Cologne–Overath railway
The Cologne–Overath railway is a single-track, non-electrified railway in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It was opened in 1910 to connect the historic Siegburg–Olpe railway directly to Cologne and required the construction of the Hoffnungsthal tunnel. The section from Hoffnungsthal to Rösrath partly used the track of the Cologne–Lindlar railway, which is now largely disused west of Bergisch Gladbach. The line, like the Siegburg–Olpe line, is also called the Aggertalbahn (Agger Valley Railway), although it leaves the valley of the Agger not far from Overath. In 1997, Deutsche Bahn abandoned scheduled freight traffic throughout the Oberbergischer Kreis. After that passenger services ran only as far as Gummersbach, but, since 2003, they have been extended to Marienheide. Since May 2007, the Rhein-Sieg-Eisenbahn has occasionally operated freight traffic as required from the junction of the Siegburg–Olpe railway with the Wiehl Valley Railway (Wiehltalbahn) towards Cologne. History The planners of the Siegburg–Olpe railway preferred a direct connection to Cologne from the beginning rather than the indirect route via Siegburg. But at this time, there was still a military base in Cologne, which was in the way of the line. When this site was closed, the line to Cologne was soon planned. In