Status: 07/15/2021 5:32 p.m.
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The storm damage in western Germany continues to affect rail traffic. There are still many restrictions, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia. Travelers should avoid the region.
Rail traffic in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate continues to be massively impaired by the floods and continuous rain. Tracks, switches and signaling technology are badly damaged in many parts of the country, said Deutsche Bahn. Train stations and signal boxes are also affected.
The railway called for trips to and from North Rhine-Westphalia to be postponed if possible. The Cologne – Wuppertal – Hagen – Dortmund railway line is currently closed. The main train station in Hagen was closed due to a water ingress. Also on the route from Cologne to Koblenz via Bonn Hauptbahnhof no trains could run.
Current flood situation in North Rhine-Westphalia
Jan Koch, WDR, Tagesschau 8:00 p.m., July 15, 2021
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There are also significant restrictions on the route from Cologne to Dortmund through the Ruhr area. Trains from the north and east ended in Münster, Hamm and Dortmund. From the south, the connections ended in Koblenz or Cologne.
Long-distance traffic to and from Brussels is interrupted, according to Deutsche Bahn. The long-distance trains between Cologne and Bruxelles-Midi are canceled.
The train station in Hagen is closed due to flooding.
Image: AFP
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Due to line closures, numerous S-Bahn and regional lines do not run or only run to a limited extent. A current overview of disabilities is available here retrievable.
Disabilities that lasted for days
Before starting their journey, travelers should find out about their connection on the Internet or in the DB Navigator app. Long-distance tickets for trips affected by the storms remain valid, according to Deutsche Bahn, and can either be used flexibly or canceled free of charge up to seven days after the disruption has ended.
It is still unclear when the restrictions can be lifted: In many places the tracks have been flooded, lane disruptions and damage to operating systems. A recording of the storm damage is only possible with draining water masses.
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