CDU criticizes: New light rail plans endanger commuters in the Rhein-Sieg district!

CDU criticizes: New light rail plans endanger commuters in the Rhein-Sieg district!

The planned changes to the Stadtbahn network in Bonn and the Rhein-Sieg region ensure controversy. The CDU parliamentary group in the Rhein-Sieg district council vehemently criticized the fact that the upcoming adjustments that move within the "Stadtbahnzielnetz 2026+" do not meet the needs of the region. Oliver Krauss, the traffic policy spokesman for the CDU district parliamentary group, calls for a comprehensive light rail concept that takes into account the entire Rhein-Sieg district instead of only taking the city of Bonn into focus. His criticism aims at the fact that the planned changes endanger a reliable connection for the residents of the district.

A central concern of the CDU is line 66, which will no longer commute between Siegburg and Bad Honnef in the future. Instead, this connection is to link as line 67 all day with Bonn-Bad Godesberg, although it is currently only available for passengers twice a day. The new route not only aims to connect the strongly frequented route branches, but could also lead to a significant deterioration for commuters.

direct connections and transfer options

The CDU in particular sees the municipalities of Siegburg and Sankt Augustin disadvantaged by these changes, since they lose the direct connection to important destinations such as Bonn-Rheinaue, Königswinter and Bad Honnef. This describes the party as a clear deterioration in the existing transport connections. The planned shortening of line 16, which will end in the future at the Bonn Central Station, is also another point of critical consideration. The aim of this measure is to stabilize the timetable; However, the CDU demands that you also ensure good and reliable switching options for the noise.

It is an essential concern that connection connections are not lost in quieter traffic times and delays in the Bonn urban area must not be compensated for by these shortening. In addition, the CDU pushes the consistent expansion of the infrastructure for lines 66 and 67 in Bonn-Beuel to increase traffic safety. The currently planned changes to the light rail network are critically pursued by the citizens of the region while waiting for a clear statement from the district council.

future changes in the light rail network

In connection with the new light rail network, which was decided on December 12, 2024 by the City Council of Bonn, the aim is to improve the range of the light rail in Bonn and the region. However, the concept, which was jointly developed by Bonn, Cologne and the Rhein-Sieg district, has not yet been approved by the district council. The implementation is planned at the earliest for the timetable change in December 2026. During the main traffic times, a train should run there every five minutes on three important routes.

Some of the essential innovations include improvements in the line paths: Line 16 is to be shortened to Bonn Hbf, line 66 will take a new way from Tannenbusch via Bonn Hbf to Königswinter/Bad Honnef, and line 67 should act as the main connection between Siegburg and Bad Godesberg. However, a significant expansion of the infrastructure will be necessary for the implementation of the new clocks, which provide a five-minute cycle in rush hours

Overall, it remains to be seen how the current discussions about the changes in the light rail network develop and whether the desired improvements meet the requirements and wishes of the residents of the Rhein-Sieg district. [ksta.de] reports that the CDU expresses dissatisfaction with direct connections, while additional infrastructure measures are urgently necessary to successfully implement the new concept and to promote mobility in Bonn and the surrounding area. [bonn.de] follows the developments carefully, while the citizens are waiting for the reactions of the responsible committees.