The timetable will be valid until May 3. The Ministry of Transport, transportation companies and networks had all agreed on expanding the services again. With the backdrop of the corona crisis, local traffic had been reduced considerably in the past weeks.

The city of Bonn also announced on Friday afternoon that buses and rail will be running regularly in Bonn again starting Thursday, April 23. SWB Bus und Rail, in coordination with the city administration, will adjust the timetable beginning on Thursday, because that is when the first students will be allowed to attend school again so they can prepare for exams.

According to SWB Managing Director Anja Wenmakers, the new situation must be monitored, as it is not yet known how many students will make use of this option: "Where additional trips are required, we will act flexibly and pointedly to fit the situation as much as possible.”

SWB appealed to passengers to observe the hygiene rules, because keeping a distance of 1.5 meters would not be possible in all situations. Passengers are recommended to wear a mouth and nose protector. The corona protection measures for passengers and drivers remain in place.

The RE5 between Koblenz and Wesel via Bonn and Cologne will be running again according to the regular timetable from Monday. The RB26 between Cologne and Mainz as well as the RB27 running on the right side of the Rhine between Koblenz and Mönchengladbach will run without restrictions, following the regular timetable. There will also be no more restrictions for the RB30 between Bonn and Ahrbrück.

The ministry appealed to passengers to continue fighting the coronavirus by observing the rules of hygiene. Passengers should wear a mouth and nose protector. As well, trips that are not absolutely necessary should be avoided.

In the Mönchengladbach area, Deutsche Bahn (DB) is planning work on the control and safety technology and the tracks in the near future. Because of that, the line running between Mönchengladbach and Neuss will be partially and temporarily closed, which will lead to timetable changes and the closing of some stops, DB announced. Between the evening of April 23 and the morning of May 9, the RE 4 trains between Mönchengladbach and Düsseldorf will be cancelled, and on the RE 13 line, the trains between Viersen and Düsseldorf will be diverted without stopping in Mönchengladbach and Neuss.

As a replacement, buses will be running. Further details on the individual connections are available at mobil.nrw. Orig. text: ga.de, with material from dpa Translation: Carol Kloeppel