Cologne KVB is investing 30 million euros for barrier-free stops!

Cologne KVB is investing 30 million euros for barrier-free stops!

Cologne is serious about accessibility in local public transport. The municipal transport company KVB has announced that it will dig deep into its pockets and invest a total of more than 30 million euros in the redesign of stops. This was announced Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. However, in times when the Passenger Transport Act calls for complete accessibility by the beginning of 2022, Cologne is falling short of expectations. Only 178 of the 237 stops are currently barrier-free, allowing unrestricted use for all passengers.

The renovation work is focused on the “Subbelrather Straße/Gürtel” and “Nußbaumerstraße” light rail stops on lines 5 and 13. Here, the side platforms are to be raised to a height of 90 cm above the top edge of the rails in order to make it much easier for people with limited mobility to get on and off. This is intended to support not only those affected but also visitors in their mobility.

Important steps for improvement

The Cologne transport company (KVB) has already announced that it will use new high-floor vehicles, around 70 meters long, for line 13. This step not only brings comfort for passengers, but is also intended to improve overall accessibility. A lot has changed in Germany, especially since the introduction of the “Act on Equality for Disabled People (BGG)”. The Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport emphasizes that mobility opportunities are crucial for social participation and that people with disabilities in particular rely on public transport in order to actively participate in life.

But there are still many challenges to overcome. At a demonstration in Cologne, Dietrich Mensah and Silke Degwitz reported on their experiences traveling by bus and train. While they are waiting for departures at a stop, they press the corresponding button for visually impaired people - but there is no warning. Such deficiencies are not just a source of frustration, but also represent a major hurdle for many, like Mensah and Degwitz. Everyday life on public transport becomes a stress-increasing factor due to the lack of orientation aids, while for many others using transport has become routine. These voices are important to push for improvements and to focus on existing grievances, as WDR reports.

This is how it continues

The city council will decide on the plans on July 3rd, a measure that, according to the KVB and the city, will have a significant impact on light rail traffic and road traffic. Closures and diversions seem unavoidable, but these steps are necessary for long-term improvement and accessibility implementation. Construction is targeted to begin in late 2026 or early 2027 and construction will take approximately two years.

The investments in infrastructure are also a direct response to the legal requirements that will come into force from the end of June 2025 and place additional requirements for accessibility in public transport. This is the only way to ensure equal access for everyone. Cologne shows that it is ready to take responsibility and set the course for an inclusive future.