Cologne Central Station: Ten days of chaos – trains are canceled!

Cologne Central Station: Ten days of chaos – trains are canceled!

Big changes are coming to Cologne Central Station. From November 14th to 24th, 2025, the station will be almost completely shut down, and there are reasons for that: Deutsche Bahn will put a new, modern signal box into operation on November 24th. This measure is part of a comprehensive investment program through which around 360 million euros will flow into the two new signal boxes in the Cologne node. [Image] reports that the first construction stages were completed in 2021 and it is now time to comprehensively modernize the entire technology.

But what exactly is coming up? There will be extensive timetable changes during the ten days of closure. Many ICE trains will not depart as usual during this time, but will stop in Cologne-Ehrenfeld or at Messe/Deutz train station. Some trains are even canceled completely. Massive restrictions are to be expected in regional transport, but the S-Bahn lines and the RB 25 will only be slightly affected.

Technical details and tutorial

Commissioning work will begin on November 13th, with the technology being tested from November 14th. The new signal box will control around 1,300 regional and long-distance trains every day. 176 new signals and 208 kilometers of cable will be used, and eleven new signal bridges will be installed. [Deutsche Bahn] attaches great importance to train traffic controllers being trained on a simulation system. The new technologies are intended to improve the overall performance of the station and take the user experience to a new level.

However, the construction work also brings with it some inconveniences. Noise is unavoidable during the work and travelers must be prepared for diversions and partial cancellations on various regional trains. The rail replacement service will be set up primarily on individual nights in order to keep disruption as low as possible. However, Deutsche Bahn promises to deploy additional service staff to provide travelers with the best possible support.

Some figures about Cologne

Cologne train stations are an important contact point for around 20 million people every day. Unfortunately, in the past they were often unable to meet the needs of travelers. The condition of many train stations was perceived as unsatisfactory due to years of insufficient investment. Therefore, the “Future Station” target image was created, which aims to develop the various station areas (platform, reception building, forecourt) in a coordinated manner. [DB Infrastructure] has made it its mission to address the problems and design the stations so that they better meet the needs of travelers.

The complete timetable changes will be published on the Deutsche Bahn website approximately two weeks before construction begins, and information will also be provided on the platforms. Travelers should inform themselves about the changes in good time and consult the Deutsche Bahn platforms if they have any questions.

The coming weeks will be challenging, but also groundbreaking for Cologne Central Station. With the planned modernization, Deutsche Bahn is pursuing a clear goal: to improve performance and get more people excited about rail.