Deutsche Bahn line between Düsseldorf and Cologne stays closed after embankment fire

A fire on an embankment between Langenfeld and Leverkusen on the Düsseldorf‑Cologne railway damaged several signal cables, forcing the line to remain closed. The Deutsche Bahn spokesperson said, "Currently it is not foreseeable when train traffic can run again," and noted that repair work would continue at least into the afternoon. Trains on regional and long‑distance services are being rerouted, with typical delays of about 30 minutes and some cancellations.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze, with the Cologne police state security unit looking into possible criminal intent. No definitive cause has been identified yet, and technical inspections of the signalling system will be required before operations can resume.