The Bonn Metro, also known as the Stadtbahn, is a well-established rail transport system in Bonn, a city in western Germany. It consists of nine lines with 64 stations, covering a total distance of 125.36 kilometres (77.9 miles). The railway system is a combination of underground and surface stations, providing comprehensive coverage of the city.
The metro system began operations on 22 March 1975 by consolidating various railway services throughout the city. Since its inception, its lines have undergone numerous extensions and improvements. It operates from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, with a standard fare of 1.90 euros (about $2.30).
The Bonn Metro, also known as the “Stadtbahn” in Germany, does not operate 24 hours a day. The daily passenger count is not provided.
This metro system does not use driverless trains or air conditioning, nor does it have platform screen doors. Passengers are not allowed to walk between platforms.
The Bonn Metro operates from 4:30 am to 2:00 am Monday through Sunday.
Bonn Metro Map
A visual representation of the Bonn Metro network, showing all lines and stations, can greatly assist passengers in planning their journeys and understanding the system’s layout. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Bonn Metro map in PDF format.
Bonn: A City of Diplomacy and Tradition
Located in the western part of Germany, Bonn straddles both banks of the Rhine River and covers an area of 141.06 square kilometres (87.66 square miles). As one of the 20 largest cities in Germany, it is home to a population of 322,125.
Bonn serves as a hub for many international organisations and is home to 19 United Nations agencies and the headquarters of the German Federal Post Office and the National Telecommunications Company. The city features a blend of traditional and modern architecture, offering its residents and visitors a unique landscape.
The city experiences an Atlantic maritime climate and is one of the warmest regions in Germany. Winter temperatures typically range between -10°C and 2°C (14°F and 35.6°F), while an average temperature of 10°C (50°F) is maintained throughout the rest of the year. July sees the highest temperatures, with a peak of 18°C (64.4°F).
Expanding Bonn’s Connectivity: The Metro
The Bonn Metro stretches over 125.36 kilometres (77.9 miles), connecting various parts of the city and some surrounding areas. Since its official inauguration on 22 March 1975, it has developed into a major regional system, strengthening the city’s rail network and improving integration with neighbouring systems.
A significant part of the Metro’s fleet consists of low-floor B-carriages, specially designed by VÖV for light rail trams. However, several lines, including 16, 18, 63 and 67, use K5000 prototypes supplied by Bombardier Flexity Swift, a Canadian company that also supplies the Cologne rail system.
The metro has an average annual ridership of 92 million passengers. It is operated by SWB (Stadwerke Bonn), a subsidiary of Rheinische Bus-, Tram- und Straßenbahnen. Two of the metro lines belong to the Bonn Electric Railway Company and the Rhein-Sieg District (SSB), in which SWB holds a 50.01% stake, resulting in overlapping operations.
Key Information about Bonn Metro
- Alternative Name: Stadtbahn
- Length: 125.36 kilometers (77.90 miles)
- Rail Gauge: 1,435 mm (56.50 inches)
- Number of Lines: 9
- Number of Stations: 64
- Top Speed: 72 km/h (44.74 m/hr)
- Website: www.swb-busundbahn.de
- Operating Companies: Stadtwerke Bonn (SWB) and Elektrische Bahnen der Stadt Bonn un des Rhein-Sieg-Kreises (SSB)
- Daily Ridership: 211,000
- Inaugurated: March 22, 1975
A Glimpse into the Past
In the mid-1960s, Bonn’s rail transport was managed by five private companies. They operated a mixture of railways and tramways, connecting the regional railway with the interurban lines of the Rhein-Sieg district. In 1967, the government recognised the need for a more efficient connection between Bonn and Cologne and proposed a plan to achieve this. This led to the development of underground tunnels to connect the two cities, significantly reducing journey times.
The implementation involved repositioning at vehicle level and upgrading the rolling stock. The old trains were restricted to surface routes, while the more technologically advanced trains were allocated to the main underground system. The first line of the Bonn Metro, covering the north-south corridor, went into service in 1972. The east-west line was opened in 1986. Over the years, the system has undergone several extensions, improving its connectivity with other transport lines and eventually developing into a comprehensive transport network for Bonn and its neighbouring cities.
Lines and Stations
The Bonn Metro consists of nine lines, six of which are part of the underground system and three of which are integrated with the tram system. These lines pass through 64 stations and cover all major areas of the city, its outskirts and large neighbouring towns. SWB, the main operator of the metro, manages all these lines.
Line 16
Line 16 runs almost directly along the east-west corridor of the city, from Köln-Niehl to Bad Godesberg station. It is 45.6 kilometres (28.3 miles) long, runs parallel to line 63 and has 8 stations. Trains run at an average speed of 34 kilometres per hour (21.1 miles per hour) and this line is represented by the colour blue.
Line 18
Line 18 mainly follows the east-west corridor, with some sections running from north to south. It covers 30.1 miles (48.4 kilometres) over 8 stations and runs from one end of the city at Köln-Thielenbruch station to Bonn Hauptbahnhof station. Trains run at an average speed of 38 kilometres per hour (23.6 miles per hour) and are dark blue in colour.
Line 61
Line 61, one of the tram lines, is only 1.8 kilometres long and forms a Z shape. Although it runs partly along the east-west corridor, its service is mainly concentrated in the north-south area. It covers four stops from Dottendorf to Auerberg station and operates at an average speed of 10.25 miles per hour (16.5 kilometres per hour). Its distinctive colour is apple green.
Line 62
Line 62, which forms a C-shape, covers part of the east-west corridor and also runs north-south. It is 12 kilometres long and has 10 stations, running from Dottendorf station to Oberkassel station. The average speed is 22.5 km/h (14 m/h) and the colour is dark green.
Line 65
Line 65 follows a similar route to line 61 along the north-south corridor. It covers 16.5 kilometres (10.3 miles) with six stops from Ramersdorf to Auerbergland. Trains on this line run at an average speed of 22.8 kilometres per hour (14.2 miles per hour), and it is represented by the colour yellow.
Line 63
The shortest line in the entire underground system, Line 63 is just over 7.6 miles (12.3 kilometres) long. It consists of 5 stations, some of which run along the east-west corridor of the city. The terminus is at Tannenbusch and Bad Godesberg. The colour is sky blue and the average speed is around 32.1 kilometres per hour (20 miles per hour).
Line 66
Line 66 runs east to west and north to south, forming a horseshoe shape across the city. It has nine stops and covers 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) from Siegburg to Bad Honnef station. The average speed is 31 kilometres per hour (19.3 miles per hour) and its distinctive colour is fuchsia.
Line 67
Line 67 runs parallel to line 66, but with a less extensive route and more connections to the ground-level tram. It has 5 stations, starting at Siegburg station and ending at Bad Godesberg station. The line is 20 kilometres long and its distinctive colour is light pink. It is used as an extra line on extremely busy days.
Line 68
Line 68 runs along the east-west corridor in conjunction with Lines 66 and 67. It covers an area of 16.8 square kilometres, with terminals at Bornheim and Ramersdorf. Its distinctive colour is purple and, like line 67, it serves as a feeder line to the main line 66. It operates at an average speed of 37.3 kilometres per hour (23.2 miles per hour).
Integration with Other Systems
The Bonn Metro connects seamlessly with the transport systems of other cities, such as the Cologne Metro, promoting regional accessibility. It also provides bus connections, with services managed by SWB, which oversees various modes of transport in the city. SWB also operates the Taxi Bus service, which reaches areas that are too far away for regular buses. Some Taxi Bus stops are connected to the tram or metro system.
The school bus system is another integral part of Bonn’s transport network, operating from underground stations or tram stops and providing direct services to the city’s schools. The night bus service, with ten routes, operates when other systems reduce their services. It also connects to the main Stadtbahn stations.
Beyond the inner-city lines, the Bonn Metro connects with the Cologne Stadtbahn to form the Stadtbahn Rhein-Sieg network, which covers the metro areas around the Rhine River. This network is also linked to the Rheinuferbahn, a regional railway used for heavy goods transport between the two cities. The central station also provides access to the S23 suburban railway line, which terminates in Rheinbach.
Another important transport link is the Vorgebirgsbahn, which connects Bonn with Cologne and complements the Stadtbahn. Like the Rheinuferbahn, it is mainly used for passenger transport. All these systems are combined in a consortium that controls all the electric trams in Bonn and the Rhein-Sieg district. This includes the Siebengebirgsbahn, which runs parallel to the river.
Airport Connectivity
Cologne-Bonn Konrad Adenauer International Airport, Germany’s sixth largest airport, is located on the outskirts of Bonn, equidistant from the two cities of the Rhine Metropolitan District. Its location, 16 kilometres (10 miles) from the centre of Bonn, and its status as the country’s busiest air terminal make it an important transport hub.
There are several transport links between the airport and Bonn. The first is the SB60 line operated by SWB, a bus service that takes approximately 30 minutes to travel from the terminal to Bonn’s Hauptbahnhof (main railway station). Another option is to take the Deutsche Bahn’s S13 line and then take a train to the centre of Cologne, where there are several connections by tram, underground or train.
Operating Hours and Frequency
The Bonn Metro operates on a fixed schedule from around 4:30am to around 2:00am, with the exception of certain lines that only operate on weekdays. Trains usually run every 10 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes at night. However, there may be variations depending on the time of day and specific train frequency.
Line 16
The 16 leaves the main station at 4:45am and the last train arrives at Niehl Sebastianstr at 2:26am. On Saturdays, services start at 5:05 and run until 3:20 the next day. On Sundays and public holidays, services start at 5:34 and finish at 2:08.
The frequency on this line is every 10 minutes until 20:00, when it changes to every 15 minutes. On Saturdays it is every 15 minutes and on Sundays and public holidays it is every 30 minutes until 11:00 and then every 15 minutes until closing.
Line 18
Line 18 starts at exactly 3:39, with the first train leaving from Dransdorf station, and runs until 1:44, terminating at Thielenbruch station. On Saturdays, the service starts at 4:42 am and ends at 1:44 am the next day. On Sundays and public holidays, this subway line starts at 6:38 am and runs until 1:07 am.
This line runs every 20 minutes on weekdays. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays it runs every 30 minutes during the day and every 60 minutes at night.
Line 61
Line 61 departs from the Central Station at 5:29 a.m. and the last train arrives at Kopenhagener Street Station at 1:33 a.m. On Saturdays the service starts at 5:33 and ends at 12:33.
Trains run every 10 minutes during peak periods on weekdays. On Saturdays the frequency is every 15 minutes, and on Sundays and public holidays the frequency is every half hour.
Line 62
Line 62 leaves Quirinusplatz station at 4:15 and ends at Behuel Bahnhof Bf at 12:59. On Saturdays the service starts at 5:10 and ends at 12:59. On Sundays and public holidays, the same closing time applies, but the service starts at 5:10.
From 20:00, the tram arrives every 10 minutes, then every 30 minutes until the last service. On Saturdays the tram arrives at each stop every 15 minutes until 20:00, after which it changes to every 30 minutes. On Sundays and public holidays, the frequency is every 30 minutes.
Line 63
The 63 departs from Hauptbahnhof Gieis U1 station at 4:45am and arrives at Niehl Sebastianstr station at 12:26pm. On Saturdays, services depart at 5.05am and arrive at 3.26am the following day. On Sundays and public holidays trains run from 5.34am to 2.08am.
Trains arrive regularly every ten minutes Monday to Friday until 20:00, then every 15 minutes. Trains run every 15 minutes on Saturdays and every half hour on Sundays and public holidays.
Line 66
From Monday to Saturday, line 66 starts at 4:03 am at the U3 station Hauptbahnhof Gieis and ends at 3:57 am the next day at the station Siegburg. On Sundays and public holidays the same timetable applies, but the service starts at 4:33.
Trains run every 20 minutes from opening until 20:00, then every 30 minutes. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays the frequency is every half hour.
Line 67
Line 67 only runs Monday to Friday from 6.23am, when the first train leaves Heussalle station, to 8.28pm, when the last train arrives at Gieis U3 station. Trains run every 10 minutes.
Line 68
Service on line 68 starts at 3:39, when the first train leaves Dransdorf A station, and ends at 1:44, when the train arrives at Thielenbruch station. On Saturdays the service starts at 4:42 and ends at 1:44. On Sundays and public holidays, trains run continuously from 6:38 to 1:07.
Trains arrive every 20 minutes. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays they arrive every 30 minutes.
Fares, Tickets, and Cards
The Bonn Metro, in coordination with the Cologne Metro and other regional transport systems, offers a variety of fares depending on the distance travelled. All fares are regulated by SWB, the company that manages Bonn’s transport systems, in conjunction with KVB, which manages the Cologne Metro. Some fare options include:
- K Ticket: This ticket allows travel within any of the four stations in the system and is used for short journeys within the city limits. It is not valid on regional trains and buses.
- 1A Ticket (CityTicket): This single ticket is valid for travel within four stations, but not within Bonn. It can only be used in the neighbouring towns and in the surrounding area.
- 1B Ticket (CityTicket): This ticket is valid within four stations, but only within Bonn. Travelling to the surrounding area and neighbouring towns is prohibited. It can also be used on the underground and other networks.
- 2A Ticket (CityPlus): This ticket is for trips to communities outside the city. It gives access to towns such as Bornheim, Niederkassel and Königswinter.
- 2B Ticket (City Plus): This ticket covers routes from Bonn to Cologne and other neighbouring towns in the Rhein-Sieg district such as Remagen, Sankt Augustin and Grafschaft.
- MobilPass: The MobilPass, issued by the Bonn Social Welfare Office, is a special card for the VRS system that offers discounts on all types of tickets. Refugees, senior citizens and people with disabilities are most likely to use this card.
- Student cards: Students enrolled at an academic institution in Bonn are entitled to a 25% discount on the system price. However, the final price is subject to the various charges for the journey from the school to the student’s home.
A comprehensive table detailing the different types of tickets and their corresponding costs for each category of driver would be helpful for potential users to understand the fare structure.
Future Expansions
In addition to the modernisation of individual stations and the upgrading of lines for heavy traffic, a major expansion project for the Bonn underground is the construction of a new line. This new line will run from the central station to Bonn’s main railway station and will accommodate both underground and tram services.
Useful Tips
- Downloading the free SWB app on any smart device is recommended to save time and provide additional information on different purchasing methods. The app provides important information about the transport service and purchases can be made online.
- SWB has a programme to protect the rights of its passengers, which includes mechanisms to prevent service failures and to give special attention to disabled or elderly people. It is important to be aware of all the conditions set out in the statute.
- Although the Bonn Metro is well organised and safe, there are no special procedures to protect passengers’ belongings. It is therefore advisable to carry any luggage in the front part of the body.
Noteworthy Facts
- If a journey is delayed for more than 20 minutes, passengers can apply for a refund at the station ticket office. Alternatively, SWB offers tickets for the taxi-bus system to compensate for the inconvenience.
- If a passenger wishes to complain directly to the operator, SWB provides a system for e-mailing the company concerned, as well as a direct telephone line for complaints.
- If a passenger loses his or her belongings on an SWB vehicle, the subsidiary offers assistance via the online Lost Property Office.
- Disabled passengers with an identity card can travel free of charge in priority seating areas.
- If you wish to take a bicycle with you on any of SWB’s vehicles, you must purchase an additional category 1B or 2A ticket.
Exploring Bonn via the Metro
One of Germany’s most traditional cities, Bonn is characterised by hundreds of ancient buildings and a vibrant culture combined with important educational and diplomatic structures. Some of the main attractions within easy reach of the Bonn Metro are
- Beethoven House: The birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most important musicians of all time, is one of Bonn’s most visited tourist sites. The house serves as a museum, exhibiting numerous objects related to his life and institutions associated with classical music. To get to the Beethoven House, take the underground line 66 or 67 to Stadthaus Bonn station and walk a few blocks.
- Bonn Cathedral: The cathedral of Bonn and one of the most important churches in Germany, it has the title of “minor basilica” granted by the Vatican. Pope Pius XII declared it the most important monument in the city during his pontificate. It is renowned for its architectural beauty, history and religious significance. Bonn Cathedral can be visited by taking underground line 66 or 67 to Stadthaus Bonn station.
- German National Museum of Contemporary History: This comprehensive museum aims to tell the story of Germany’s contemporary history, especially after the Second World War. Open every day except Monday, the museum focuses on the history of a divided Germany, with interesting permanent and temporary exhibitions. To get there, take the 16, 63, 66, 67 or 68 bus to the Heussallee/Museumsmeile stop and walk north for half a block.