prolonged maintenance of the barriers persists for extended periods.
The ongoing renovation of the railway crossing in Neuss, Germany, has faced unexpected delays, with the work to replace the call barrier now postponed indefinitely due to a lack of offers for the tender in June 2023.
Deutsche Bahn (DB) had initially planned to complete the work in the first quarter of 2024, but the setback means that the call barrier will continue to operate, albeit with outdated technology. The DB, however, has managed to secure short-term closure periods for the third quarter of 2024 to continue with the modernisation project.
The modern railway crossing safety technology, once installed, is expected to improve the efficiency and safety of the crossing. The DB is in contact with the city of Neuss and has applied for an extension of the road closure until the second half of 2024 to facilitate the work.
Sascha Karbowiak, the chairman of the SPD faction, has been vocal in his support for the city, defending the responsible employees and urging DB to act promptly when technical problems arise. He has also called for an interim solution for the railway crossing, to alleviate the inconvenience caused to road users.
Daniel Rinkert, an SPD member of the German Bundestag, has written to the NRW representative of Deutsche Bahn, calling for an interim solution or a faster renovation for the railway crossing.
In the meantime, the detour via Konrad-Adenauer-Ring remains the more time-efficient option for road users during the current road closure. It is important to note that track closures are required for the work and must be coordinated with regional, national, and international railway traffic, often planned several years in advance.
For accurate and current information on the railway crossing situation, we recommend consulting local municipal or transport authority websites for Neuss or North Rhine-Westphalia, Deutsche Bahn or the regional railway operator's announcements, and recent local news outlets covering infrastructure developments or roadworks in Neuss. These resources would provide the most reliable update on the status of the railway crossing in Neuss.
The DB is currently relying on the outdated technology of the call barrier due to the lack of offers for the tender in June 2023, causing delays in the modernization project. Sascha Karbowiak, the chairman of the SPD faction, has suggested an interim solution for the railway crossing to reduce inconvenience, while Daniel Rinkert, an SPD member of the German Bundestag, has requested a faster renovation or an interim solution from Deutsche Bahn.
