New Update On Bonn Cable Car Project
11/April/2026
The Bonn cable car project has moved significantly closer to realization. Over the past few months, the city and its public utilities, together with the project management firm Drees & Sommer, have almost finalized the cable car route, updated the cost-benefit analysis, and revised the timeline. From 2032 onwards, the cable car is scheduled to operate as part of the public transport system, running from Beuel on the right bank of the Rhine, across the river, and up to the University Hospital on the Venusberg hill.
The cable car in Bonn – running from Venusberg on the left bank of the Rhine across the river to Beuel on the right bank – would be the first urban cable car in Germany integrated into the public transport system and usable with a standard local transport ticket such as the Deutschlandticket. The project is being planned and implemented jointly by the City of Bonn and the Bonn public transport company (Stadtwerke Bonn) in cooperation with the design firm Drees & Sommer.
“The cable car is a strategic flagship project for Bonn’s public transport planning. It is the best possible, congestion-free connection across the Rhine, with which we aim, among other things, to relieve the very busy roads leading up to the University Hospital on the Venusberg,” emphasizes Mayor Guido Déus. “The costs will be transparently integrated into the 2027/28 budget. Despite rising prices, the cable car, which enjoys broad support in the city council, remains attractive thanks to high subsidy rates – however, this is contingent on sustainable financing in the long term. Therefore, we are consistently pursuing the planning to its conclusion and will only decide on the construction after the planning approval process and based on all the facts,” the mayor clarifies. The pilot project demonstrates the strength of the collaborative partnership between the Bonn city administration and the Bonn public utilities.
“The Bonn cable car is one of the pioneering projects because we are among the first in Germany to aim for full integration into the public transport system. It is not intended to be a tourist attraction, but a high-frequency means of transport. The modern cable car fleet includes 95 barrier-free cabins that will depart every 20 to 40 seconds and will also transport bicycles, strollers, and wheelchairs. A prerequisite for this is that both the construction and operation are financially viable,” emphasizes SWB Group CEO Anja Wenmakers.
Very positive trend in the benefit-cost index
“From an economic perspective, the cable car is a sensible project. Current calculations show a benefit-cost ratio of 1.79, which is significantly above 1.0, the threshold for funding under the Municipal Transport Financing Act (GVFG),” explains City Planning Director Helmut Wiesner. “Compared to the previous calculation method, the assessment since the most recent survey in 2022 takes a broader macroeconomic perspective, meaning it addresses mobility options like the cable car more specifically and is generally more climate-oriented.” The previous calculation method was based on a procedure from 2016 – this method has changed considerably.
The total investment is currently estimated at approximately €155 million net. The largest share is allocated to the cable car technology, stations, garages, and track equipment. Additional costs include ancillary construction expenses for planning, project management, expert reports, and permitting procedures, as well as an appropriate allowance for project risks and unforeseen circumstances. Further project-related measures include, among other things, utility relocations, work in the vicinity of the route, and environmental and noise mitigation measures. Compared to previous cost estimates, the investment budget has increased because the plans have been updated to reflect current technological standards. Additional requirements for structures and noise protection, as well as more detailed geological findings, also play a role.
Funding is available for the majority of the investment.
The majority of the investment can be financed through subsidies, primarily based on the Municipal Transport Financing Act. The remaining contribution for the City of Bonn amounts to approximately €17.6 million. Annual operating costs for the cable car will be around €5.2 million: these comprise operating and maintenance costs of approximately €3.9 million and debt service for the city's share of the costs, amounting to approximately €1.3 million. This does not include offsetting effects such as revenue from fares.
“The planning has reached a high level of maturity – technically, organizationally, and in terms of coordination with the stakeholders. The route is largely finalized, and key questions have been resolved. This also means that the further schedule is clearly structured, allowing us to approach the next steps systematically and work purposefully towards commissioning in 2032,” says Sebastian Beck, partner at Drees & Sommer, the company responsible for program management of the cable car.
The cable car is expected to transport up to 15,000 passengers per day once it is operational. This forecast comprises 9,150 additional trips generated – for example, by passengers switching from cars – as well as 6,000 trips by existing public transport users. This shift in traffic will allow for the reduction or shortening of bus routes. Specific studies on the potential elimination of bus routes up to Venusberg will follow during the revision of the local transport plan. This will then allow for a more precise quantification of potential savings.
The route and the stations
The entire cable car route will be approximately 3.8 kilometers long, include five stations, and be supported by a total of 22 pylons. Compared to the previous plan, the cable car will cross the Rhine a few meters further south. Through more detailed planning and regular, constructive dialogue with the landowners affected by the project, as well as with major employers along the route—solutions were found for all station and pylon locations after consulting with the immediate neighbors—the following optimizations were achieved:
Schießbergweg Station: The station will be moved approximately 35 meters to the northwest. This will bring it closer to the planned stop for S-Bahn line 13, simplifying transfers, and will allow it to pass over the adjacent office buildings at a lower level, thus reducing costs. At Schießbergweg, the cabins for the first section will be housed in a garage.
Rheinaue Station: By shifting the station to the southeast, the need for pylons on the DHL Group premises can be eliminated. The existing transport infrastructure will be retained.
UN Campus Station: By shifting the station's position to the east, the cable car route and passenger access have been optimized, and the existing local traffic situation has been maintained.
Loki-Schmidt-Platz station: The stop will remain at its currently planned location.
University Hospital (UKB) station: The stop on the UKB grounds will be relocated to the area of the parking lot to the northeast. This will allow the station to be built at ground level, reducing noise pollution and minimizing the number of hospital buildings overflown. It will also create space for a garage for the cabins of the second section, and improve bus connections.
The next project phases
Another public dialogue event is planned for autumn 2026. The city administration will publish further information in due course. Furthermore, the preliminary planning will be completed by the end of 2026, and a functional tender will be prepared, enabling the commissioning of a general contractor by the end of 2027. This will be followed by the planning approval procedure, initiated by the Cologne District Government in mid-2028. In this procedure, the interests of residents along the route and of relevant public authorities will be independently examined and weighed.
Following successful completion of the planning approval process, construction of the cable car can begin. Currently, this is expected to take approximately two years, with the cable car scheduled to be operational in 2032.
Despite public subsidies, the financial impact of constructing and operating the cable car must be examined. This will be done as part of the project review of responsibilities and during the preparation of the draft budget for 2027/2028, as well as the medium-term financial plan. Given the precarious budgetary situation of the city of Bonn, it will be necessary to assess whether the cable car can be implemented within the framework of an approvable budget. This will also be evaluated based on the results of the revised local public transport plan.
