Suspected aircraft bomb turns out to be iron rod A1 motorway closure and rail chaos on Monday
Cologne/Leverkusen · The all clear has been given in the search for an aircraft bomb under the A1 motorway near Cologne. Points work at Cologne main station could lead to cancellations and delays in rail traffic.
The aircraft bomb, which has tested the patience of many commuters on the A1 motorway since the weekend, turned out on Monday morning to be an iron rod, confirmed a spokesperson for the state company NRW Straßen. A specialist company examined the discovery and gave the all clear. The suspicious object was not, as first thought, an unexploded bomb from World War II.
Construction workers have already begun to refill the hole. It is not yet clear what precise effect the results of the excavation will have on the timetable for the closure of the A1 motorway. According to previous plans, the closure is to last until at least Wednesday evening. Two of the three lanes can be re-opened on Thursday morning according to information from Straßen NRW.
The ADAC also fears extreme traffic problems on diversion routes. The risk of congestion is likely to increase significantly at the start of the week, when commuters, commercial drivers and trade fair visitors are on the way to their destinations. There have also been numerous delays to rail traffic in the greater Cologne area since the early morning hours.
Deutsche Bahn began extensive works at Cologne main station on Monday morning. By 16 October, nine points will be replaced at this important rail junction in the Rhineland. During this time, tracks 7, 8 and 9 in Cologne will not be available and the platform at track 6 will be closed at night.
Deutsche Bahn spoke of a “massive” impact on traffic at Cologne main station. Lines RE1, RE6, RE8, RE9, RE12, RB27 and RB38 are affected and there will be reduced stops, especially in the Cologne city area. The RE 12 will not run at all.
Passengers will have to expect higher occupancy of trains and increased journey times, particularly on the RE5 and S6 lines, given the current closure of the A1 motorway at Leverkusen towards Cologne. “We are facing a major challenge,” said a railway spokesman, “but hope passengers will adapt to and inform themselves of the situation in good time.”
Original text: ga.de. Translated by Kate Carey.
