KVB quality report: Punctuality of the light rail system is plummeting!

KVB quality report: Punctuality of the light rail system is plummeting!

The Cologne transport company (KVB) is under pressure. A newly published quality report for 2024 shows that last year almost one in five light rail vehicles and one in four buses were not on time. This report, which was presented on Tuesday, serves as a reflection of operational reality and has brought KVB's quality level into focus. Cologne Review reports that KVB is below the target level of punctuality this year. CEO Stefanie Haaks was self-critical and offered insights into the challenges the company faces.

In detail, the report shows that the light rail systems achieved a punctuality rate of 79.6 percent in 2023. Particularly noticeable is line 4, which is considered the most unreliable - a circumstance that can be traced back to the closure of the Mülheim Bridge. The connection through this important traffic artery not only affected punctuality, but also the city's entire mobility offering. In contrast, line 17, which connects eight stops, boasted the best punctuality.

Potential for improvement

The KVB doesn't just have to struggle with punctuality. The report also describes that only 92.3 percent of the light rail trips that were supposed to be offered according to the agreement with the city of Cologne were actually carried out. Last year this number was 95.3 percent. The main reason for the many failures is the lack of personnel, which is due to the insufficient recruiting of drivers. Despite intensive efforts, the KVB was unable to recruit enough staff, so a temporary timetable reduction was necessary in November 2024 in order to stabilize the situation.

However, Haaks emphasized that the situation has gradually improved in 2024 and it is expected that all rail driver positions will be filled by autumn. The full range of bus services will be available again from August 25, 2024. Nevertheless, the schedule remains tense due to outstanding orders and a lack of spare parts.

Security situation and challenges

Another issue of serious relevance is safety at stops. Security issues, particularly in the city center, are considered a serious challenge. The KVB has police and municipal security patrols on duty around the clock, which have positive effects, but can also create a displacement effect. Haaks calls for more financial support from politicians to ensure adequate security and mobility in the long term.

The situation is similar across all public transport. As a study by the ADAC shows, staff shortages and other external factors also lead to problems in other cities. In Cologne, for example, one in six S-Bahn trains was canceled and around half of the trains were at least three minutes late. These alarming figures make it clear that mobility is not just about punctuality, but also about the overall satisfaction of passengers. The KVB is therefore faced with the challenge of addressing this discontent among the population and at the same time improving operational performance. ADAC encourages operators to consider lower thresholds for punctuality and to include outages in their statistics.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the KVB is facing a huge effort to raise its services to the desired level. The feedback from passengers and the numbers in the quality report are a clear indication that more money, staff and political support are needed to guarantee a reliable and safe transport service in Cologne. Cologne municipal utilities keeps the public service mandate in mind and continuously addresses these challenges.