Cologne railway line fire disrupts S12 and RE9 services

A ground fire broke out on a railway embankment between Troisdorf and Cologne Messe/Deutz on the evening of 18 July 2026. Cologne fire‑brigade deployed 14 vehicles to combat the blaze, which initially covered around 500 m². The incident forced the suspension of train traffic on three lines – the S 12 between Köln‑Trimbornstraße and Porz‑Wahn, the S 19 with delays, and the RE 9 between Cologne Messe/Deutz and Troisdorf – from 17:56 until an estimated 20:00. A replacement bus service (six buses operated by Univers Reisen) was provided for the affected segment. Passengers were advised to check connections before departure as further adjustments could occur.