"The Bonn cable car would be the first urban cable car in Germany that is integrated into the public transport system and can be used with a normal public transport ticket such as the Deutschlandticket. In Stadtwerke Bonn, we have a strong and reliable partner at our side for our cable car. We are further along in our project in Bonn than any other municipality in Germany. Together, we want to make the cable car a success as part of the mobility transition in Bonn," emphasizes Mayor Katja Dörner.
"The construction of the cable car will add an attractive connection from Beuel across the Rhine to the Venusberg to Bonn's local transport network. I am delighted that we will continue to advance this flagship project together with Stadtwerke Bonn," says city planning officer Helmut Wiesner.
The cooperation agreement regulates the further procedure and the next steps in the cable car project. "The cable car will be another milestone in Bonn's transport transition. We are looking forward to soon expanding our existing mobility portfolio with an autonomous, electric and innovative service," says Anja Wenmakers, Managing Director of SWB Bus und Bahn.
Current status and next steps
The next step, for example, is to further revise and refine the technical planning. After consultation with affected residents, the route of the line will be adjusted. This will lead to changes compared to the initial draft, such as the relocation of the terminus stations on the grounds of the university hospital and on Schießbergweg in Beuel-Ramersdorf.
Preliminary consultations with a number of authorities and interest groups are running in parallel. Specifically, communication has begun with Deutsche Bahn, SWB, the state aviation authority, operators of radio relay routes, various departments of the Cologne district government responsible for the subsequent planning approval procedure, the Rhineland Regional Association, the Rhine Waterways and Shipping Office and some local parties directly affected by stations or significant overflights. The city administration is currently drawing up a specification for all cable car stations with additional uses such as mobile stations, bicycle parking facilities, bike sharing, etc.
The Rheinaue station and the section of the route running in the park area are located in a protected landscape conservation area; it is under the copyright of landscape architect Gottfried Hansjakob. In the meantime, the administration, together with the author and an architect commissioned by him, has developed an exemplary preliminary plan for the harmonious integration of the station into the landscape of the Rheinauenpark.
In the meantime, a number of preliminary reports have been commissioned or drawn up in preparation of the tender documents for the functional tendering process of the cable car manufacturer:
- A meteorological report for the entire route to determine the climatic conditions (wind, ice, snow, thunderstorms, etc.) as a basis for the dimensioning and operation of the cable car has been prepared in the meantime.
- A special aerodynamic report including a wind tunnel test to determine the influence of the Post Tower and its neighboring buildings on the wind conditions in the section of the cable car route close to the building has been prepared.
- A geological preliminary report/ subsoil expertise has been commissioned. For this purpose, test drillings are currently being carried out to investigate the soil along the route.
- In order to determine and assess the potential environmental impact of the cable car project, an expert opinion on environmental protection and legal services is to be commissioned in the course of March.
- The tender documents for a preliminary report on noise protection have been drawn up and potential bidders have already been invited to submit bids. The administration currently expects the contract to be awarded at the end of March 2024.
- As parts of the cable car route are located in designated flood areas or potential flood areas, the awarding of a water law and hydrological report is planned for mid-2024.
At the same time, Stadtwerke Bonn is working on the award procedure for commissioning a project manager and specialist planners. An assignment based on the cooperation agreement is expected in the first half of 2024.
It is planned that the project manager will prepare the manufacturer's functional tender together with Stadtwerke Bonn and coordinate the preparation of the documents required for the planning approval procedure by the cable car manufacturer. Following the functional award, the preliminary reports must then be updated in collaboration with the selected manufacturer of the cable car system on the basis of its implementation planning so that the planning approval procedure can then be carried out with the detailed planning in order to obtain planning permission.
Participation and dialog
Together with the communications agency IFOK, the city of Bonn will offer further participation and dialog formats for the cable car project. Communication with residents living near the route and interest groups etc. will continue in 2024. Among other things, a residents' workshop is currently being prepared for April 2024.
Information about the cable car on the Internet
The city administration has published a comprehensive range of information about the cable car project online, which is updated regularly. www.bonn.de/seilbahn (opens in a new tab)