Duisburg, and partially Duesseldorf may have to switch to bus shuttle services as a result of the construction work, which will affect over a dozen lines, including RE1, RE2, RE3, RE5, RE6, RE11, RE19, RE42, RE44, RB32, RB33, RB35, and S1.
