The idea that completely changes Cologne – and rail traffic in Germany
The vision of the “New Center of Cologne” could change the cathedral city considerably: relocation of the main train station, more space in the city center and advantages for nationwide rail traffic.
Cologne – build a simple main station right next to a mighty sacred building, the cathedral, the pride of the Catholic city? On January 9, 1884, the city council of Cologne had the opportunity to prevent exactly that – and decided to do it anyway: by a majority, probably under pressure from the Prussians from Berlin.
138 years later, the giant eleven-track building in the shadow of Cologne Cathedral has long been part of Cologne folklore, but it is also a completely overloaded transport hub that cuts through the city centre. And that’s exactly what visionary city planners want to change now – with a revolutionary project: Cologne’s main station is moving away from the city center to the other side of the Rhine. The minds behind it: Paul Böhm, architect, known among other things for the central mosque in Ehrenfeld and Paul Bauwens Adenauer, architect and building contractor – he is a grandson of Konrad Adenauer, the first Federal Chancellor and former Mayor of Cologne.
In an interview with IPPEN.MEDIA, the architects explain how Cologne would change. Together with many other Cologne residents, they want to “rethink and redesign” the city with the idea of the “New Center Cologne”.
Vision “New Center Cologne”: A new main station is being built in Kalk
The core ideas of the “New Center” idea: relocate the main train station to Cologne-Kalk, reorganize rail traffic and thus give the city center a new face. “I believe that our concept tries to think holistically – and not just the traffic, but also the urban situation in Cologne,” says Böhm. A large part of the rail traffic that now runs directly through Cologne is to be relocated to the other side of the Rhine – in order to create new potential in the old town.
An overview of the core ideas of the “New Center of Cologne”.
- New Central Station in Cologne Kalk.
- Of the Previous Central Station Cologne becomes a regional train station.
- Of the Long-distance traffic of the Deutsche Bahn will be handled via the new central station in Kalk.
- In the Cologne city center This creates areas that can be used again.
- On the Hohenzollern Bridge Cologne Green spaces and parks could be created.
Relocation of the main train station, more space in the city center of Cologne
“We see the new center as something broader than just the area around Cologne Cathedral,” explains Böhm. Completely new perspectives would open up for Cologne: The city could “grow across the Rhine to the east, to Cologne-Kalk and Mülheim”. The vision of the “New Center” could change Cologne completely and give the city new opportunities. “A new point is being created on the right bank of the Rhine, a magnet, also for urban development. In this way, the city can continue to develop across the Rhine,” says Bauwens Adenauer.
Even if it is just an idea, the considerations of the “New Center” fit in with the developments in the city. The cityscape of Cologne will change in the coming years: A new district is being built in Kreuzfeld, the Deutzer Hafen is being converted into a modern district and many people are to find a new home in Parkstadt Süd.
“Neue Mitte Köln”: Effects on rail traffic throughout Germany
Cologne Central Station plays an important role in the considerations: It is an important transport hub that also takes up a lot of space in Cologne’s city center. Around 1,300 trains pass through it every day on eleven tracks – with an impact on the city and its residents. “Anyone who wants to cross the station, even through the underpass, has to crawl through more and more holes. That’s no fun. The turning point is not getting smaller, it’s getting bigger,” says Bauwens Adenauer.
What initially sounds like a cityscape for Cologne means much more. The initiators of the “Neue Mitte Köln” are convinced that the approach “Rethinking Cologne from the rail perspective” would have an impact on the German railway network.
The long-distance traffic of Deutsche Bahn would also benefit from a relocation of the main station. ICE trains would then no longer have to struggle through the bottleneck Hohenzollern Bridge. The bridge is overloaded and, like the main station, has long since reached its capacity limit. Numerous Deutsche Bahn express trains are no longer stopping on the left bank of the Rhine, but at Cologne-Deutz/Messe station.
If long-distance traffic were handled via a main station in Kalk, travel times could be reduced. “In addition, German rail traffic saves a lot of time in north-south traffic, the whole timing changes positively and creates relief,” says Adenauer.
Hohenzollern Bridge Cologne
► The Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne is one of the busiest railway bridges in Germany. More than 1300 trains roll daily at this point over the Rhine in Cologne to the main station. The bridge and station form a uniform transport hub in the European railway network. But they can no longer cope with the high volume of traffic. The result is overloading and bottlenecks.
► Originally the Hohenzollern Bridge built from 1907 to 1911. At the end of the Second World War, parts of the bridge were blown up and reconstruction was completed in 1959. Today, the Hohenzollern Bridge consists of three bridge sections, six tracks and a pedestrian and cycle path. The bridge is 409.19 meters long and 26.20 meters wide.
How likely is the implementation of the vision “Neue Mitte Köln”?
More quality of stay in the city, more space for all Cologne residents with less traffic – and advantages for thousands of rail travelers every day. All of this sounds tempting. But how likely is the implementation? In a first step, a feasibility study should show how the project could be implemented. “Actually, in some cases it’s not a Cologne project at all, but a project at state and federal level,” says Böhm. “That could actually make things a reality.” The implementation would take place in several phases, and architect Böhm calculates that completion could be possible around the year 2080 – in theory.
- feasibility study: Duration two to three years, costs between 500,000 and 1 million euros
- Time schedule: Development in several phases, possible completion of the complete project in 2080 (estimate)
“Neue Mitte Köln” as a chance for Cologne to solve major problems?
Even if 2080 still seems far away, the “New Center of Cologne” could join a series of important infrastructure projects of national importance: Stuttgart 21 will be completed in the next few years and in Planning begins in Frankfurt, the long-distance tracks of the main station to be laid underground.
Paul Bauwens Adenauer, whose grandfather Konrad Adenauer once gave Cologne its current face, says: “If other cities also set out and begin to solve their major problems that they have not tackled for a long time, then they are good role models for this, also in Cologne to start running.” (IDZRW) Tip: Informed daily about what’s happening in Cologne – simply subscribe to our free 24RHEIN newsletter.