Trains in Emmerich-Oberhausen are shut down for a second time, marking eight weeks of suspension.
After a summer-long closure, the Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) has announced the resumption of service on the Rotterdam to Genoa freight transport corridor. The construction work, which started in late June, included the building of a new third track, renovation of numerous bridges and crossings, and the renewal of tracks, repair of bridges, and installation of new switches.
The closure, which lasted for two weeks from mid-October to early November during the autumn holidays, affected long-distance traffic. ICE trains from the Rhineland to the Netherlands were rerouted, taking longer than usual. The train service between Emmerich near the Dutch border and Oberhausen has resumed as of 5:00 AM.
Test runs were conducted over the weekend before the reopening to ensure the safety and efficiency of the newly constructed track. Notably, the bridge over the Wesel-Datteln Canal in Voerde was raised by 1.5 meters during the closure.
The closure of a 73-kilometer stretch was lifted at midnight, marking the end of the second shutdown of the rail connection between the Lower Rhine and the Ruhr area during the northern autumn holidays in October/November. The railway renewal work is part of a flagship project of European transport policy, aimed at improving the efficiency and capacity of freight transport corridors.
The next full closure on the route is scheduled for the North Rhine-Westphalian autumn holidays. The construction work is expected to be completed by summer 2026, paving the way for smoother and more efficient freight transport between Rotterdam and Genoa.
