Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Cologne–Düsseldorf Rail Link Reopens After Overhead-Line Failure Strands 500 Passengers

Evening repairs restored traffic following a prolonged evacuation required by rail safety rules.

Overview

  • An overhead-line fault between Düsseldorf-Benrath and Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof stopped trains on the main corridor for nearly ten hours on Wednesday.
  • About 500 people on National Express’s RE1 were stuck near Düsseldorf-Reisholz and were not evacuated until around 15:15 after waiting roughly four to five hours.
  • The catenary had to be de-energized and earthed before firefighters and buses could access the site and remove passengers safely.
  • Regional and S‑Bahn services faced widespread disruption, with RE1 and RE5 rerouted via Opladen, S6 partially truncated, and substitute buses operated by Ben-Reisen, Univers-Reisen and Schiwy.
  • Deutsche Bahn reported the section reopened in the evening with residual delays and possible partial cancellations, and the cause of the damage was not specified.