Cologne is threatened with traffic collapse: KVB is struggling with record losses!

Cologne is threatened with traffic collapse: KVB is struggling with record losses!

The Cologne transport company (KVB) is facing a huge challenge: by 2035, around 340 million passengers per year are to be transported on the city's buses and trains. This would represent an increase of around 100 million passengers compared to 2024, when only 236.2 million passengers were transported. But in order to achieve this ambitious goal, a massive expansion of bus and train services will be necessary. The city's budget is currently in a "desolate" situation, as Mayor Henriette Reker stated. Financial support is therefore more urgent than ever. According to that Cologne City Gazette KVB recorded a loss of 185.1 million euros in 2023, which represents an increase of 40.9% compared to 2022.

One reason for the high losses is the lack of demand for tickets due to the Deutschland Ticket. In addition, personnel costs are rising, while ticket prices are politically fixed. In order to be able to even begin to implement the recently mentioned expansion plans, the KVB is demanding long-term financing commitments. A similar picture can be seen at the Cologne baths, which are predicting a loss of 22.4 million euros for 2024 and at the same time want to invest in expanding their water areas.

Shortage of staff and timetable cuts

The lack of staff forced the KVB to shorten the timetable in two steps in 2023. These massive cuts are a direct response to the high sickness rate among staff. In November 2023 there was a reduction in the number of rides again. With such measures, the KVB would like to respond to the current critical situation and at the same time ensure that the mobility of the Cologne population does not come to a standstill.

The renovation of the Mülheim Bridge is another problem child. The route is not expected to be reopened until the end of the first quarter of 2025, after the renovation costs have totaled an impressive 301 million euros. According to the “ Review “, a more intensive discussion is called for about alternative tunnel variants to strengthen the East-West axis, which also plays a role in the political discussions.

The future of KVB

The planned expansion projects include the commissioning of the north-south railway after 2032 and the further development of the east-west axis. Last year, under the leadership of board member //Stefanie Haaks//, KVB took numerous steps to optimize its business models. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how the city of Cologne will react to the financial bottlenecks, especially since the losses exceed the municipal utilities' established limits.

KVB, founded in 1876 and now 90% owned by Stadtwerke Köln, is a key component of Cologne's infrastructure. With a transport association that transports millions of passengers every year, the role of the KVB in the urban mobility transition is of central importance. Experts are therefore calling for quick measures to stabilize the KVB and its financial basis.

With the constant increase in passenger numbers and the desired modernization of the transport infrastructure, the KVB is at a crossroads: Will the mobility transition achieve the hoped-for upswing or will the current challenges become insurmountable? The city can and must be interested in clarifying these questions.