Police were alerted immediately and, upon arrival, the bomb-sniffing canine unit also confirmed the nature of the device.
After a scan of the box, the bomb disposal unit defused the home-made explosive device.
The ‘bomb’ was composed of firecrackers, nails, bolts, and a thick black powder. According to the police, the device could have harmed a significant number of people had it gone off.
However, experts later stated that there had been far too many flaws in the design for it to have detonated properly.
Crime scene investigators are still examining the scene, while all remaining trains were searched for additional devices.
The train containing the bomb had originally arrived in Köln from Gummersbach.
It has not yet been determined whether or not the device was part of a terrorist attack, with police still evaluating possible lines of enquiry while keeping an open mind.
The assumption is that the device was most likely supposed to attract attention on Germany’s Unification Day.
Investigators have secured video footage, which will be analysed over the coming days. They are also looking for witnesses and have alerted the general population to be on the look-out for other potential devices.
