Optimizing Bus and Train use in Cologne

For every visitor in Cologne using the local system of busses and trains is a comfortable and quick way to explore the city. The "Kölner Verkehrs-Betrieb AG" (KVB) (Cologne Traffic Company) is responsible for the business of public transit in the entire city of Cologne. Daily, the busses and trains travel in 10 minute intervals. From about 8pm

the time intervals are longer from Monday to Thursday). After midnight until early mor- ning there is a business break. Over week- ends, on holidays and large events in town the lines travel later and more frequently. Information about the timetables are avail- able at the KVB ticket offices for free. Unfor-

tunately riding the busses and trains is not for free, but the prices are set modestly, moreover, there are also special tickets at a reduced fare. Read more about this in the column to the right.  For those riding without a ticket who are caught, must pay a 30 euro charge.  In each train the next stop is announced over a speaker and is displayed electronically in each wagon.

For further information contact the KVB hotline 547-3333; or ask at ticket counters in the subway and at the passenger center at 25 Neumarkt. www.kvb-koeln.de.

LINE 1  Weiden -  Bensberg over Junkersdorf, Braunsfeld, Rudolfplatz Neumarkt, Deutz, Kalk, Ostheim LINE 3  Thielenbruch - Mengenich over Dellbrück, Holweide,  Deutz, Neumarkt, Ehrenfeld, Bocklemünd LINIE 4  Schlebusch - Bocklemünd over Mülheim, Deutz, Neumarkt, Ehrenfeld, Bickendorf LINE 5  Ossendorf - Reichensperger Platz over Neuehrenfeld, Friesenplatz, Dom/Hbf LINE 6  Ubierring -  Longerich  over Chlodwigplatz, Ringe, Ebertplatz, Nippes LINE 7  Porz - Frechen over Poll, Deutz, Neumarkt, Rudolfplatz, Braunsfeld, Lindenthal

LINE 8  Porz - Universität over Poll, Deutz, Neumarkt, Zülpicher Platz LINE 9  Königsforst -  Sülz over Poll, Deutz, Neumarkt,  Zülpicher Platz, Universität LINE 12  Merkenich - Zollstock over  Nippes, Ebertplatz, Ringe, Barbarossaplatz LINE 13  Buchheim - Sülzgürtel over Mülheim, Nippes, Ehrenfeld, Braunsfeld, Lindenthal LINE 15 Chorweiler -  Ubierring over  Longerich, Nippes, Ebertplatz, Ringe, Barbarossaplatz, Chlodwigplatz LINE 16 Niehl - Bad Godesberg over Ebertplatz, Ringe, Barbarossaplatz, Chlodwigplatz, Wesseling, Bonn

LINE 17  Buchheim - Ubierring over Mülheim, Zoo, Ebertplatz, Dom (cen- tral station). Line ope- rates only from 6 p.m., Sat, Sun and holidays whole day LINE 18  Thielenbruch - Bonn  over Buchheim, Mülheim, Zoo/Flora, Ebertplatz, Dom (cen- tral station), Neumarkt, Klettenberg, Hürth, Brühl, Bornheim LINE 19  Buchheim - Klettenberg over Ebertplatz, Ringe,  Barbarossaplatz, Sülz (Monday to saturday ending at 6 p.m.). For more information visit the website of Cologne's public transport authority:

Shopping in the subway station

Since 1963, Cologne's railways have been completely rebuilt so that all of the destinations of Cologne's vistors could be reached via city trains or the subway system. Among those destinations of your visit will certainly be Neumarkt, where most people get in and out of the trains in Cologne. To comfortably accomodate passengers, there has

been a shopping passage built directly from the platform containing 16 shops within a 120 meter hallway; including a train and concert ticket office, newspaper and maga- zine stand, as well as, offering pizza, pret- zels, flowers, foto shops and a key copying shop. Further down the passage there are

luggage lockers and telephones which accept all major credit cards, it's not even missing an internet cafe. The next train connections are displayed on two large electronic billboards. The passage was built with a great deal of glass and stainless steel and the granite floors illuminate the hallway in a post-modern lighting style.  The connection of the passage to the neighboring Neumarkt Galerie (shopping arca- de), one of the most beautiful in Cologne's central, is agreeably navagated and practical.

The passageway belongs to the subway station Neumarkt and is open around the clock. Shops are open weekdays from 9am to 8pm and Saturdays from 9am until 4pm.

Copyright 2005 - NICE CITY! Cologne

The right ticket

Logically, the ticket price depends on the route and distance which one covers in the bus or train. Cologne's route-network is divided into tarif zones. For each route is has to be found out, what kind of ticket is needed. Useful infor- mation about that and tickets itself are provi- ded the FahrgastCenter (passenger center) of the KVB. One of these centers lies centrally at 25 Neumarkt. Further more there are ticket counters found in the subway station at Neu- markt, or at the station Dom as well as down in the subway stop Ebert- platz. Tickets can be also purchased from the machines which are found at each stop and also in each bus and train in Cologne.  

Single ticket

With the EinzelTicket (single ticket) one may travel in the city price level A (1 to 2 tarif zones). Adults pay €2 and for that price a child, under 12 years old, can travel for free. Children up to 3 years old travel for free regardless, otherwise each child is €1. Tip: Check the time- tables to see if you apply for a Kurzstrecke (short distance ticket), which costs €1.20 per adult. more

Stripes ticket

Using the stripe ticket (german: StreifenTicket) for the amount of 6,80 € is less expensive com- pared with the single tickets. That's because you can make up to eight short trips by sub- way that would cost al- most 10 € when you'd always be taking single tickets. Its name refers to the small paper stripe that it is made of and shows eight fields on one side of it. These fields have to be stam- ped at one of the red stamp machines in every train. Depending on the distance of your trip you'll have to stamp one or more fields that will be discharged then. An exact explanation of the system can be asked at one of the passenger centers operated by Cologne's transport authority KVB. more

24-hour ticket

With the 24 hour ticket (24 StundenTicket), one may travel as much as they want all day long.  Cost: €5.30 for the en- tire city area. You've al- ready paid for the ticket itself, if you had bought only 4 Kurzstrecke or three Single tickets in the price level A. The ticket is non-transferable and valid for individuals or traveling couples without children. more

3-day ticket

This ticket, the "3 Tage Ticket", is valid for a three day window.  At €13.50 for the entire city area, the 3 day ticket is an extremely better va- lue than the 24 Stun- den-Ticket.  Whoever is traveling late at night must watch out, as the 3 day ticket is only valid until 3am of each day of the tickets validity win- dow and resumes the following morning. The ticket is also non-trans- ferrable. more

Mini-group ticket

Up to five people, re- gardless of whether chil- dren, adults or mixed, may travel an entire day in any bus or train. It costs €7.50 for Colog- ne's city area. One per- son from the group may also bing their dog. Chil- dren under 4 travel ge- nerally free. Monday through Friday the ticket is valid as early as 9am, earlier on the weekends and holidays, and lasts until 3am. more