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Revolution in Cologne's public transport: Cable car project is gaining momentum!
Civil engineers at TH Köln are developing innovative cable cars for a sustainable public transport system in Cologne, planned from 2027.
Revolution in Cologne's public transport: Cable car project is gaining momentum!
Something is happening in the world of public transport in Cologne: an innovative project that has been taking shape since 2021 could soon revolutionize mobility in the city. Four dedicated civil engineers and architects from TH Köln are working hard on designs for an urban cable car system that will become part of Cologne's transport network. This forward-looking project not only aims to supplement the existing cable car connection from the zoo across the Rhine, but also to significantly expand it with additional routes to Chorweiler and the Deutz harbor.
The advantages of a cable car are clear: it is cost-effective, space-saving, barrier-free and environmentally friendly. At an average speed of 25 km/h, it could compete well with cars, buses and trains and is also more climate-friendly than building subway systems. The project is based on the Rhine pendulum concept, which was initiated by Urban Netways in 2019. The collaboration between TH Köln and Urban Netways has already produced promising ideas, such as the development of a route network that connects the city center with Deutz and the north of Cologne.
Planned routes and costs
A specific design by Moritz Kampschulte envisages a cable car route from the center of Chorweiler to Leverkusen, which would be around 7 kilometers long and include seven stations. Fabian Weber from Urban Netways estimates the total costs for the ambitious project so far to be around 125 million euros. A second option could be the route from the zoo across the Rhine to the Deutz harbor and on to the Ubierring. There are also considerations for a west-east route from the main station to Messeparkhaus 22, which was planned by Eric Schweden.
The first planning sketches for stations in Deutzer Hafen and in Chorweiler-Mitte have already been completed. These even include a logistics hub for freight traffic, which would also benefit city traffic. A comprehensive study from 2023 impressively confirmed the feasibility of this project, so that the next steps can now be initiated. However, the decision on whether to implement the cable car will not be made until 2027 at the earliest. By then, the sustainable mobility plan “Better through Cologne” should fundamentally clarify how the project can be implemented.
It remains exciting to see whether Cologne's citizens and city politicians can get behind the concept. With environmentally friendly and modern transport connections, Cologne could not only improve its quality of life, but also act as a role model for other cities that have to overcome similar challenges.