The station Aachen Süd on the line Aachen-Liège seen from above the Buschtunnel on 16 June 2008. This station, located at the upper end of the steep grade (26 ‰) between Aachen Hbf and the tunnel, used to have several tracks which were used to shunt the bank engines. The need for this operations has decreased substantially during the last years, as most trains (highspeed traffic between Cologne and Bruxelles and local traffic between Aachen and Liège) are EMUs which can climb the grade independently. Currently the station consists of only one track, leading into the new tunnel on the right. Far behind the exit signal towards Aachen Hbf (visible in the background) is a switch where this track branches into two tracks leading down the grade. The exit signal towards Liège can be seen from the back, it is located next to the tunnel. Like all signals in this area it is equipped both with a crocodile of the Belgian train protection system and with the German Indusi. Slab track is used inside the tunnel and in the visible part of the station. The remains of the tracks towards the old tunnel are visible on the left. After the renovation the old tube will be single-tracked, too.

Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz (christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de)