Cologne citizens' initiative demands with drums: Save RRX stop for Mülheim!

Cologne citizens' initiative demands with drums: Save RRX stop for Mülheim!

Last Thursday evening there was a lot of activity at the Cologne-Mülheim train station, where the citizens' initiative “RRX for Cologne-Mülheim” staged an impressive event. To the enthusiastic drumming of the Katakichi Cologne group, numerous demonstrators with signs campaigned for the preservation of the Rhine-Ruhr Express stop in their Veedel. The initiative has set itself the goal of raising public awareness of the situation and securing the RRX hold, which is of great importance for the future of Mülheim's citizens. The stop is currently set up for lines RE1 and RE5, but only as a temporary solution until full operations begin, which is planned for 2040. Then the RRX trains will no longer stop in Cologne-Mülheim, which worries residents because the infrastructure is not sufficient to accommodate four trains per hour without blocking long-distance traffic, as Heiner Schwarz from the initiative explains. The key to a permanent solution could be the construction of a third track, also known as Track 0.

However, the main challenges lie in the unclear responsibility for the construction, as both the federal government and DB InfraGO are involved. Although a feasibility study has shown that the stop is possible if the station is rebuilt, the construction of platform 0 has not yet been secured. The initiative expresses concern that the importance of its issue is not being adequately addressed in the right channels. “We want to ensure that the RRX hold remains in place in the long term,” emphasizes Monika Lungmus from the initiative. It is a collective effort that the people of Mülheim want to tackle resolutely.

The infrastructure in focus

The current traffic situation in Mülheim train station cannot be ignored. Only two tracks are available, which lead towards Deutz. The lack of space is increasingly becoming a problem, especially if the RRX lines are to run at a more compressed frequency from 2040. The GoRheinland association confirms that the existing platforms are not sufficient to meet the new requirements. “The planned integration of the stop is already an urgent requirement of the federal transport infrastructure plan, but we finally need good news for planning,” continued Schwarz.

Since the introduction of the RRX, the people of Mülheim have been active and mobilizing to prevent further disappearance of transport connections. The stop was initially not integrated into the Rhine-Ruhr Express timetable, but was only added for preliminary operations. It is now all the more up to the initiative and the broader public to fight for this important connection and to continually remind people of their concerns.

Starting next January, Deutsche Bahn will start building a noise barrier in Düsseldorf-Lichtenbroich. This measure is part of a comprehensive redesign as part of the RRX project, which could also affect the work at Mülheim train station. Neutral measures are currently underway to reduce noise pollution in various cities along the RRX route. Construction sites are also underway in Bochum, Essen and Langenfeld, which are driving forward the RRX expansion overall.

Mülheim has become a pivotal point in the RRX planning, and the committed initiative shows that the citizens are determined to stand up for their Veedel, because there is clearly something to be said!

For further details and to read about the initiative, visit the website Express, Review and rheinruhrexpress.