Cologne Central Station to Close 10 Days for Signal Box Renovation
Cologne Central Station will undergo a 10-day closure from November 13 to 24 for regional and long-distance trains. This is to facilitate the renovation of a signal box, enabling the operation of a new electronic signal box. The closure will affect most long-distance trains, which will be redirected via Deutz station.
During the closure, S-Bahn traffic will continue largely unaffected. Regional trains will be redirected around Cologne Central Station, with alternatives including S-Bahn and KVB. Replacement traffic is only planned for the nights when the central station is also closed for S-Bahn. The new signal box is not expected to allow more trains to be handled at the central station due to high demand, but rather to provide more stability.
From November 19 to 20, Cologne Central Station will be closed for eight hours, with only lines S12 and S19 running the night before. Before the electronic signal box was ready for operation, 176 new signals were installed, 208 switches renewed, and 208 kilometers of cable laid in the past four years. The renovation of the rail infrastructure in the Cologne region will continue by the end of 2027, with updates for signal boxes in Bergisch Gladbach and Altenkirchen, and later for stations on the left Rhine side.
The closure of Cologne Central Station is a necessary step in the ongoing renovation of the rail infrastructure in the region. The new electronic signal box is expected to improve train traffic and ensure smooth operations after commissioning. Passengers are advised to check their connections and plan their journeys accordingly.
