Plenty of maintenance work in Germany
Engineering works on railway tracks
‘Engineering works on railway tracks'. What precisely does that mean? What is happening and why? And I have to go to Düsseldorf a few times a year, will it affect my trip? Can I book as I usually do, and how do I know if there are changes? And why do I need to check the travel information before departure?
Erik Leddy has answers to all these questions. He is Director ICE & Nightjet and knows almost everything about the ICE - and night trains heading to Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
An extra track at Emmerich
"Next year, we will be busy working on the tracks in Germany, on several routes," Erik says. "To start with: Emmerich. For some time now, they have been building an extra track there, just across the German border. That's on the route where the ICE and night train pass. That new track will improve the connection of the Betuwe Route to the line towards Oberhausen."
That has been ongoing for some time, right? "Yes, that’s right," replies Erik, "but it's speeding up now. It has been on hold for a while because of a land expropriation issue. But now they are really getting going. They are also removing dozens of level crossings on the stretch between Emmerich and Oberhausen. The building of the extra track will take a few more years!"
How to get to Duisburg or Düsseldorf?
I have to go to Düsseldorf about eight times a year. Will it affect my trip?
"A lot. There are regular periods when ICE takes a detour via Venlo. Then ICE will not stop in Arnhem, Oberhausen, Duisburg and Düsseldorf. It will stop in Den Bosch and Mönchengladbach. In Mönchengladbach, you can catch a train to Düsseldorf. It will cost you a bit more time and you will have to change trains an extra time. In addition, slightly fewer ICE trains will run on the days the route goes via Venlo."
The night train also takes a detour
Erik adds that the detour also applies to night trains to Austria and Switzerland. Both trains will not stop in Mönchengladbach. While the train to Austria will stop in Den Bosch, the night train to Switzerland will, unfortunately, not stop. Due to domestic trains, there is no room for it on the platform in Den Bosch.
Some changes are and some are not in the intinerary planner
How do I know, if my train will take a detour? “Fortunately, this is known well in advance," Erik explains. "If such track works are reported on time, they are included in the annual schedule. Then they will be in the itinerary planner on time and you will see the new route when you book your ticket. So, there will be no surprises."
If I book 6 months in advance, are all the changes in the planner? "No," chuckles Erik, "if only that were the case. This only applies to changes that have been communicated on time. You have two types of works: those that are known on time will be in the annual schedule (1) and those that are not in the annual schedule (2).
- The first is straightforward. If you book 6 months in advance, the correct times will be on your ticket. One small proviso: if the times are not 100% certain yet, you cannot book the cheapest ticket (Supersparpreis). This is because you can never cancel that cheap ticket. Suppose you cannot catch a connecting train due to the adjusted times, you will be able to change your ticket.
- There could be several reasons why works are not on the annual schedule. The works may not have been submitted on time and discussed at the European level. This ususally happens a year in advance. Or there may be repair works due to an accident or flood, for example. As soon as these are definite, they are processed in the itinerary planner and thus also in the booker. So, you will also see these ‘type 2 works' in the itinerary planner. Which is up-to-date, at the very latest, 10 days before departure.
Ticket is booked, train times changes, and then what?
What happens if my train to Düsseldorf suddenly takes a different route and leaves earlier? Or doesn't run at all?
"Yes, that happens from time to time. We will send an email to the people who have booked with us." That's nice. So, if I've booked, I'll get a notification if my trip changes? “Yes," Erik adds. "Except if you bought your ticket at the ticket machine. Or if there are works on the way to the departure station of your international train. If there is work on the track near Haarlem, for example, you will not get an email. Sticking to the same example, if no trains run from Haarlem to Amsterdam buses will run. You will then have 30 minutes of additional travel time. So, you will have to leave home earlier."
Erik explains that Dutch egineering works are added to the itinerary planner 10 days before they are to take place. This is why you should still check the current travel information shortly before departure.
Other routes
Is that it? In terms of work next year? "No, definitely not! Like last year, Intercity Berlin will be diverted during the summer holidays. Between Rheine and Osnabrück, the track will be modernised. The train will then travel via Münster and take a lot longer. For us, it is annoying that this is in the summer when we Dutch go on holiday. For the 'German Prorail' it is a logical choice, though. In the Netherlands, Prorail often does the same during school holidays, when there is less commuter traffic. The new route via Münster is already in the itinerary planner, though."
Railway work is also underway in southern Germany. This in turn affects trains to Switzerland. The ICE trains then sometimes only run as far as Karlsruhe."
What will improve?
To sum up: due to the egineering works, I sometimes have to change trains when going to Düsseldorf in the coming period. And the trip will take longer. But what will improve? "Because of the extra track at the border near Emmerich, there will soon be more room for all trains, including freight trains. That means more trains can run and there will be fewer delays. And maintenance on the route to Berlin is simply necessary. Necessary for rail safety and reliability."
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Do you also have a question?
Have you been walking around for ages with a burning question you would like an answer to? Then write it down in the field below. We will take a closer look at the most frequently asked questions. Please note: do not enter any personal information, only your question!