buir1.jpg (131090 bytes)

View onto the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) looking towards west near km 32.8 on 23 August 2001. The old line is on the left. In the center the first ballast layer for the highspeed tracks is prepared. In the foreground the catenary will be fitted with a five-field backbone span. Between the thicker masts for the tensioning assemblies are four pairs of masts prepared for double brackets. Some new rails are stored beneath the old line. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

buir10.jpg (113129 bytes)

View onto the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) looking towards east from the eastern access to the temporary platform at the station of Buir on 13 October 2001. The northern highspeed track in the center and the southern highspeed track on the right seem to be finished, only the catenary is still missing. Next to the old line on the right is a new signal and the old entrance signal. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

buir17.jpg (112131 bytes)

The upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen from the eastern end of the southern temporary platform at Buir on 26 July 2002. East of the new station the two tracks for the S-Bahn (urban trains) are under construction. In the background the join to a single track towars Sindorf. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

buir8.jpg (119555 bytes)

View onto the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) looking towards east from the eastern access to the temporary platform at the station of Buir on 23 August 2001. In the center is the northern highspeed track, no ballast was put onto it by now. A lot of ballast was put onto the southern highspeed track. Next to the old line on the right is a new signal and the old entrance signal. The train far in the background runs on a section of the northern highspeed track that is already in service. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

switch_bu1.jpg (132360 bytes)

A pre-assembled switch seen at the upgraded line Cologne-Düren east of Buir on 17 February 2007. It will be installed here for the relocation of the junction where the S-Bahn (suburban railway) line becomes double tracked, currently this junction is about 1.5 km further west. The switch is about 90 m long, it seems to be of the standard type with 2500 m turnout radius, which can be passed with up to 140 km/h in the diverging branch. This view from east shows the points in the foreground. The control mechanism is not yet mounted, several parts of it are stored on the left. Note that the straight track (the right one) is not straight at all, as the switch is not properly aligned here. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

switch_bu2.jpg (108779 bytes)

A pre-assembled switch seen at the upgraded line Cologne-Düren east of Buir on 17 February 2007. It will be installed here for the relocation of the junction where the S-Bahn (suburban railway) line becomes double tracked, currently this junction is about 1.5 km further west. The switch is about 90 m long, it seems to be of the standard type with 2500 m turnout radius, which can be passed with up to 140 km/h in the diverging branch. This view from west shows the frog in the foreground, due to the small frog angle it is a moving frog which leaves no gap in the rail. To allow the movement of the frog, one of the rails next to it is fitted with an expansion joint. Note that the straight track (the left one) is not straight at all, as the switch is not properly aligned here. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)

tunnel_bu3.jpg (99959 bytes)

The new tunnel in Buir on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen from the north side on 2 October 2002. In the foreground is the part of the tunnel that carries the highspeed tracks, which are at this time used by all train. Behind the acoustic wall are the tracks for the S-Bahn (urban trains). A wall is under construction inside the tunnel. It will seperate the street on the left from the pedestrian way on the right (on a higher level). The way will also be the access to the platforms, the end of the southern staircase is visible on the right. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz