"On Schedule": End of Railway Closure in the Ruhr Area in Sight - Ruhr Region's Rail Closure Ends: RRX Modernization Completes
The eastern Ruhr area in Germany has seen several regional railway lines replaced by buses in recent weeks. This is due to extensive construction and preparatory work for the Rhine-Ruhr Express (RRX) modernization project, which aims to expand and upgrade regional rail services in North Rhine-Westphalia. The seven-week closure of the main rail line through the Ruhr region near Bochum is set to end as planned on October 31, with regular train services resuming later that evening.
During the closure, new noise barriers were installed in Essen. The closure also enabled essential maintenance projects, including track replacement and rail bed stabilization near Bochum. Preparatory work for the expansion of the Rhein-Ruhr Express (RRX) network was carried out during this period. Long-distance trains have not stopped in Bochum during the closure, adding 20 minutes to their travel times between Essen and Bochum. Regional services in the eastern Ruhr region have been suspended, with replacement buses operating in their place.
The closure of the main rail line through the Ruhr region near Bochum is set to end on October 31, with regular train services between Essen, Bochum, and Dortmund expected to resume at 9:00 PM that day. The closure has allowed for essential maintenance and preparatory work for the RRX expansion, ensuring improved services in the future.
