The underground station "Heumarkt" in the city centre of Cologne seen on 15
December 2013, the first day of regular operation. Here, the new underground
line through the city (Nord-Süd-Stadtbahn, running from north to south)
passes under the tracks crossing the city from east to west (Ost-West-Stadtbahn,
currently served by lines 1, 7 and 9). The upper level will initially
be used as a pedestrian underpass. In the far future, it will house the
Ost-West-Stadtbahn which is currently running on the surface. Of course the
shops which are under construction in the centre of the hall have to be removed
then, as the tracks will occupy the dark grey area in the middle. Note that the
floor of the upper level is thicker in the middle because it includes a trench
for the tracks. The lower level houses the Nord-Süd-Stadtbahn. Only the
northern section of it from here to the main station is in service by now, so
only the western track (left) is used. A train of line 5, the only line
running on the Nord-Süd-Stadtbahn at this time, can be seen standing at the
platform.
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Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz
(<a href="mailto:christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de">christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de</a>)