Cologne–Overath railway

The railway line Cologne-Kalk - Overath is a single-track, non-electrified railway. With it, the historic railway line Siegburg - Olpe in 1910 was extended for a direct connection to Cologne and the need for hope Thaler tunnel. The section of Hoffnungsthal to Rösrath was planned and built railway line Cologne - Mülheim- Lindlar already in the course of the (now partially disused ). The feed route as it is the route of Siegburg Overath Olpe also called Agger train, it leaves the valley of the Agger but already in Overath.

In 1997, the scheduled freight Deutsche Bahn was abandoned throughout Oberbergisch district. Since there are only a passenger, initially only to Gummersbach, since 2003, also again until after Marie Heath. Early 2014, the line was again extended until Meinerzhagen. Since May 2007, the Rhein- Sieg-Eisenbahn operates when needed sporadically freight traffic on the branching of the Agger train Wiehltalbahn and leads them in the direction of Cologne.

Prehistory

The planning phase and the construction of the old route and the importance of both routes are described under railway Siegburg - Olpe.

Actually, the planners from the beginning had preferred to a direct connection to Cologne to Siegburg. At this time, but there was still a military area in Cologne, which was the path on the way. As this site disappeared, the path was planned to Cologne quickly.

Was significantly shortened the travel time from Cologne to Oberbergische, as then in 1910 the 1,087 m long hope Thaler Thunel between Hoffnungsthal and Honrath, the connection between Hoffnungsthal and Overath and the connection of Rösrath to Cologne were completed. The new route was conducted between Rösrath and Hoffnungsthal over a section of the railway line between Cologne - Mülheim- Lindlar, which connects the two extensions together.

Since the construction of the connection to Cologne

As in many other places there were even after the Second World War, route interruptions. Hitler's scorched earth policy meant that you resorted to temporary and a redirect on the old Siegburger distance so as not to block the entire route. For the destruction of a bridge between Overath and Cologne by German troops was primarily responsible for their retreat. This bridge was repaired in 1946, then trains were diverted on the route to Olpe, since the main route was much heavier damage to Siegen. This rerouting traffic lasted until 1949. In these difficult years, numerous fall foraging trips of the starving population. In 1960, the closure of the only underutilized breakpoint Vilkerath. 1976 got the track Cologne -Kalk to Dieringhausen a range block means.

The Agger train had to fight through the increasing motorization and a systematic schedule reduction by the Federal Railways and other rationalizations and passenger losses. Beginning of the 1980s was after the closures between Lohmar and Overath and Dieringhausen and Olpe remaining distance than decommissioning risk. This also fits the closure of the railway depot on the railway Agger in 1982, from then on vehicles from Cologne were used.

As you saw passenger potential anyway, the three routes between Cologne and Meinerzhagen 1984, to the test track at the City railway operating experiment with specially painted trains. This compound resulted from Cologne via Overath continue on the only remaining passenger -operated remaining distance of the railway line Siegburg - Olpe and then in Dieringhausen continue on the path Volmetal over Gummersbach and Marie Heath Meinerzhagen. The result was a sudden increase in passenger numbers. However, still was on May 30, 1987, adjusted from Gummersbach to Marie Heath 1986, the passenger from Heide Marie to Meinerzhagen.

1989 was the distance a signal box in Overath, the City railway sets were withdrawn in 1992 for the forward operation on the S 12 between Cologne and Au (Sieg), but the clock traffic maintained. Since 1999 ride on the track, only the modern diesel multiple units of the DB Class 644

Since 1991, the Oberbergische train is traveling in Cologne, the newly-built S- Bahn route Cologne Hansa Ring - Köln Hauptbahnhof - Köln Messe / Deutz - Cologne Trimbornstraße. During the construction of the ICE line between Cologne and Frankfurt, the course was changed once again in Cologne. Shortly after the 2004 newly opened breakpoint Köln Frankfurter Straße, the track forks to Overath and over the station Cologne / Bonn Airport to Troisdorf.

2003, the interlockings in Ründeroth, Dieringhausen and Gummersbach were abandoned. Since there is no local staff more at the track, except in angels churches, where a final mechanical interlocking is left to keep a crossing opportunity, if necessary. The total distance is remotely controlled from Cologne - Deutz.

Since 20 April 2003, the regional rail extends back as far as Marie Heath.

In recent years, there were few service improvements at the track. That in February 2009 announced for Overath new passenger information system with modern LCD - train destination indicators was installed in May 2010, and now supplies information about delays and failures. Also, the barrier-free reconstruction of the station at the Dieringhausen still served a connecting line ( Volmetal train) has not been implemented to date.

On August 1, 2010, a ceremony took place with the ceremony in Overath the centenary.

According to a report dated August 20, 2010 at the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger, the hope Thaler tunnel is a significant risk, as the tunnel is difficult to achieve and no lighting exists. This condition was found in 2001. The problems to be solved according to the railway until 2012 or 2013.

Currently it is planned to convert the current S -Bahn - forward operation from 2015 to S -Bahn line 14. For this, the RB 25 is to be associated with the RB 24 on the Eifel circuit. This line uses a historical connection back on, because once there was a regional railway line of Juenkerath on the Eifel circuit to Rösrath.

For the planned extension of the regional rail see Volmetal web.

State

While some railway buildings have been renovated in recent years with the support of the city, others are privately owned and serve as residences. So the Overather reception building in 2008 has been completely refurbished and used the city as a cultural station. In addition to a service facility RVK are located in the building with a newly opened restaurant and rooms for social and cultural events. Various other station building, as Honrath or Porz- Heumar, are privately owned. The buildings are in good condition and have been converted into living accommodation. Some other reception building still serve as a pure web building and are in a moderate visual condition. After elimination of the ticket office the function of the building, however, is severely limited.

The station Porz- Heumar, which is located in a large residential area, is now only used as an operating station ( shunting of freight trains from the nearby waste transfer station ), the regional trains to Marienheide keep it there no more since the 1980s. The station is used in the passenger only when operational problems or road closures.

Vehicle use

For the project road train on the line Cologne - Meinerzhagen 1984 ten locomotives of the series 218 of the depot Hagen were suitably repainted to repainted n- cars in pure orange (RAL 2004) with pebble gray belly band and these used as push-pull trains at regular intervals. These train sets are a special feature in the railway history is, for they were only here and then from 1992 in the S -Bahn - forward operation on the S 12 between Cologne and Au (Sieg) generally use on the road.

Since 1999, driving on the route mainly diesel-electric railcar DB - 644 series in double or triple traction. To relieve partially originally procured for the Euregiobahn and appropriately labeled railcar 643 series are used. Since 2012, some trips are again made ​​with locomotives of the series 218 and n- cars.

Accidents

• On March 7, 1981, a diesel locomotive class 211 between Honrath Overath and drove in a landslide, was raised and tipped sideways against a rock wall. The accident was unavoidable because of a curve and the dark. The driver and two passengers were slightly injured, brought the remaining 80 passengers with rail replacement buses to the destination. The next day the locomotive and the first two cars were salvaged and scrapped soon after. Until April 6, there was damage due to heavy rail replacement bus service between Rösrath and Overath, the freight had to be passed completely Hagen.
• On February 15, 2009 came near Vilkerath a truck in snow from lying parallel to the tracks road and slid onto the rails. Then the train traffic was stopped in this section until the next morning. Here, a signal was destroyed, which led to problems with the nearby railroad crossing. A speed restriction and a manually controlled level crossing testified two weeks of the accident. No one was injured, there was € 100,000 property damage.

Service offer

Today the line from Cologne via Overath and Dieringhausen in the flow transport of the S -Bahn Rhein-Sieg with through binding to the Agger train and train to Volmetal Marie Heath in the passenger by the regional train Oberbergische (RB 25) day

• Cologne Hansa ring over Cologne Hbf Köln Messe / Deutz, Overath, Dieringhausen and Gummersbach to Marie Heath every hour, and
• Between Cologne and Overath every 30 minutes

Served.

On the entire route of the tariff of the transport association Rhein-Sieg applies (VRS ).

The rail transport on the railway Agger was announced in 1997 by VRS along with the Eifel track and the Voreifelbahn. DB Regio NRW won the tender.

In November 2009, the service on or after December 15, 2013 was announced by the year 2028. This Meinerzhagen 25 specified as the target for the RB.