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Cologne and Rhein-Erft district: New light rail line is planning a green transport route!
Stadtbahn line 4 is being expanded: Cologne is planning an extension via Widdersdorf to Bergheim, supported by feasibility studies.
Cologne and Rhein-Erft district: New light rail line is planning a green transport route!
Mobility in the Cologne area is taking shape: The city of Cologne and the Rhein-Erft district have big plans to extend the light rail line 4. A route is planned that leads from Cologne-Bocklemünd via Cologne-Widdersdorf, Pulheim-Brauweiler to Bergheim-Niederaußem. The project aims to improve connections to surrounding communities and promote the sustainable transport transition, which can also be seen as a response to increasing demand through initiatives such as the nine-euro ticket. This was also emphasized by lindweiler.de.
But before the construction machines can roll out, there is still an important hurdle: a feasibility study that is intended to determine the economic benefits of the project. The Rhein-Erft district has already taken the lead in this matter, and the district council voted on it on March 20, 2025. The Cologne administration plans to present the proposed resolution to the Transport Committee on June 24, 2025. Cost of the study: around 222,000 euros, 60% of which is borne by the Rhein-Erft district and 40% by the city of Cologne.
Public funding for sustainable mobility
A ray of hope: Thanks to comprehensive funding, expanding the infrastructure could become significantly cheaper. Federal funding is intended to reduce overall costs by up to 90%, as land.nrw reports. Around 60 million euros are being provided by the Environment and Transport Ministry of North Rhine-Westphalia to support such projects. This is primarily aimed at strengthening local public transport and advancing climate goals.
Oliver Krischer, Minister for the Environment and Transport, emphasized the importance of effective public transport. He sees the current initiative as crucial to mastering the challenges of mobility and making people aware of various transport alternatives. In particular, feasibility studies such as those on the light rail extension ensure that such projects are on solid footing.
Integration of communities
A planning office is commissioned to implement the planned feasibility study, which also has to develop a concept for public participation. Citizens should be included in the process, for example through surveys and exchange formats. This form of co-determination is crucial to building trust and increasing acceptance for such large infrastructure projects.
But what does this mean for the future of mobility in our cities? The Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV) points out that it is not just about expanding existing infrastructure, but also about developing new concepts for mobility as a whole. After all, today's Germans use cars for almost half of their journeys, while public transport is still used for one in ten journeys. The urgently needed alternatives must therefore be promoted and developed.
Overall, this project shows that the city of Cologne and the Rhein-Erft district are actively working to advance the mobility transition. With a good plan, smart citizen involvement and sufficient financial support, the new light rail line could soon become a reality. The next few years will be exciting – and this is just the beginning.