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Deutsche Bahn to Pause Most Service at Cologne Central Station for 10 Days for Signal System Cutover

The upgrade promises faster fault management from a €360 million electronic interlocking slated to go live on 24 November.

Overview

  • The service reduction runs from Friday, 14 November at 21:00 until a planned restart on Monday, 24 November at 05:00.
  • Only the night of 19–20 November brings a complete closure of the station.
  • S‑Bahn operations largely continue because those tracks already use a separate digital control system.
  • Many long‑distance trains stop at Köln‑Ehrenfeld or Köln Messe/Deutz or bypass the city, while several regional lines are rerouted, including RE1 and RE5.
  • Operators advise checking apps and online timetables, with some replacement buses in select nights as technicians test the new system and dispatchers complete simulator training.