VIDEOS
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| Above: YouTubeCA video - Cologne Light Rail - Köln Stadtbahn (2019) - Length: 12:25 mins. | Above: YouTubeCA video - Trams in Bonn, Germany - Straßenbahnen in Bonn Deutschland - Length: 8:01 mins. | Above: YouTubeCA video - Stadtbahn U-Bahn Köln KVB | Light rail Cologne 2019 - Length: 6:11 mins. |
PHOTOS
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MAPS
THE COLOGNE-BONN AREA
Only light rail (Stadtbahn) routes shown
INSET 1: COLOGNE
INSET 2: CENTRAL COLOGNE
INSET 3: BONN
ABBREVIATIONS ON THE MAPS
| BPl | Barbarossaplatz | NM | Neumarkt |
| DB | Deutzer Brücke | SSt | Severinstraße |
| FPl | Friesenplatz | ZPl | Zülpicher Platz |
| HM | Heumarkt |
I created the above maps by overlaying OpenStreetMap (OSM) maps with my own data. Copyright on the OSM maps is © OpenStreetMap contributors, licensed under a CC-BY-SA (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 licence).
Please note that the OSM maps used as templates for these maps correspond to the situation at the time the maps were downloaded and may show features that did not exist at the time the GS Tram Site is supposed to show. In particular, they may show bridges and highways that were built later.
ROUTES
TRAM ROUTES IN COLOGNE (including interurban routes to Bonn)
Operator: Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe (KVB)
| 1 | Weiden-West - Junkersdorf - Aachener Str. - Rudolfplatz - Neumarkt - Heumarkt - Deutzer Brücke - Bf Deutz - Kalk - Kalk Kapelle - Merheim - Refrath - Bensberg |
| 3 | Görlinger-Zentrum - Bocklemünd - Ehrenfeld - Köln West - Friesenplatz - Neumarkt - Poststraße - Severinsbrücke - Bf Deutz - Buchheim - Holweide [In rush hours: - Thielenbruch] |
| 4 | Bocklemünd - Ehrenfeld - Köln West - Friesenplatz - Neumarkt - Poststraße - Severinsbrücke - Bf Deutz - Mülheim - Dünnwald - Schlebusch |
| 5 | Heumarkt - Köln Hbf (Cologne Main Station) - Friesenplatz - Köln West - Nußbaumerstr. - Ossendorf - Am Butzweilerhof |
| 7 | Frechen-Benzelrath - Frechen Bf. - Marsdorf - Dürener Str. - Aachener Str. - Rudolfplatz - Neumarkt - Heumarkt - Deutzer Brücke - Poll - Westhoven - Porz - Zündorf |
| 9 | Sülz Hermeskeiler Pl. - Zülpicher Str. - Köln Süd - Zülpicher Platz - Neumarkt - Heumarkt - Deutzer Brücke - Bf Deutz - Kalk - Kalk Kapelle - Ostheim - Königsforst |
| 12 | Merkenich - Niehl - Neusser Str. - Ebertplatz - Friesenplatz - Rudolfplatz - Zülpicher Platz - Barbarossaplatz - Eifelplatz - Zollstock Südfriedhof |
| 13 | Holweide - Buchheim - Mülheim - Mülheimer Brücke - Gürtel - Sülzgürtel |
| 15 | Chorweiler - Longerich - Neusser Str. - Ebertplatz - Friesenplatz - Rudolfplatz - Zülpicher Platz - Barbarossaplatz - Chlodwigplatz - Ubierring |
| 16 | Niehl Sebastianstr. - Amsterdamer Str. - Ebertplatz - Köln Hbf - Neumarkt - Poststr. - Barbarossaplatz - Ubierring - Bayenthal - Rodenkirchen - Michaelshoven - Sürth - Wesseling – Buschdorf - Tannenbusch - Bonn Hbf – Museum Koenig - Olof-Palme-Allee - Bad Godesberg Stadthalle |
| 17 | Severinstraße - Chlodwigplatz - Bonner Wall - Bayenthal - Rodenkirchen [In rush hours: - Michaelshoven - Sürth] |
| 18 | Thielenbruch - Holweide - Buchheim - Mülheim - Mülheimer Brücke - Ebertplatz - Köln Hbf - Neumarkt - Poststr. - Barbarossaplatz - Sülzgürtel - Efferen - Hürth - Brühl – Merten - Bornheim - Alfter - Dransdorf - Bonn Hbf (Bonn Main Station) |
TRAM ROUTES IN BONN
Operator: SWB
| 61 | Auerberg - Wilhelmsplatz - Bonn Hbf (Bonn Main Station) - Dottendorf |
| 62 | Oberkassel Süd / Römlinghoven - Ramersdorf - Beuel - Bonn Hbf (Bonn Main Station) - Dottendorf |
| 65 | Auerberg - Wilhelmsplatz - Beuel - Ramersdorf [A few rush-hour and some other runs] |
INTERURBAN ROUTES AROUND BONN (with the exception of those to Cologne)
Operator: SWB
| 63 | Tannenbusch - Bonn Hbf – Museum Koenig - Olof-Palme-Allee - Bad Godesberg Stadthalle |
| 66 | Siegburg - Vilich-Müldorf - Beuel - Bonn Hbf – Museum Koenig - Olof-Palme-Allee - Ramersdorf - Oberkassel Süd / Römlinghoven - Königswinter - Bad Honnef |
| 67 | Siegburg - Vilich-Müldorf - Beuel - Bonn Hbf – Museum Koenig - Olof-Palme-Allee - Bad Godesberg Stadthalle [Two weekday morning runs only] |
| 68 | Bornheim - Alfter - Dransdorf - Bonn Hbf (Bonn Main Station) - Museum Koenig - Olof-Palme-Allee - Ramersdorf [4 weekday rush-hour runs only] |
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SYSTEM
NETWORK LENGTH
Note: There is some overlap in the network length data because the same stretch may belong to two separate networks
- Cologne tramway: 194.8 km. (including 44.5 km. of interurban routes [LRT] to Bonn)
- Bonn tramway: 29.5 km.
- Bonn Stadtbahn (LRT): 52.5 km.
HISTORY
- Horse tramways (Cologne): 28 Apr. 1877 - 22 May 1907.
- Horse tramways (Bonn): 19 Apr. 1891 - 1905 (?)
- Electric tramways (Cologne): 15 Oct. 1901 - today.
- Electric tramways (Bonn): 1902 - today.
- Interurban (Köln-Bonner Eisenbahnen):
- Querbahn (Brühl - Wesseling - Köln-Godorf Hafen): 31 March 1901 - (electric: 1920 -) 30 May 1981.
- Rheinuferbahn (Cologne - Bonn, electrified from the beginning): Jan. 1906 - today.
- Schwarze Bahn (Cologne - Sülz – Berrenrath, never electrified): 19 Dec. 1918 - 13 Dec. 1968.
- Vorgebirgsbahn (Cologne - Brühl - Bonn): 1 Aug. 1897 - (electric: 1929 -) today.
- Kleinbahn Siegburg–Zündorf: 19 March 1914 - 30 Aug. 1965
- Wahner Straßenbahn: 6 May 1914 - 1 Oct. 1961
- Stadtbahn (LRT standard) (Cologne): 25 Aug. 1974 - today.
- Stadtbahn (Cologne-Bonn service along the Rheinuferbahn): 12 Aug. 1978 - today.
- Stadtbahn (LRT standard) (Bonn): 22 March 1975 - today.
- Steam tramway (Bad-Godesberg - Mehlem): 22 May 1892 - 1911.
GAUGE (all systems)
- 1435 mm. (1000 mm. for many of the interurbans, later changed to 1435 mm.)
TRAM PRESERVATION
The Straßenbahn-Museum Thielenbruch is a museum dedicated to the history of tramways in Cologne.
SOURCES
- Brauer, T. & Schiefelbusch, M. "Köln: Private funding for public transport", Tramways & Urban Transit, Sept. 2018 (81:969), p.340-343.
- Hendlmeier, W. Handbuch der deutschen Straßenbahngeschichte: Erster Band - Text und Abbildungen.München: Selbstverlag, 1981.
- Pagel, M. & Taplin, M.R. Tramways of Western Germany. Hassocks (England): Light Rail Transit Association, 3rd ed., 1980.
- Ross, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 19: Postscript - The future", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, June 1988 (51: 606), p.191-198.
- Pulling, N. "Systems Factfile No.35: Köln, Germany", Tramways & Urban Transit, Aug. 2010 (73: 872), p.299-301.
- Schwandl, R. Schwandl's Tram Atlas Deutschland. Berlin: Author, 2009.
- Straßenbahnatlas 2005 - Deutschland. Berlin: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Blickpunkt Straßenbahn e.V., 2005.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 1: Genesis (1877-1901)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Jan. 1985 (48: 565), p.2-10.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 2: Expansion (1901-1914)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, March 1985 (48: 567), p.74-88.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 3: Interurbans - The Golden Age", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, June 1985 (48: 570), p.187-202.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 4: Through crisis to confidence (1914-1929)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Aug 1985 (48: 572), p.254-274.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 5: Rationalisation (1930-1939)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Nov. 1985 (48: 575), p.369-380.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 6: Modernisation (1930-39)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, March 1986 (49: 579), p.83-92.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 7: The route to disaster (1939-45)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Apr. 1986 (49: 580), p.119-132.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 8: Zero hour and after", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, June 1986 (49: 582), p.193-203.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 9: From dust and ashes (1948-53)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Aug. 1986 (49: 584), p.263-275.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 10: Confidence restored (1954-58)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Oct. 1986 (49: 586), p.333-346.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 11: Building for the future (1959-62)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Dec. 1986 (49: 588), p.413-424.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 12: The Düwag Age begins (1963-68)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Feb. 1987 (50: 590), p.48-58.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 13: Into the U-Bahn (1969-72)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Apr. 1987 (50: 592), p.114-129.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 14: Another era dawns (1973-76)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, June 1987 (50: 594), p.183-193.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 15: Stadtbahn - From plan to reality (1977-9)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Aug. 1987 (50: 596), p.264-273.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 16: Marriage of convenience (1980-83)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Oct. 1987 (50: 598), p.327-336.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 17: The Stadtbahn expands (1983-87)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Feb. 1988 (51: 602), p.51-63.
- Tudor, D. "Köln: Pferdebahn to Stadtbahn. Part 18: Integration and wider horizons (1984-7)", Modern Tramway & Light Rail Transit, Apr. 1988 (51: 604), p.129-138.
- Wansbeek, C.J. "Bonn: The old capital is alive and kicking", Tramways & Urban Transit, March 2006 (69: 819), p.90-93.
- Wansbeek, C.J. "Köln relies on light rail", Tramways & Urban Transit, Apr. 1999 (62: 736), p.132-135.
- Wyse, W.J. "Germany goes underground. Part 8: Bonn joins the club", Modern Tramway & Rapid Transit Review, Nov. 1975 (38: 455), p.377-385.
- Wyse, W.J. "Rapid transit par excellence: The Köln-Bonner Eisenbahnen A.G.", The Modern Tramway, June 1960 (23: 270), P.123-127.
WIKIS
- Bahnstrecke Köln-Sülz–Berrenrath
- Bonn Stadtbahn
- Cologne Stadtbahn
- Elektrische Bahnen der Stadt Bonn und des Rhein-Sieg-Kreises
- Geschichte der Kölner Straßenbahn
- Kleinbahn Siegburg–Zündorf
- Köln-Bonner Eisenbahnen
- List of Cologne KVB stations
- Mülheimer Kleinbahnen
- Rheinuferbahn
- Siebengebirgsbahn
- Siegburger Bahn
- Stadtbahnstrecke Bonn–Bad Godesberg
- SWB Bus und Bahn
- Trams in Bonn
- Trams of Cologne (by Hamster (Varga Ákos Endre))
- Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg
- Vorgebirgsbahn
- Wahner Straßenbahn
WEB SITES
- Bonn (on UrbanRail.Net)
- Koelnland.de - Köln-Bonner Eisenbahnen (KBE)
- Historische Straßenbahn Köln
- Köln (on UrbanRail.Net)
- Köln-Bonner Eisenbahnfreunde (KBEF)
- KVB
- Stadtwerke Köln Konzern
- SWB Bus und Bahn
Also, thanks to Peter Zondag, of De Bilt (Netherlands), for further information provided through personal communication.
Copyright Gabor Sandi 1998-2024
Disclaimer: Everything on this site was written and/or prepared at the author's discretion. The author has tried to be accurate where facts are presented, but this does not mean that these facts are necessarily accurate. People needing more reliable information should refer to appropriate sources presented, on the Internet or elsewhere, by authoritative professional or academic bodies.
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