horrem1.jpg (106930 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) on 13 July 2001. Looking towards east, from right to left there is the old line, a platform with a new and an old part, the new track 3 which is not used by now, the area for the highspeed tracks (with a signal gantry seen from the backside), the new track 6 which is sometimes used as siding and a new platform. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem10.jpg (144149 bytes)

The upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) with the eastern exit of Horrem in the foreground seen looking east on 29 August 2001. The old line on the right is connected to the tracks for the S-Bahn (urban trains) in the background. The highspeed tracks are under construction, one of them is connected to a siding. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem12.jpg (150237 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen on 19 October 2001. This is the view from the platform between track 2 and 3 towards northwest. In the foreground is track 3, which is used as siding. Track 4 and 5, the highspeed tracks, are under construction. By now, most trains use the old tracks 1 and 2 (not in the picture). In the background is track 6, which was in use as siding for some months and is cut off at this time. Two accesses to the new pedestrian tunnel are built, an elevator on the left and a staircase on the right. Later, the new platform will be extended to this area. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem13.jpg (115958 bytes)

The upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen looking towards west from the platform between track 2 and 3 in Horrem on 19 October 2001. Track 3 is in use as siding, at this time it is connected to the old line on the left. On the right is the area for the highspeed tracks. Track 4, the southern one, is already visible. In the background is an area where the acoustic walls are finished. They are placed beneath the highspeed tracks on both sides, so the old line is not covered. I think that the S-Bahn (urban trains), which will use the old line in the future, will be very quiet, so this should be no problem. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem14.jpg (115602 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen on 19 October 2001. Looking towards east, this view shows the area for the highspeed tracks and the platform tracks for the regional trains. On the very left is track 6, it was used as siding for several months, but now it is cut off. At this time track 3 on the right is used as siding, note the work train that waits to depart towards Cologne. The highspeed tracks in the middle are under construction. They have been covered with ballast, this and some more ballast has to be tamped under them to bring them up to the level of the platform tracks. A signal gantry is seen from the back. On the right is the old line, the track indicator on the platform still only shows a 2, also track 3 is in operation, too. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem15.jpg (150344 bytes)

The upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) with the eastern exit of Horrem in the foreground seen looking east on 16 December 2001. The old line on the right is connected to the tracks for the S-Bahn (urban trains) in the background. The highspeed tracks are under construction, on the left is the access to track 7 and 8. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem16.jpg (152783 bytes)

The upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) with the eastern exit of Horrem seen looking east on 16 December 2001. On the right is the old line, the switch on the left is the junction of track 7 and 8. One of the new highspeed tracks is still curved, it will be aligned later. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem17.jpg (143932 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen from the bridge at the eastern end on 16 December 2001. Track 4 and 5, the highspeed tracks in the centre, are complete inside the station. Track 3, the southern platform track, is still connected to track 4 by the temporary switch, while track 6 (the northern platform track) is already connected to the new switch. On the right, a part of track 7 is visible, it's catenary is just being built. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem18.jpg (152406 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen looking towards west from the temporary pedestrian bridge on 16 December 2001. The edges of the platforms for track 3 (left) and track 6 (right) are visible. Track 3 is still connected to the old line on the left. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem19.jpg (151765 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen looking towards west from the temporary pedestrian bridge on 16 December 2001. This is the end of the platform for track 6 with two accesses to the tunnel, the opening for the elevator on the left and the staircase on the right. Behind track 7 and the space for track 8, the low wall marks the northern end of the tunnel. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem2.jpg (118217 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) on 13 July 2001. Looking towards east onto the old line which will be upgraded for the S-Bahn (urban trains) later. Several new Ks signals are visible. The rightmost is a combined signal which will replace the distant signal next to it, also covering the switch which is right next to the other signals. The one in the middle will not replace an old one because the track is not equipped for bidirectional traffic by now. The left one is for the new track 3, which will be put into service sometimes after the new signals are operational. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem20.jpg (152393 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen looking towards west from the temporary pedestrian bridge on 16 December 2001. The edge of the new platform is already in place along track 3. When the old line on the left is out of service in the future, the pedestrian tunnel can be continued, then the platform can be built in this area. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem21.jpg (152047 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen looking towards west from the temporary pedestrian bridge on 16 December 2001. On the right is the junction of track 6 and 7, followed by the switch for track 8. Track 3 on the left is still connected to the old line, but it's junction to the highspeed track is ready to be connected to it when it's needed. In the background are some connections between the highspeed tracks. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem22.jpg (150353 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen looking towards east from the temporary pedestrian bridge on 16 December 2001. The highspeed tracks seem to be finished in this area. Near the signal gantry with their western exit signals, the eastern exit signal of track 6 can be seen. On the old line on the right a freight train is running through. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem23.jpg (146412 bytes)

The upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen looking towards west from the platform between track 2 and 3 in Horrem on 16 December 2001. Track 3 is in use as siding, at this time it is connected to the old line on the left. The highspeed tracks on the right seem to be finished, but they are not yet in service. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem3.jpg (111402 bytes)

The upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) with the eastern exit of Horrem in the foreground seen looking east on 9 August 2001. The constructor was not drunken, the curves are neccessary to connect the old line in the foreground to the new tracks for the S-Bahn (urban trains) in the background. The highspeed tracks will be built on the left, some parts are already visible. The S-Bahn will run further right than the old line, without the siding. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem4.jpg (117486 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen from the bridge at the eastern end on 9 August 2001. The new highspeed tracks (track 4 and 5 from left to right) are in the middle, near their ends (of course they will be continued) are the switches for the platform tracks (track 3 at the left and track 6 on the right). Track 3, which is used for trains that have to be overtaken, is by this time connected to track 4 with a temporary switch, i guess the other switch is to near to the old line on the left. On the right is a temporary access to the tracks 6 and 7 (on the right side of the new platform, only for freight trains) which are not in use at the moment. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem5.jpg (117154 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen from the bridge at the eastern end on 9 August 2001. This view shows how track 4 passes through the line of catenary masts. This is only temporary and will be changed before the highspeed traffic begins. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem6.jpg (115627 bytes)

The station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen from the temporary pedestrian bridge on 9 August 2001. The old line is on the right. Note that the end of the platform (with an old and a new part) is very narrow, i think the S-Bahn (urban trains) line will take a different way to give a bit more space there. Track 3 (left of the platform) with the temporary connection to track 4 is visible, also track 6 and 7 (on the left) with their temporary access, at least track 6 will be connected to track 5 with the switch that is already built in track 5. A part of the area for the highspeed tracks is not yet covered with the first ballast layer. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem7.jpg (116395 bytes)

The western end of the station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen on 9 August 2001. On the right is track 6 which was cut off, the new platform will be connected to the new pedestrian tunnel in this area. On the left is track 3, it's platform edge was already prolonged. The area for the highspeed tracks is in the centre, towards the left you can see a very interesting bridge. At this point movements of the ground happen (tektonischer Sprung), so a hole was digged and a bridge for the highspeed track was built above it, this lowers the effect of the movements. The other tracks are not put on a bridge because their alignment must not be that accurate, as they are used at lower speeds. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz

horrem8.jpg (119166 bytes)

Another view of the interesting bridge that covers an area where movements of the ground happen (tektonischer Sprung) at the western end of the station of Horrem on the upgraded line Cologne-Düren (ABS 4) seen on 9 August 2001. The blue handlebars are attached to the sidewalls of the hole, between them is the bridge. Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz