Cologne Stadtbahn

The Cologne Stadtbahn is a light rail system in the German city of Cologne, including several surrounding cities of the Cologne Bonn Region (Bergisch Gladbach, Bonn, Bornheim, Brühl, Frechen, Hürth, Leverkusen-Schlebusch, Wesseling). The term Stadtbahn denotes a system that encompasses elements of trams as well as an underground railway network (U-Bahn) and interurban rail, even including three lines that are licensed as heavy rail and used by freight trains as well as Stadtbahn vehicles. Two of these lines connect the Cologne Stadtbahn to the Bonn Stadtbahn. These lines (16 and 18) are jointly operated by both cities' transport authorities, resulting in both systems and the lines connecting them sometimes collectively referred to as Stadtbahn Rhein-Sieg.

Cologne Stadtbahn
Light rail trainset in front of the river Rhine and Cologne Cathedral
Overview
LocaleCologne (Köln)
Germany
Transit typeLight rail (Stadtbahn)/Tram
Number of lines12
Number of stations233
Daily ridership760,821 (2016)[1]
Annual ridership214,300,000 (2018)[1]
Websitewww.kvb-koeln.de
Operation
Began operation1877[2]
Operator(s)Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe (KVB)
Number of vehicles382 (2013)[1]
Train length60 meters (200 ft)
Technical
System length198.5 kilometers (123.3 mi) (2018)[1]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC overhead line
Average speed16.2 mph (26.1 km/h) (2013)[1]

The Cologne Stadtbahn is operated by the Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB) and the Bonn Stadtbahn is operated by the Stadtwerke Bonn (SWB – City of Bonn Utilities Division).[3] The KVB and SWB are members of the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg (VRS – Rhein-Sieg Transit Authority), formed in 1987 to consolidate the transit authorities in the metropolitan Cologne area and operate a joint fare structure. There were 38 underground stations, with an additional four being added since 2015.[4]

History
The Colone Stadtbahn at Äußere Kanalstraße station

The Cologne Stadtbahn traces its history to the first horsecar lines that started operating in 1877.[5] Within a few years, several companies had built an extensive network. Because none of these companies showed interest in electrifying their lines, the city of Cologne bought them on 1 January 1900. Electric trams were introduced and additional lines built until 1912, including Vorortbahnen to surrounding villages outside the city limits. Outside the city center, these lines had segregated right-of-way and were more similar to "real" railroads than to trams.[6]

During World War II, Cologne suffered heavy damage. The city center was almost destroyed and the tram lines with it. After the war, only a few of the existing lines were rebuilt in the downtown area, while meanwhile automobile traffic increased heavily. To improve the situation, construction of the first tunnel began in 1963. When it opened in November 1968, it was integrated into the tram network, instead of being run as a separate subway. Since then, street-running tram lines have gradually been replaced by tunnels, some elevated track and segregated surface lines. From 1973 until 2006 light rail vehicles have operated together with classic trams on the same lines.[6]

Underground construction in downtown Cologne, one of Germany's oldest cities, is often obstructed by archeologists' legal rights to dig in all future building sites within the medieval city limits before all heavy construction machinery.

Current routes
Entrance to Friesenplatz station on Hohenzollernring
Technical map
Appellhofplatz/Breite Straße station before renovation

Because the light rail network evolved from the tram network instead of replacing it, there were numerous stations served by both light rail and tram vehicles for almost three decades. While high platforms for step less entry into light rail vehicles could be built on the outer branches, stations in the city center had to have low platforms to support trams as well. The introduction of low-floor technology in the early 1990s promised wheelchair-accessible entry throughout the network without having to build several hundred high platforms. To allow the introduction of low-floor trains without having to demolish existing high platforms, the network was divided into two sub-networks of different floor heights.

On weekdays, all lines are served in 5- to 10-minute intervals from 6 am to 8 pm, with little or no service between around 1 am and about 4.30 am, and usually 15-minute intervals in the early night and early morning. On weekends, there is an hourly service throughout the night. Because several lines overlap on the routes through the city center, some stations are served by up to 30 trains per hour in each direction.

routelengthavg. speed
1Weiden West – Junkersdorf – Neumarkt – Bf Deutz – Kalk Post – Kalk Kapelle – Brück – Refrath – Bensberg
during peak hours 5-minute intervals Junkersdorf–Brück		24.9 km (15.5 mi)27.2 km/h (16.9 mph)
3Görlinger-Zentrum – Mengenich – Bocklemünd – Bickendorf – Bf Ehrenfeld – Bf West – Neumarkt – Bf Deutz – Buchheim – Holweide – Thielenbruch
off-peak service ends at Holweide		20.1 km (12.5 mi)26.2 km/h (16.3 mph)
4Bocklemünd – Bickendorf – Bf Ehrenfeld – Bf West – Neumarkt – Bf Deutz – Mülheim, Wiener Platz – Dünnwald – Schlebusch
evening service starts at Bickendorf		21.5 km (13.4 mi)28.0 km/h (17.4 mph)
5Sparkasse Am Butzweilerhof – Ossendorf – Neuehrenfeld – Bf West – Dom/Hbf – Rathaus – Heumarkt10.3 km (6.4 mi)20.4 km/h (12.7 mph)
7Frechen – Marsdorf – Braunsfeld – Neumarkt – Poll – Porz – Zündorf
Frechen–Braunsfeld served in 20-minute intervals except for peak hours		25.5 km (15.8 mi)25.5 km/h (15.8 mph)
9Sülz – Universität – Bf Süd – Neumarkt – Bf Deutz – Kalk Post – Kalk Kapelle – Ostheim – Königsforst
5-minute intervals Universität–Bf Deutz except for school holidays		15.4 km (9.6 mi)25.0 km/h (15.5 mph)
12Merkenich – Niehl – Ebertplatz – Hansaring – Ringe – Zollstock
Merkenich–Niehl served in 20-minute intervals from 9am to 1pm		16.5 km (10.3 mi)22.0 km/h (13.7 mph)
13Sülzgürtel – Aachener Str. – Bf Ehrenfeld – Gürtel – Bf Mülheim – Buchheim – Holweide15.4 km (9.6 mi)28.9 km/h (18.0 mph)
15Chorweiler – Longerich – Ebertplatz – Hansaring – Ringe – Ubierring
during peak hours 5-minute intervals Longerich–Ubierring		15.2 km (9.4 mi)24.0 km/h (14.9 mph)
16Niehl, Sebastianstraße – Dom/Hbf – Neumarkt – Ubierring – Sürth – Wesseling – Bonn Hbf – Bonn-Bad-Godesberg
20-minute intervals from Sürth (during peak hours from Wesseling)		44.4 km (27.6 mi)33.3 km/h (20.7 mph)
17

Severinstr. – Chlodwigplatz – Rodenkirchen (– Sürth)
Monday to Friday, 7:00 to 8:00 and 16:30 to 18:00 to Sürth

18Thielenbruch – Buchheim – Bf Mülheim – Dom/Hbf – Neumarkt – Klettenberg – Brühl – Bonn Hbf
5-minute intervals Buchheim–Klettenberg, 20-minute intervals from Brühl		46.2 km (28.7 mi)33.4 km/h (20.8 mph)

Former lines
LineRoutefromto
 1  Weiden Schulstr.- Junkersdorf – Müngersdorf – Braunsfeld – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt – Heumarkt – Deutz/Messe – Kalk – Höhenberg – Merheim – Brück – Refrath – Bensberg 16 June 200227 May 2006
Junkersdorf – Müngersdorf – Braunsfeld – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt – Heumarkt – Deutz/Messe – Kalk – Höhenberg – Merheim – Brück – Refrath – Bensberg 2 August 198015 June 2002
Sülz, Hermeskeiler Platz – Universität – Zülpicher Platz – Neumarkt – Heumarkt – Deutz/Messe – Kalk – Höhenberg – Merheim – Brück – Refrath – Bensberg 19 October 19701 August 1980
Bocklemünd – Bickendorf – Venloer Str./Gürtel – Hans-Böckler-Platz – Brabanter Str. – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt – Heumarkt – Deutz/Messe – Kalk – Höhenberg – Merheim – Brück – Refrath – Bensberg 12 June 196718 October 1970
 2   stopped service 30 May 1999
Benzelrath – Frechen – Marsdorf – Lindenthal – Braunsfeld – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt (– Heumarkt – Deutz – Poll – Porz – Zündorf) 25 September 199430 May 1999
Benzelrath – Frechen – Marsdorf – Lindenthal – Braunsfeld – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt (– Heumarkt – Deutz/Messe – Kalk – Vingst – Ostheim) 2 August 198024 September 1994
Sülz, Hermeskeiler Platz – Universität – Zülpicher Platz – Neumarkt – Heumarkt – Deutz – Vingst – Ostheim 19 October 19702 August 1980
Zollstock, Südfriedhof – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf. 6 October 196918 October 1970
Zollstock, Südfriedhof – Barbarossaplatz – Zülpicher Platz – Mauritiuskirche – Neumarkt – Poststraße – Barbarossaplatz – Zollstock, Südfriedhof 12 June 19675 October 1969
 3  Bocklemünd – Venloer Str./Gürtel – Hans-Böckler-Platz – Friesenplatz – Appellhofplatz – Neumarkt – Severinstr. – Bf. Deutz/Messe – Buchheim – Holweide – Dellbrück – Thielenbruch 19 October 197015 June 2002
 during U-Bahn construction only from Venloer Str./Gürtel 16 September 198930 May 1992
Bickendorf, Schleife am Erlenweg – Akazienweg – Venloer Str./Gürtel – Hans-Böckler-Platz – Brabanter Str. – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt – Kleiner Griechenmarkt – Severinsbrücke – Bf. Deutz/Messe – Buchheim – Holweide – Dellbrück – Thielenbruch 12 June 196718 October 1970
 4  Bickendorf, Äußere Kanalstraße – Subbelrather Straße/Gürtel – Hans-Böckler-Platz – Friesenplatz – Appellhofplatz – Neumarkt – Severinstr. – Bf. Deutz/Messe – Mülheim – Höhenhaus – Dünnwald – Schlebusch; 24 June 198930 May 1992
Bocklemünd – Subbelrather Straße/Gürtel – Hans-Böckler-Platz – Friesenplatz – Appellhofplatz – Neumarkt – Severinstr. – Bf. Deutz/Messe – Mülheim – Höhenhaus – Dünnwald – Schlebusch; 24 April 198523 June 1989
Bocklemünd – Venloer Str./Gürtel – Hans-Böckler-Platz – Friesenplatz – Appellhofplatz – Neumarkt – Severinstr. – Bf. Deutz/Messe – Mülheim – Höhenhaus – Dünnwald – Schlebusch; 7 January 197523 April 1985
Bickendorf, Akazienweg – Venloer Str./Gürtel – Hans-Böckler-Platz – Friesenplatz – Appellhofplatz – Neumarkt – Severinstr. – Bf. Deutz/Messe – Mülheim – Höhenhaus – Dünnwald – Schlebusch; 19 October 19706 January 1975
Rudolfplatz (Moltkestr.) – Neumarkt – Severinstr. – Bf. Deutz/Messe – Mülheim – Höhenhaus, Neurather Weg; 8 April 196818 October 1970
 5  Am Butzweilerhof – Ossendorf – Neuehrenfeld – Friesenplatz – Dom/Hbf. – Rathaus December 2012December 2013
Am Butzweilerhof – Ossendorf – Neuehrenfeld – Friesenplatz – Dom/Hbf. – Ebertplatz – Reichenspergerplatz December 2010December 2012
Ossendorf – Neuehrenfeld – Friesenplatz – Dom/Hbf. – Ebertplatz – Reichenspergerplatz 23 May 1993December 2010
Ossendorf – Neuehrenfeld – Friesenplatz – Dom/Hbf. – Ebertplatz – Reichenspergerplatz – Zoo/Flora – Mülheim – Höhenhaus, Neurather Weg 9 November 198622 May 1993
Ossendorf – Neuehrenfeld – Friesenplatz – Dom/Hbf. – Ebertplatz – Reichenspergerplatz 25 August 19748 November 1986
 6   stopped service June 2007
Longerich – Weidenpesch – Nippes – Ebertplatz („6 Nord“) October 2006June 2007
Dom/Hbf – Neumarkt – Barbarossaplatz – Chlodwigplatz – Ubierring („6 Süd“) October 2006June 2007
Longerich – Weidenpesch – Nippes – Ebertplatz – Friesenplatz – Rudolfplatz – Barbarossaplatz – Chlodwigplatz – Ubierring September 2002October 2006
Longerich – Weidenpesch – Nippes – Ebertplatz – Friesenplatz – Rudolfplatz – Barbarossaplatz – Chlodwigplatz – Bayenthal – Marienburg, Südpark 27 July 19747 September 2002
(HVZ: Fordwerke, Ölhafen -) Niehl – Weidenpesch – Nippes – Ebertplatz – Friesenplatz – Rudolfplatz – Barbarossaplatz – Chlodwigplatz – Bayenthal – Marienburg, Südpark 19 October 197026 July 1974
 7  Sülz, Hermeskeiler Platz – Universität – Zülpicher Platz – Neumarkt – Heumarkt – Deutz – Poll – Porz – Zündorf 2 August 198029 May 1999
Junkersdorf – Müngersdorf – Melaten – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt – Heumarkt – Deutz – Poll – Porz – Zündorf 12 June 19672 August 1980
 8   stopped service June 2007
Universität – Zülpicher Platz – Neumarkt (– Poll – Porz) / (– Bf. Deutz/Messe) 1999June 2007
 stopped service 2 August 19801999
Müngersdorf (Stadion) – Melaten – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt – Heumarkt – Deutz/Messe – Kalk – Höhenberg – Merheim – Brück (– Refrath) 8 April 19682 August 1980
 9  Chorweiler – Heimersdorf – Longerich – Nippes – Ebertplatz – Dom/Hbf – Neumarkt – Deutz – Kalk – Vingst – Ostheim – Rath-Heumar – Königsforst 17 November 197324 September 1994
Heimersdorf – Longerich – Nippes – Ebertplatz – Dom/Hbf – Neumarkt – Deutz – Kalk – Vingst – Ostheim – Rath-Heumar – Königsforst 18 May 197116 November 1973
Longerich – Nippes – Ebertplatz – Dom/Hbf – Neumarkt – Deutz – Kalk – Vingst – Ostheim – Rath-Heumar – Königsforst 19 October 197017 May 1971
Longerich – Niehl – Fordwerke, Ölhafen 12 June 196718 October 1970
 10   stopped service 26 September 1994
Zollstock, Südfriedhof – Barbarossaplatz – Rudolfplatz – Friesenplatz – Ebertplatz – Nippes – Niehl – Merkenich 31 October 198726 September 1994
Klettenberg – Barbarossaplatz – Rudolfplatz – Friesenplatz – Ebertplatz – Nippes – Niehl – Fordwerke, Ölhafen; 25 August 19749 November 1986
Klettenberg – Barbarossaplatz – Rudolfplatz – Friesenplatz – Ebertplatz – Nippes – Weidenpesch – Longerich; 6 October 196927 July 1974
 11   stopped service 9 November 1986
Klettenberg – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf – Ebertplatz – Mülheim – Höhenhaus, Neurather Weg 27 July 19749 November 1986
 12  Zollstock, Südfriedhof – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf. – Ebertplatz – Nippes – Niehl – Merkenich 18 October 1970December 2003
 13  Sülzgürtel – Lindenthal – Braunsfeld – Ehrenfeld – Nippes – Riehl – Mülheim – Höhenhaus, Neurather Weg 23 May 199331 May 1997
Sülzgürtel – Lindenthal – Braunsfeld – Ehrenfeld – Nippes – Riehl – Mülheim, Wiener Platz 25 August 197422 May 1993
Sülzgürtel – Lindenthal – Braunsfeld – Ehrenfeld – Neuehrenfeld, Takuplatz 23 October 197225 August 1974
Sülzgürtel – Lindenthal – Braunsfeld – Ehrenfeld – Bilderstöckchen, Longericher Str. 30 September 196322 October 1972
 14   stopped service 2003
KölnMesse – Deutz/Messe – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf.
(Fair days only)		 17 January 198427 May 2003
 15  Thielenbruch – Dellbrück – Buchheim – Mülheim – Ebertplatz – Friesenplatz – Rudolfplatz – Barbarossaplatz – Chlodwigplatz – Ubierring 25 September 199413 December 2003
Thielenbruch – Dellbrück – Buchheim – Mülheim – Ebertplatz – Friesenplatz – Rudolfplatz – Barbarossaplatz – Chlodwigplatz – Ubierring – Rodenkirchen – Sürth 12 August 197824 September 1994
Ossendorf – Neuehrenfeld – Friesenplatz – Neumarkt – Severinsbrücke – Deutz – Mülheim – Höhenhaus, Neurather Weg
(peak hours only)		 19 October 197023 October 1972
 16  Bonn-Bad Godesberg – Bonn Hbf – Wesseling – Sürth – Rodenkirchen – Ubierring – Barbarossaplatz – Rudolfplatz – Friesenplatz – Ebertplatz – Niehl, Sebastianstr. October 2006June 2007
Bonn-Bad Godesberg – Bonn Hbf – Wesseling – Sürth – Rodenkirchen – Ubierring – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf – Ebertplatz – Mülheim – Buchheim, Herler Straße 19972003
Bonn-Bad Godesberg – Bonn Hbf – Wesseling – Sürth – Rodenkirchen – Ubierring – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf – Ebertplatz – Mülheim, Wiener Platz 12 August 197831 May 1997
Rodenkirchen, Siegfriedstraße – Rheinufer – Ubierring – Chlodwigplatz – Barbarossaplatz – Rudolfplatz – Friesenplatz – Ebertplatz – Mülheim – Holweide – Dellbrück – Thielenbruch 11 August 1978
 17   stopped service October 2006December 2015
Ubierring – Chlodwigplatz – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf – Ebertplatz – Mülheim – Buchheim, Herler Straße
(evenings and weekends only)		 December 2003October 2006
Ubierring – Chlodwigplatz – Barbarossaplatz – Rudolfplatz – Friesenplatz – Ebertplatz – Niehl, Sebastianstraße
(evenings and weekends only)		 31 May 1997December 2003
Klettenbergpark – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf – Ebertplatz – Reichenspergerplatz 9 November 19861992
 18  Bonn Hbf – Brühl – Klettenberg – Sülzgürtel – Barbarossaplatz – Rudolfplatz – Friesenplatz – Ebertplatz – Mülheim – Buchheim – Dellbrück – Thielenbruch October 2006June 2007
Bonn Hbf – Brühl – Klettenberg – Sülzgürtel – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf – Ebertplatz – Nippes – Longerich – Heimersdorf – Chorweiler September 1994October 2003
Bonn Hbf – Brühl – Klettenberg – Sülzgürtel – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf – Ebertplatz – Mülheim 9 November 1986September 1994
Bonn, Rheinuferbahnhof – Brühl – Klettenberg – Sülzgürtel – Barbarossaplatz
Operated by Cologne-Bonn Railways		 12 August 19789 November 1986
 19   stopped service 5 August 2007
Klettenberg – Sülzgürtel – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf ("19 Süd") 9 October 20065 August 2007
Breslauer Platz – Ebertplatz – Mülheim – Buchheim, Herler Str. ("19 Nord") 9 October 20065 August 2007
Klettenberg – Sülzgürtel – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf – Ebertplatz – Mülheim – Buchheim, Herler Str. 15 December 20038 October 2006
Klettenberg – Sülzgürtel – Barbarossaplatz – Rudolfplatz – Friesenplatz – Ebertplatz – Niehl, Sebastianstr. 31 May 199214 December 2003
Hürth-Hermülheim – Klettenberg – Sülzgürtel – Barbarossaplatz – Rudolfplatz – Friesenplatz – Ebertplatz – Niehl, Sebastianstr. 27 September 199130 May 1992
Hürth-Hermülheim – Klettenberg – Sülzgürtel – Barbarossaplatz – Rudolfplatz – Friesenplatz – Ebertplatz – Nippes – Weidenpesch – Niehl 9 November 198626 September 1991
Brühl Mitte – Brühl Ost – Berzdorf – Wesseling
Inter-city operated by Cologne-Bonn Railways		 12 August 197831 May 1981
Longerich – Nippes – Ebertplatz – Friesenplatz – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt – Deutz – Kalk – Vingst – Ostheim – Rath-Heumar – Königsforst 5 October 196419 October 1970
 20   stopped service 2 August 1980
Benzelrath – Frechen – Marsdorf – Lindenthal – Braunsfeld – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt 10 October 19692 August 1980
Benzelrath – Frechen – Marsdorf – Lindenthal – Braunsfeld – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt (– Heumarkt – Deutz – Poll not so frequent) 6 October 19699 October 1969
Klettenberg – Barbarossaplatz – Rudolfplatz – Friesenplatz – Ebertplatz – Nippes – Niehl – Fordwerke, Ölhafen; 10 June 19678 April 1968

Low-floor lines

East-West lines
East-West network

The first step towards a low-floor light rail network was concentrating four lines on similar routes into a common east-west-corridor in 1994. These lines were quickly equipped with low platforms 35 cm (14 in) above street level on every single station. While there are some stretches that can be described as classic tramway lines, the majority of the east-west-network has been upgraded to a high standard with long sections having segregated right-of-way, justifying the term "low-floor light rail" (Niederflurstadtbahn).

In 2006, during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, route 1 was extended to Weiden-West, via Schulstraße, which connects to the RheinEnergieStadion.

In 2007, Line 8, which previously operated during peak hours, stopped service. All its runs were integrated into the schedules of Lines 7 and 9.

 1   Weiden West (S-Bahn) – Junkersdorf – Rheinenergiestadion – Aachener Straße/Gürtel – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt – Bf Deutz/Messe – Kalk – Brück – Refrath – Bensberg
 7   Frechen – Marsdorf – Aachener Straße/Gürtel – Rudolfplatz – Neumarkt – Poll – Porz – Zündorf
 9   Sülz – Zülpicher Straße/Gürtel – University – Zülpicher Platz – Neumarkt – Bf Deutz/Messe – Kalk – Vingst – Ostheim – Rath/Heumar – Königsforst

Ring lines
The Ring network

When it became clear to city authorities that the construction of a large number of additional high platforms was not financially feasible, other options were investigated. It was deemed most economical to create a second low-floor network and equip the remaining lines with high platforms. Between the stations "Ebertplatz" and "Barbarossaplatz", there are two possible routes. It was decided that the future low-floor lines would be concentrated in the tunnel underneath the Cologne Ring road, while high-floor lines would use the tunnel under the Central station.

This change was implemented in December 2003, after the high platforms at the Hansaring station were removed. In 2006, the tracks of the Chorweiler station were raised with additional gravel. Since then, all "Ringe" lines are operated with low-floor vehicles. In 2007, Line 6, which had only operated during peak hours, was replaced by additional trains of Line 15.

 12   Merkenich – Fordwerke – Wilh.-Sollmann-Straße – Ebertplatz – Friesenplatz – Barbarossaplatz – Eifelstraße – Zollstock
 15   Chorweiler – Longerich – Wilh.-Sollmann-Straße – Ebertplatz – Friesenplatz – Barbarossaplatz – Eifelstraße – Chlodwigplatz – Ubierring

High-floor lines
high-floor sub-network

The high-floor network consists of all lines operated by "classic" light rail vehicles with a floor height of roughly one meter above street level. Since separation from the low-floor network, high platforms are being built in stations in the city center at one or two per year. As of 2009, the most frequented stations have been upgraded except for the Barbarossaplatz station.

Lines 3 and 4, since the construction of temporary platforms at the Severinstraße station while the actual station gets modernized and connected to the North-Southern tunnel, are Cologne's first HF lines completely equipped with level entrance. The western branch of Line 5 still has a two stops (Subbelrather Straße/Gürtel and Nußbaumerstraße) with low platforms, the rest of its stations were made high-floor when the line was extended into the Butzweilerhof industrial area.

Line 13 is also called the "beltway" (Gürtel) line because it is the only line that does not touch the city center. Line 13 is also called the Outer Ring line, while Lines 12 and 15 together can be called the inner ring line. Most of the line runs along a series of roads of the same name. The northern part of Line 13 is built as an elevated railway. High-floor platforms are still very rare on this line.

Since the timetable change on 13 December 2015 a section of the north-south rail was put into operation. Since then it has been operated by the new Line 17 of the Severinstr. on the Chlodwigplatz.

From Chlodwigplatz it comes to Bonner Wall. After separating from Line 17 at the NSS-Tunnel and picks up the route of Line 16 at the next stop, Great Schönhauser Str.

Line 17 then travels as far as the terminus Rodenkirchen Bf. In the morning and evening peak (07:00 to 08:00 and 16:30 to 18:00), the line serves stations from Siegstr. and Michaelshoven to Sürth.

Lines 16 and 18 are the longest lines in the network, connecting Cologne to Bonn via railway lines.

 3   Mengenich – Bocklemünd – Venloer Straße/Gürtel – Hans-Böckler-Platz – Friesenplatz – Neumarkt – Severinstraße – Bf Deutz/LANxess Arena – Buchheim – Holweide – Dellbrück – Thielenbruch
 4   Bocklemünd – Venloer Straße/Gürtel – Hans-Böckler-Platz – Friesenplatz – Neumarkt – Severinstraße – Bf Deutz/LANxess Arena – Mülheim – Höhenhaus – Dünnwald – Schlebusch
 5  Sparkasse Am Butzweilerhof – IKEA Am Butzweilerhof – Alter Flughafen Butzweilerhof – Rektor-Klein-Straße – Margaretastraße – Iltisstraße – Lenauplatz – Nußbaumerstraße – Subbelrather Str./Gürtel – Liebigstraße – Gutenbergstraße – Hans-Böckler-Platz – Friesenplatz – Appellhofplatz – Dom/Hbf (Central Station) – Rathaus – Heumarkt
 13   Sülzgürtel – Zülpicher Straße/Gürtel – Dürener Straße/Gürtel – Aachener Straße/Gürtel – Venloer Straße/Gürtel – Subbelrather Straße/Gürtel – Nußbaumer Straße – Escher Straße –Neusser Straße/Gürtel – Amsterdamer Straße/Gürtel – Slabystraße – Mülheim – Buchheim – Holweide
 16   Bonn-Bad Godesberg – Bonn Hbf (Main Station) – Wesseling – Sürth – Rodenkirchen – Ubierring – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf (Central Station) – Ebertplatz – Reichensperger Platz – Niehl
17

Severinstr. – Chlodwigplatz – Rodenkirchen (– Sürth)
Monday to Friday, 7:00 to 8:00 and 16:30 to 18:00 to Sürth

 18   Bonn Hbf (Main Station) – Brühl – Klettenberg – Sülzgürtel – Barbarossaplatz – Neumarkt – Dom/Hbf (Central Station) – Ebertplatz – Reichensperger Platz – Slabystraße – Mülheim – Buchheim – Holweide – Dellbrück – Thielenbruch

Butzweilerhof extension (Line 5)
Stations on the extension

The Kölner Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB) opened a 1.85 km (1.15 mi)-long extension from the former Ossendorf terminus into the Butzweilerhof/Gewerbegebiet Ossendorf area in December 2010.[7] Three new stations (Alter Flughafen Butzweilerhof, IKEA am Butzweilerhof and the new terminus, Sparkasse Am Butzweilerhof) were added to the existing Line 5. Construction of the extension cost about €18,000,000, with €5 million being financed through a charge on the companies which will benefit from the extension. The remaining €13 million was financed by the KVB Köln (Cologne Transit Authority).

The extension begins near the former Ossendorf terminus (which has been closed), crosses the tracks of the HGK,[8] follows the southern edge of the Hugo-Eckener-Strasse with the 1st station (Alter Flughafen Butzweilerhof) being sited at the corner of Hugo-Eckener-Strasse and Köhlstrasse. It then follows a new street which continues east from Köhlstraße. The line passes the new IKEA am Butzweilerhof store (2nd station), crosses the new extension of Richard-Byrd-Straße, and ends at the intersection of Richard-Byrd-Straße and Von-Hünefeld-Straße.

Future expansion

History
North-South line under construction

The oldest tunnel of the Cologne Stadtbahn is currently served by 30 trains per hour in each direction. Many consider this beyond the tunnel's capacity. Because the tunnel was built using a cut-and-cover technique, it follows major roads distant from the old city center with its narrow alleys. To solve both problems, an additional pair of tunnels was bored directly underneath the historic downtown areas. As a bonus, the travel time for Line 16 will be decreased by about 10 minutes, because the NSS enables it to avoid the detour from Ubierring to Barbarossaplatz, only to return to the Rhine at the Central Station. It is also the final step in the separation of the high-floor and low-floor networks.

The current expansion project under construction is a new North-South tunnel (Nord-Süd-Stadtbahn, NSS). The new 3 km long tunnel will be the first newly built line since the opening of the original downtown tunnel in 1968. Every line opened in between had been just a replacement for current or previous surface lines.

Tunnel collapse and delays

On 3 March 2009 the building of the City's archive collapsed into a Stadtbahn's tunnel under construction on the Severinstraße, killing two people.[9] Poor construction, the theft of necessary iron reinforcements and several ground water break-ins into the tunnel, which were not reported or controlled properly by the construction company, are among the alleged causes for this catastrophe.[9][10]

To make use of the already completed tunnels and stations, a shorter service running from Dom/Central Station to Rathaus (city hall) started operation in December 2012,[11] re-routing Line 5 from its previous terminus at Reichenspergerplatz to serve the new NSS. A further expansion to Heumarkt opened in December 2013.[11] Starting 13 December 2015, four underground stations from Bonner Wall to Severinstraße were opened.[12]

The next step of the expansion will be an above ground extension from the Marktstr. Station down Bonner Straße, through Bayenthal. Construction will start Spring 2016 and should be completed sometime in 2018.[13] Full operation of the North-South Rail Tunnel will not be achieved until 2023 due to the issues of stabilizing the section of tunnel that collapsed in 2009.[14][15]

Cost

The extra cost of approximately 4 million euro is planned to mitigate the negative perception of the NSS project due to the collapse as well as budget increases, late completion (originally planned for 2011) and disruption. To avoid the possible destruction of archaeological artefacts underneath one of the oldest cities in Germany, the NSS was bored down to nearly 30 meters below ground level. At the location of the future stations, however, archaeological digs were still required and are cited as one of the reasons for the already significant cost overruns. While initially estimated to cost around 600 million euro, the current price tag is calculated at around 960 million euro. Because the second stage, connecting the tunnel to the line along the Rhine river has not yet been tendered, but is expected to cost another 100 million, total cost is likely to exceed 1 billion euro.

Other plans
  • Extension of Line 3 to Görlinger-Zentrum (Schumacherring stop). Beginning of the preparatory work began in early February 2016. A later extension to Cologne-Pesch or Cologne-Esch / Auweiler was dropped from the planning. It was opened on 27 August 2018.[16]
  • Lines 5 and 13 to Nußbaumerstraße and Subbelrather Straße as well as an additional stop at Ehrenfeld railway station
  • Extension of the Nord-Süd-Stadtbahn from Arnoldshöhe south to Cologne-Meschenich.
  • Extension of Line 1 from Bergisch Gladbach-Bensberg from further east Bergisch Gladbach-Moitzfeld to Gladbach-Herkenrath Kürten-Spitze [17]
  • Extension of Line 5 via the Gewerbegebiet Am Butzweilerhof to Longerich and there follow the S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr And / or the urban railway Line 15
  • Connection of the district Widdersdorf either from Mengenich (Line 4) or from Weiden-West, The city being preferred when registering to the public transport requirement plan 2017, the variant over Line 1 because of lower costs and higher development effect preferential [18]
  • Extension of the Kölner Gürtel#Gürtelbahn (Line 13) in the south to the Deutsch Bahn line (planned S-Bahn Rhein-Sieg) and on the right from the Rhine from Mülheim to Ostheim and later to the S-Bahnhof Frankfurter Straße
  • Extension of the tunnel on the Neusser Straße from Mollwitzstraße to Wilhelm-Sollmann-Straße
  • Extension of Line 7 to the new development area Ranzeler Straße in Cologne-Zündorf [19] to end 2019,[20] possibly later on via Niederkassel to Bonn
  • Extension of Line 7 to the new development area Grube Carl in Frechen and possibly further to Frechen-Habbelrath
  • Stichstrecke from Hürth-Hermülheim to Hürth-Center
  • Construction of a new railway line from Deutz to Flittard and the headquarters and route over the planned district of Mülheim-Süd;[21] A further connection to Leverkusen (- Wiesdorf) or even to (- Opladen) is discussed.


Rolling stock
Third-generation Type B LRV in new livery on line 16
A K4000 low-floor tram in old livery on line 12
A newer K4500 tram at its presentation on 18 April 2005
Two K5000 high-floor trams on lines 3 (left) and 4 (right)

Since the last traditional tramcars were retired in 2006, the Stadtbahn's active rolling stock consists exclusively of modern articulated light rail vehicles. All of them are about 30 m (98 ft 5 in) long, 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) wide, seat approximately 70 passengers and are approved for speeds of up to 80 km/h (50 mph). With rare exceptions, all services are operated by two units coupled together.

Stadtbahnwagen B

In 1973, Cologne received two prototypes of the DUEWAG Stadtbahnwagen B LRV. Since then, 172 units in four batches were delivered to Cologne until 1996. The first generation (series 2000) is currently being retired, while the second generation (series 2100) is due to receive a major overhaul for at least another 15 years of service.

Low-floor LRVs (K4000 and K4500)

After tests with a low-floor tram from Vienna, a similar vehicle was developed for Cologne by Bombardier Transportation, later becoming part of Bombardier's standardized Flexity Swift family. A total of 124 low-floor trams were delivered between 1995 and 1998, referred to as "K4000". These vehicles received numbers starting with 4001.

When it was decided to create a second low-floor network, an option for high-floor vehicles was changed to additional low-floor vehicles. Bombardier developed a new low-floor tram based more on the K5000 (see below) than on the K4000. These new trams were named "K4500". Delivery of 69 units started in 2005 and was completed in late 2007.

The CR4000 trams operating on Tramlink in Croydon, England are largely based on the original K4000 stock used in Cologne.

CitySprinter

By the time a new series of high-floor vehicles was needed, DUEWAG had been sold to Siemens Transportation Systems and later dissolved, meaning that additional Type B cars were no longer being made. Siemens subsequently proposed the "CitySprinter", a high-floor derivative of its Combino series of low-floor city trams.

In August 1999, after two months of testing, the first CitySprinter prototype crashed into another tram at 50 km/h (30 mph) at the "Christophstraße/MediaPark" U-Bahn station. The accident was caused by a simultaneous electronics shutdown resulting in the train's inability to apply its brakes. Eight people sustained serious injuries. A second prototype was produced but as a result of the crash was never delivered.

High-floor LRVs (K5000 and K5200)

Following the failure of the CitySprinter, Bombardier derived a high-floor tram from the K4000. 59 units, named "K5000", were delivered in 2002 and 2003. The numbering was changed to 5101 at short notice to avoid re-using the number 5001, which had been the number of the ill-fated CitySprinter. Another 15 vehicles of the same design, named "K5200", were delivered before 2011.

The M5000 trams used by Metrolink in Manchester, England are almost identical to the K5000/K5200 series used in Cologne.

Tram interiors
  • B100S 2000
  • B100S 2100
  • B80D 2200
  • B80D 2300
  • K4000
  • K5000

See also

References

Inline citations
  1. "Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG". Kvb-koeln.de. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  2. "DAS UNTERNEHMEN". Kvb-koeln.de. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  3. "Unternehmensgeschichte der KVB". www.kvb.koeln. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  4. "Wir fahren Sie..." VRS (in German). Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  5. "Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG". www.kvb.koeln. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  6. Light Rail Transit: A State of the Art Review. U.S. Department of Transportation, Urban Mass Transportation Administration, Office of Policy and Program Development. 1976. pp. 52–56.
  7. "Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG". Kvb-koeln.de. 24 November 2008. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  8. "Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG". S253428520.online.de. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  9. "U-Bahn: Das Protokoll eines Versagens | Köln Übersicht – Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" (in German). Ksta.de. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  10. "Archiveinsturz: Beschädigtes Fugenblech als Indiz | Köln Übersicht – Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" (in German). Ksta.de. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  11. http://stadtbahn.relaunch.net/german/news/press.html?NID=737%5B%5D
  12. Reimann, Anna. "Nord-Süd-Stadtbahn in Köln: Das sind die neuen Haltestellen der KVB-Linie 17". ksta.de. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  13. "3. Baustufe Nord-Süd Stadtbahn". www.stadt-koeln.de. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  14. Damm, Andreas. "Kölner Stadtarchiv: Wer soll die U-Bahn weiterbauen?". ksta.de. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  15. Görtz, Oliver; Hümmeler, Christian (11 December 2017). "Archiveinsturz: Nord-Süd-Stadtbahn fährt nicht vor 2025". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (in German). Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  16. "Verkehr in Köln Neue Endstation für die KVB-Linie 3" [Traffic in Cologne: New terminus for the KVB line 3]. Cologne town hall (in German).
  17. Claus Boelen-Partile. "Der Zug ist noch nicht abgefahren" [The train has not yet been moved].
  18. "Tagesordnungspunkt". ratsinformation.stadt-koeln.de. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  19. "KVB-Verlängerung: Linie 7 kommt nur langsam voran" [KVB extension: line 7 is progressing slowly] (in German).
  20. Nadine Carstens (29 September 2014). "Die Bürger bleiben skeptisch" [The citizens remain skeptical]. Cologne city-advertisement. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  21. "Kölner Initiative fordert Straßenbahn-Trasse bis Flittard" [Cologne initiative calls for tramway route to Flittard] (in German).

Books
  • Groneck, Christoph (2005). Köln/Bonn Stadtbahn Album. Robert Schwandl Verlag. ISBN 3-936573-07-7.
  • Höltge, Dieter; Reuther, Axel (2001). Straßen- und Stadtbahnen in Deutschland Band 7: Köln, Düren, Aachen (in German). EK-Verlag. ISBN 3-88255-338-3.
  • Lindemann, Doris; Verkehrs-Betriebe, Kölner, eds. (2002). Kölner Mobilität - 125 Jahre Bahnen und Busse (in German). Du Mont Verlag. ISBN 3-8321-7177-0.
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