Bonn Central Station Platform 1 to partially open end of August
BONN · Deutsche Bahn expects platform 1 at Bonn Central Station to open partially at the end of August. Not all trains will be able to stop there. Bad Godesberg renovations should also be completed this year.
Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) continues to anticipate that platform 1 at Bonn's main station will be able to be put back into operation at least in part at the end of August with the changeover to the new timetable. Kai Rossmann, DB's station manager responsible for Bonn, announced at the joint meeting of the Transport and Planning Committees from Bonn and the Rhein-Sieg district that the entire length of the platform would not be open by then and that not all trains would be able to access it.
The renovation of the train station roof, which is under historical preservation orders, is to be completed by the end of 2020, one year later than originally planned. At the end of 2016, DB began the first preparatory work, which was followed by the closure of the first train track. Since then, most trains have been running in both directions on tracks two and three, whose shared platform is very full at peak times.
Construction costs rise from 13 million to 30 million
As reported, costs more than doubled from 13 million to 30 million euros because of additions made to the original plans such as the installation of more escalators. Higher prices and poorer building structure substance than expected also contributed to the price escalation. DB, the federal government and the Rhineland public transport system each share one third in the investment. Work has also been ongoing at the Bad Godesberg Station, which was already expected to be completed some years ago. DB announced that "remaining work (in Bad Godesberg) is to be completed by the third quarter of this year". By autumn, DB wants to ensure that the roofs are sealed to keep the rain out. The conversion of Von Groote Square is to begin in July.
They also admitted that there were still problems with the new elevators. Two out of three were not ready for use. According to Rossmann, there are problems with the doors. This is not so easy to comprehend "because the elevators are right off the shelf". He has assurance that the lifts will work in the coming weeks.
Before DB's visit, local politicians had submitted a series of questions in writing. These included the status of possible roofs for the bus stop shelters at Duisdorf and Helmholtzstrasse. DB does not see itself obliged to provide these, but Bonn's politicians consider such an installation to be necessary in order to provide commuters with adequate comfort, even if money from the city treasury is needed to make it happen. According to information provided by DB at the meeting, they could start planning that next year. So it will be a while before passengers can wait for their public transport with a roof over their heads to keep them dry.
(Orig. text: Phillipp Königs, Translation: ck)
