Large-Scale Projects with a Big Impact
About 100 million euros for an efficient public transit system
Approximately 100 million euros for better public transportation: By funding public transportation investments on this scale in 2025, go.Rheinland provided a decisive boost to the expansion and modernization of public transportation in the region. The range of funded projects extends from the accessibility upgrades of transit stops to mobility hubs and digital passenger information systems.
To support public transit in the region, go.Rheinland disbursed just under 60 million euros to the respective applicants in 2025. An additional just under 40 million euros went toward local rail passenger transport (SPNV) projects. In total, 149 projects in the go.Rheinland area were supported. Among the most significant projects was the third construction phase aimed at improving functionality and increasing the availability and safety of the Rurtalbahn’s railway infrastructure, for which the investment company Kreis Düren mbH received grants totaling 12.1 million euros. An additional 11.3 million euros was paid to EVS GmbH for the retrofitting of signaling systems on the south side of the Stolberg Altstadt station.
The funds disbursed reflect the progress made on numerous projects already underway. At the same time, in 2025, go.Rheinland laid the groundwork for further investments in an efficient and attractive public transit system. With the approval of new funding, numerous additional projects were launched that will contribute to the modernization of the transportation and mobility infrastructure in the Rhineland in the coming years.
Millions Invested to Improve Safety and Capacity
go.Rheinland’s investment strength is particularly evident in the five largest funded projects of the past year. The largest grant in the area of public transit investments was allocated to retrofitting the Hans-Böckler-Platz/Bf. West light rail station in Cologne with fire safety measures. With approximately 15.6 million euros, go.Rheinland is supporting the modernization of a key hub in Cologne’s light rail network. The project will raise safety standards, improve escape and rescue routes, and increase the station’s accessibility. At the same time, service quality will benefit from a more efficient station with shorter walking distances for passengers. The project is currently underway.
Another priority is the strengthening of regional rail transport, which is also currently underway. More than 10.6 million euros in funding was approved for Beteiligungsgesellschaft Kreis Düren mbH to optimize the signaling system on the southern branch of the Rurtalbahn. The funds were used to modernize and optimize the control and safety systems. Modern signaling technology enables more stable rail operations, increases operational safety, and, in the long term, creates scope for increased capacity and greater punctuality.
Approximately 10 million euros will also be invested in the construction of an additional turning track by DB InfraGO in Cologne-Kalk, which will enhance operational flexibility in the Cologne rail network. The turning track will make it possible to schedule trains more efficiently, better absorb disruptions, and make operations more resilient, particularly in heavily trafficked areas of the network. Work is scheduled to begin in 2026.
Furthermore, go.Rheinland has made targeted investments in integrating different mobility options. For example, funding totaling approximately 4.2 million euros was provided for the construction of a new intermodal hub at the Zülpich train station, featuring a park-and-ride facility and a mobility station. This project was completed as early as 2024, while the funding was disbursed in 2025. The project improves transfers between different modes of transportation and strengthens mobility options in rural areas.
Central Hubs for Tomorrow’s Mobility
With the construction of the new central bus station in the railway town of Opladen, go.Rheinland also supported another major infrastructure project completed in 2020. The grant of approximately 3.9 million euros helps make bus transportation in Leverkusen future-proof and further improve connections with rail transit.
These measures exemplify go.Rheinland’s strategic focus: investments in high-performance infrastructure, safe and modern transit stations, and attractive transfer points. In this way, go.Rheinland is laying the groundwork for reliable, climate-friendly, and customer-oriented local transit in the region. The funding will have an impact far beyond the year in which it was approved—it lays the foundation for the mobility of tomorrow.
“With approximately 100 million euros in funding in 2025, we are taking concrete steps to shape the transportation transition in the Rhineland. Every investment—whether in public transit infrastructure, modern transit stations, or new mobility services—contributes to the same goal: a public transit system that is efficient, attractive, and future-proof.”
Rounded total funding amount per local government
