Angry protest against cutting KVB line 18 in Cologne!

Angry protest against cutting KVB line 18 in Cologne!

Things are boiling in Cologne: The announced restrictions on KVB line 18 are causing massive unrest among residents in Dellbrück and Holweide. From September 15, 2025, the heavily used line will end at the Buchheim Herler Straße stop. This not only means the end of the five-minute service, which in the future will only be available on a section and at peak times, but also the loss of important connections to the main train station and the city center. These changes have a “serious impact” on the quality of life of residents, according to Cologne resident Mara Ruwisch, who started a petition in protest that has already collected almost 10,000 signatures in less than a week. This reports Express.

As a result of the changes, residents will not only lose the transfer-free connection to the main train station, but will also have to switch to line 13, which is offered as a replacement but runs a different route from Wiener Platz. Line 3 also does not guarantee a direct connection to the city center. Residents also express concerns about the safety of their children when using public transport. Ruwisch criticizes the transport transition, which, in her opinion, is not being implemented in everyday life. The district council has already submitted an emergency request to reverse the cuts.

Protests and solidarity

The entire Cologne-Mülheim district council unanimously spoke out against the plans, supported by all political parties. This shows that citizens stand together and fight for a fair, direct and livable connection via line 18. Politically, it is demanded that line 18 continues to run to Thielenbruch (Dellbrück), especially during rush hours. The need for transparent communication and real citizen participation in future changes is also vehemently called for Change.org knows to report.

The effects of the closure are far-reaching: residents in the districts of Holweide, Dellbrück and Thielenbruch on the right bank of the Rhine not only lose their direct connection to the city center, but also face longer travel times and higher levels of stress in everyday life. This puts additional strain on other lines that are already busy. The public transport connection in the east of Cologne will therefore be massively worsened, particularly affecting the accessibility of schools, workplaces and doctor's offices.

Mobility transition and expansion plans

As part of the mobility transition, the expansion of the light rail network is seen as a measure to create attractive connections to the city and the surrounding area. As the city of Cologne reports, cooperation with the Cologne transport companies and various municipalities is of great importance in order to expand capacities on heavily used routes. Numerous expansion projects are already in progress and have been grouped under the heading “public transport network development” since 2022. In particular, the measures from the “Public Transport Roadmap” from 2018 show that the goal is to improve connections and encourage people to switch to the train the city of Cologne explained.

However, the current measures to reduce connectivity raise questions about how the city is addressing citizens' concerns and what steps are being taken to ensure the quality of life in the affected districts. The protest against the line changes is a sign that residents care about these issues and want better connections.