Politics sounds the alarm: KVB line 18 is to be severely restricted!

Politics sounds the alarm: KVB line 18 is to be severely restricted!

In Cologne-Mülheim the air is pretty thin after the current changes to KVB line 18. The district council has responded to the upcoming restrictions, which will become noticeable to passengers from September, with an urgent request. The line will end at the Buchheim Herler Straße stop, and the direct connections to Holweide and Dellbrück will be history. A clear step backwards for mobility in the region, as politicians have discovered. KSTA reports that the usual five-minute service between Klettenberg and Reichenspergerplatz is only maintained at certain peak times.

This really spoiled the idyllic atmosphere in the district. During the district council meeting it became clear: the factions of the Greens, SPD, CDU and other individual elected representatives agreed and passed the motion unanimously. The Green Group in particular emphasizes that line 18 is the only direct connection from Thielenbruch, Dellbrück and Holweide to the main train station or Ebertplatz.

Criticism of the city administration

Annika Hilleke, the deputy district mayor, makes no secret of her concerns. She points out that the mobility of residents is severely affected by the closure of the Mülheim Bridge. This bridge was previously an essential part of traffic flow, but the high ridership numbers seen before the closure show how important the line actually is. The neighboring lines are also affected by the track displacement.

In this context, the KVB has informed that the restrictions are necessary due to the renovation work on the Mülheim Bridge. This work, originally scheduled for October 8-17, 2022, has been prolonged and is expected to last until 2026. Unexpected damage to the bridge was even discovered, which could result in additional delays. The city has set up temporary replacement buses to at least partially replace the lost connections.

Replacement offers are intended to close the gap

The transport company is also relying on a new bus route 19, which will provide additional relief for route 18 in the morning. This line commutes between Klettenbergpark and Ebertplatz and is intended to provide some breathing space and relief, especially during rush hours. In addition, lines 13 and 18 are now running regularly again, even if they no longer run across the Rhine. However, the simple fact that trips to Dellbrück and Holweide have been canceled does not make the situation any easier.

The district council has again demanded that the KVB restore its original service offering after the closure of the Mülheim Bridge. The priority should be to return the five-minute frequency to Herler Straße during peak times. For commuters from Thielenbruch, this would be a small ray of hope at the end of an increasingly dark tunnel.

The current situation clearly shows how much a single transport line can influence the entire mobility offer. Many Cologne citizens are now looking forward to how the situation will develop in the coming months.