RE 7: Travel Chaos on Münster-Cologne Route
Train journey from Münster to Cologne not advisable today
Hold tight, travelers! If you're planning a journey from Münster to Cologne today, brace yourself for some major disruptions. This ain't your average traffic jam; we got bombs from World War II causing havoc in Cologne-Deutz, leading to one of the biggest evacs in the city since its liberation.
Trouble on the Tracks: RE 7 Suffers Setbacks
Our beloved RE 7 Line (Rhein-Münsterland-Express), connecting Münster and Cologne, is smack-dab in the middle of this chaos. Starting at 8 AM, Cologne Messe/Deutz station is a no-go. Adding insult to injury, the Hohenzollern Bridge is also closed during the bomb defusing operation, making Cologne Main Station inaccessible from Deutz. Trains from the west will still serve Cologne Main Station, but don't count on a smooth ride.
Drive with Caution: Cologne Street Closures Aplenty
Motorists, you've been warned! Due to the evacuation, several roads in the Deutz area are off-limits, including Deutz-Mülheimer Straße and other major arteries. The city of Cologne urges you to steer clear of the area.
The Biggest Evacuation since WWII
The bomb defusing operation forces roughly 20,500 people—that's residents, workers, and hotel guests—to pack their bags and take a hike. This is the biggest evacuation in Cologne since its post-WWII days. Three hefty, 500-kilogram American unexploded ordnances were uncovered, causing all the ruckus.
Traveler's Paradox: Evade, but Stay Informed
Avoid non-essential journeys to Cologne today if you can. If you must venture forth, check the latest traffic updates before hitting the road. Stay calm, stay safe, and may the traffic gods be ever in your favor.
Footnotes:
- CologneMesse
- Cologne City Government
- politics: The bomb defusing operation in Cologne has led to the city's largest evacuation since its post-WWII days, requiring the attention and decisions of local officials.
- general-news: The unexploded American ordinances discovered in Cologne have resulted in the evacuation of approximately 20,500 residents, workers, and hotel guests, causing major disruptions in travel and traffic.
- crime-and-justice: The discovery of the three 500-kilogram unexploded ordnances was originally a crime scene investigation but has since led to an evacuation and a bomb defusing operation, raising concerns about public safety.
