Cologne tram line 3 with low-floor articulated tram 5132 at Thielenbruch (2025)

Terminus: Thielenbruch.
Photographer: Henrik Boye.
Date: July 13, 2025.
City: Cologne (Germany).

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Photos from Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe (KVB)

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The Cologne Stadtbahn 1/2 (2011)The Cologne Stadtbahn is the backbone of Cologne's public transportation system. It is alternately called the subway, tram, or simply the KVB and has a network of 194 kilometers. Of these, around 27 kilometers run through tunnels, and an additional five kilometers are elevated. There are eleven lines. The Cologne Stadtbahn is also connected to the Bonn Stadtbahn via the HGK railway lines. The operators of the Stadtbahn in Cologne are the Cologne Transport Company (KVB). Rail traffic in the heart of Cologne, Germany's fourth-largest city. Cologne's local transport network is designed to serve a population of 1 million residents and over 2.3 million visitors annually. The Cologne public transportation company, known as KVB, offers modern, forward-looking local transit. A network of 14 light rail lines connects the outer districts with the city center. The cathedral, the city's centerpiece, is also at the core of the light rail network. This world-famous building provides multiple perspectives, both with the train in the foreground and from the train itself. The bridges over the Reine River offer the most charming views of the railways and the cityscape. Three of Cologne's eight Reine bridges are crossed by the light rail. In the center, the Deutzer and Severins Bridges connect the two banks. The river itself is also a vital transportation route, as the Reine River is considered one of Europe's busiest waterways. A boat trip on the Rhine should definitely be part of a visit to Cologne, as it offers very special views of the city. Behind the Deutzer Bridge lies the famous Hohenzoller Bridge, which carries six railway tracks over the river. The structure leading to the Deutzer Bridge consists of two individual bridges and is the shortest connection between the banks. The tram tracks run through its center, and only 600 meters upstream is the more elegant Severins Bridge, a pylon in the middle of the river that carries the cables of this suspension bridge. It is almost 700 meters long, with the most significant span being over 300 meters. Impressive perspectives include views of the over 70-meter-high Kühler, which are worth seeing from the front if you are sitting in a train that travels from the Deutz district to the city center. Look out the window on the left side, toward the south. Upstream, the view extends to the south bridge of the railway. The bank located in the old town offers many eye-catching sights, as well as dense ship traffic on the Rhine. Everything is easily accessible from the Severins Bridge. From here, you can see the famous Chocolate Museum on the east bank, and line 7 passes under the bridge, providing a view of the cathedral. If you take the city railway to Cologne, the quickest route is via the Deutzer Bridge. Heumarkt is the first stop. Heumarkt is one of the city's main squares; during World War II, trams ran across the square and through the old town. Four lines connect at this stop. Further along is Neumarkt Square, where the Romanesque Church of St. Apostles is located on its western end. Neumarkt is the most critical stop and the operational hub of the city's rail system in the city center. The station has both an upper and an underground area. Four lines meet at Neumarkt Square, connecting the eastern bank of the Rhine with the western part of the city. In 1991, the city council made a key decision to convert the old tram system into a modern city rail network. By 1995, the first low-floor trams arrived. While conventional trams typically run amid other traffic, city rail systems utilize dedicated tracks. Stations are separate from the general road network and only intersect with other traffic at designated crossings. Ideally, city rail systems are underground. The first section of the Cologne subway, between Friesenplatz and the central station, opened in 1968. By 2006, the low-level network spanned 31 kilometers, mostly beneath the densely populated city center. Neumarkt is one of four major intersections with two tracks, where during rush hour, trains from five lines meet at nearly minute intervals. Underground, the light rail fully qualifies as a subway, marked at the entrances of the overhead stations. Overall, the Cologne Public Transport Company transports about 677,000 passengers daily on city and tram lines—around 247 million annually. The trains operate on standard-gauge tracks. This train belongs to Bonn Public Utilities. Along with the transit company of the neighboring city, KVB operates lines 16, 18, and 19, which run directly between the two cities over two routes. The underground station at Dom Hauptbahnhof is the second most important because it offers transfers with other Deutsche Bahn trains and is located right in the city center, making it easy to find. At the central station, KVB operates a ticket counter on the mezzanine level, where you can purchase all types of tickets and get essential information. During World War II, Cologne's rail network was heavilyBy Naturbursche1 - February 9, 2011.

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July 10, 2025.

Cologne tram line 7 with low-floor articulated tram 4520 at Moltkestraße (2018)By Silas Boye Nissen.
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Added November 1, 2025
KVB Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG 240.008 Stadtbahn 417 Pieces | Level 3 (2025)By Henrik Boye, Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe (KVB).
July 13, 2025.

Cologne tram line 1 at Heumarkt Köln (1982)By Henrik Boye.
July 1982.

See all photos from Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe (KVB).

Last updated: December 9, 2025.

Cologne tram line 3 with low-floor articulated tram 5132 at Thielenbruch (2025)

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