Wuppertal’s transport system is known as the Schwebebahn, an elevated railway. It operates at a height of 12 metres, covers a distance of 13 kilometres and serves 20 stations. The fare for a typical journey on this system is 2.70 euros. It operates from 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and the frequency varies depending on the time of day and day of the week, ranging from four to ten minutes.
The Wuppertal Metro, also known as the Schwebebahn, carries around 80,000 passengers a day in Germany. The metro uses an honour system for fare collection and the fare is 2.5 euros.
The metro does not operate 24 hours a day and there is no air conditioning. Passengers cannot walk between platforms and the trains are not driverless. The metro does not have platform doors.
The average speed of the trains is 26.6 km/h and they can reach a maximum speed of 60 km/h. The metro is operated by Wuppertal Stadtwerke (WSW) and runs daily from 5.20am to 11.00pm.
Metro Map of Wuppertal
Map of Wuppertal Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Wuppertal Metro map in PDF format.
Germany’s Metros: Wuppertal Metro
About the City
Located in Germany, Wuppertal is a relatively new city, founded in 1929, and is part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Like many German cities, Wuppertal is renowned for its beauty. It is considered one of the greenest cities in the country due to its abundance of parks and forests, making it a charming and popular tourist destination.
As of 2015, its population didn’t exceed 350,000, which means it’s a somewhat small city.
Commonly referred to as the ‘Wupper Valley’, Wuppertal is now one of Germany’s key cities due to the many factories that operate within its borders. These include industries such as textiles, metallurgy, chemical and pharmaceutical products, electronics and automobiles, to name but a few.
It’s worth noting that Wuppertal also went through a difficult period during the Second World War, with heavy air raids and bombing resulting in at least 40% of its infrastructure and buildings being damaged or destroyed.
The Schwebebahn (Wuppertal Metro)
The city’s main attraction and a major topic of discussion is undoubtedly its elevated metro system, the Schwebebahn. This transport system is one of the most renowned in the world due to its exceptional technology.
Construction began in 1898 and it was officially inaugurated three years later, in 1901, with a single line and 20 stations, a configuration that it still maintains today.
It covers about 13.3 km at a height of 12 metres in about 35 minutes, making a trip on the Wuppertal Metro a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Lines and Stations
The Wuppertal Metro operates on a single line with 20 stations serving the entire Vohwinkel-Oberbarmen area.
The distance between stations is approximately 700 metres. Four of these stations are at ground level, while the remainder are elevated, statically suspended from a scaffolding system. Access to these stations is by stairs, although most now have an innovative lift system for easier access.
Most of Wuppertal’s underground stations have undergone name changes over the years. For example, the station now known as Ohligsmühle used to be called Alexander Brücke, and Kluse station used to be called Bembergstraße. The busiest stations, Hauptbahnhof and Zoo, have special escalators to facilitate passenger movement. Some of the most important stations are:
- Vohwinkel: Vohwinkel station, at the western end of the line, is used as a depot for arriving and departing trains. One hundred metres to the east is the Wuppertal-Vohwinkel stop.
- Bruch (Untervohwinkel): This station, similar in design and construction to Hammerstein and Sonnborn, is built at street level between two rows of houses. It has wide escalators and new lifts due to recent renovations.
- Hammerstein: Part of a trio of stations planned to be built at ground level (along with Bruch and Sonnborn), Hammerstein is located west of Vohwinkel between rows of houses.
- Sonnborn: Wuppertal’s fourth underground station, important as a connection/transfer point with the Düsseldorf-Elberfeld train, making visits to the Düsseldorf district easier.
- Zoo/Stadium: Located in Wuppertal’s Sonnborn district, it was rebuilt after being demolished. Its importance lies in its proximity to the city’s sports facilities and zoo.
- Varresbecker: Passengers can board trains from the Bayer plant to the west, linking the Varresbecker and Kiesberg districts.
- Westend: Located near Varresbecker Bahnhof, Westend station sees trains from the Bayer factory to the east of Wuppertal.
- Pestalozzistrasse: This station is located near the bridge over the Wupper River, which was built to ease and divert traffic in the area.
- Robert-Daum-Platz: Acting as a transfer point for vehicles travelling in both directions, buses travelling west along the Wupper can be boarded here. Buses heading east from Wuppertal can also board here.
- Ohligsmülhe: Located west of the Elberfelder Center, Ohligsmülhe is a major bus stop in Wuppertal, replacing the former bus station at Wuppertal Central Station.
- Wuppertal Central Station: This is the busiest station and has an attractive design in the shape of a house, earning it the nickname ‘Köbo-Haus’. This building serves not only as a railway station but also as a commercial building.
- Kluse: This station was burnt down and closed during the Second World War. It wasn’t reopened until 1999.
- District Court: Rebuilt and reopened in June 2011, this station is close to the courts, the vocational college and the University of Wuppertal.
- Völklinger Straße: Located in the Berman district, this station provides access to the employment office and Wuppertal police headquarters. The station was renovated in 2011 but retains its original design.
- Loher Bridge: Commonly known as ‘the Junior College’ due to its proximity to the University of Junior Wuppertal, this station is located in the Barmen district.
- Adler: A renovated station providing access to the Opera House and areas such as Lot, Rott and Kothen.
- Alter Markt: Situated between the Barmen pedestrian crossing and the town hall, this station was also rebuilt after the Second World War.
- Werther Bridge: Known as one of the most beautiful stops on the metro, this art nouveau station is located in the Barmen district.
- Wupperfeld Bridge: This station serves the western part of the city and provides access to the old Wupperfeld church.
- Oberbarmen BF: This is the eastern terminus, with an extensive bus network outside.
Prices, Tickets, and Fares
A single ticket for the Wuppertal underground is cheap: adults pay €2.70, children €1.60.
Day ticket: Valid for one or more people, this ticket can be used for both bus and metro travel in Wuppertal. As this ticket is valid for a whole day, it is ideal for passengers travelling to several destinations within a 12-hour period or for sightseeing. Prices vary according to the number of passengers and are free for children. Prices are as follows:
- One person: 6.80 euros.
- Two people: 10 euros.
- Three people: 13.20 euros.
- Four people: 16.40 euros.
- Five people: 19.60 euros.
Combi Ticket Zoo: This ticket gives you access to both the Wuppertal underground and the Wuppertal Zoo. The Kombi-Ticket Zoo costs 14.5 euros for adults, 7 euros for children and 28.5 euros for a small group of one adult and three children. For a group of two adults and three children the ticket costs 37 euros.
Schedule, Calendar, and Timetables
The Wuppertal Metro operates from 5.30am to 11.00pm. Therefore, alternatives should be considered for travel outside these hours.
Trains normally arrive at stations at a frequency of 8 to 10 minutes, although this drops to four minutes during weekday rush hours in the morning and afternoon. On Saturdays, the peak frequency is also reduced, from 8 to 10 minutes to six minutes. On Sundays, however, the frequency remains the same throughout the day, between 8 and 10 minutes.
Historical Fun Facts
The industrialisation of Wuppertal towards the end of the 19th century led to the need for a new transport system. The city’s population was around 400,000 at the time, and with a relatively stable economy, private car ownership was increasing, leading to heavy traffic. A new transport service was therefore needed to relieve congestion on the roads.
Most businesses and factories were located around the River Wupper, making it easier to secure funding for a transport system around the river. However, due to the geological conditions of the area, an underground metro was not feasible as the surface was too rocky and covered in water.
After extensive research and analysis, the construction of an elevated railway for the city of Wuppertal was approved and patented in 1898.
Monorail System
The Wuppertal metro operates as a suspended monorail. In other words, the track is attached to the roofs of the trains by means of wheels driven by various electric motors, which receive power from an auxiliary track.
Technology
The Wuppertal metro consists of 33 trains that have been in service since 2011. The trains are 24 metres long and have four doors. Each can accommodate up to 48 seated passengers and 138 standing passengers. The trains have a top speed of 60 km/h and an average speed of 27 km/h.
The Kaiserwagen (Emperor’s Carriage), which was used by the German Emperor for a test drive in 1900, is still in use (with some minor modifications) and is currently used for regular tours, church ceremonies and other celebrations.
Modernization
Following the bombing of the city between 1943 and 1945, many stations had to be rebuilt, some of them severely damaged. In some cases, stations had to be completely demolished and rebuilt, as was the case with Ohligsmühleantes and Kluse stations, both of which caught fire.
Today, all of Wuppertal’s underground stations have been modernised. Construction companies have improved the interior design of the stations by adding new entrances for people with disabilities. The stations now have modern lifts, new escalators and CCTV cameras to improve passenger safety.
Train Safety
The Wuppertal metro system has been designed with safety at the forefront and uses a safety system to prevent crashes or accidents caused by human error or any situation where the driver might lose control of the train. The system is based on a mechanism that requires the driver to continuously press a pedal to signal the unit to change service. If this is not done, the system will assume that the driver is incapacitated and will automatically stop the train. This safety circuit eliminates the need for an assistant in the cab. In addition, all trains are equipped with radars to track their current position and acceleration sensors.
Connection to the Airport
Wuppertal does not have an airport. If you want to travel by plane, the nearest airport is Düsseldorf Airport, which is located north of Düsseldorf and east of the Rhine River. The journey to the airport can take up to an hour, so it’s important to plan accordingly.
If you use the Wuppertal Metro, you would need to walk about 500 metres (10 minutes) from Vohwinkel to Wuppertal-Vohwinkel station. You would then get off at Sonnborn station and transfer to the central station of the Düsseldorf Metro. A four-minute journey on this metro will take you to Düsseldorf Airport station. From there it is a short walk to the airport terminal. If you are travelling from the airport to Wuppertal, follow the same route but in reverse order.
Nearby Attractions
A trip on the Wuppertal underground is a spectacle in itself, offering an aerial view of the entire Wupper valley above the river, as well as the artistic design of the trains and stations. The entire route between Vohkinwel and Oberbarmen offers sights that are well worth exploring.
For example, the Varresbecker and Westend stations offer access to the facilities of the famous Bayer factory, where a historical tour illustrates its industrial importance and entrepreneurial spirit.
Visitors to the Wuppertal Zoo, which can be reached directly from the underground, can take advantage of a ticket that is both an underground ticket and a zoo ticket.
The Elberfeld Centre is an ideal location for socialising and leisure activities such as shopping, visiting the famous Von der Heydt Museum or attending a concert at the Old Town Hall. The centre is easily accessible by underground to Wuppertal Hauptbahnhof.
In addition, a visit to Barmen station can provide an insight into the city’s sophisticated opera house. The elevated railway is considered the best way to appreciate the city and its beauty.
The Kaiserwagen
The Kaiserwagen, an elevated railway over the river Wupper, was designed as an additional attraction. Construction began in the summer of 1898. Two years later, Wilhelm II and his wife rode the train from Döppersberg to Vohwinkel as a test. The carriage they used has been preserved and, after careful restoration, serves as a classic and functional train for the Wuppertal underground. The train can be hired for celebrations, memorable lunches and dreamy nights ‘floating’ over the Wupper.
Coffee Break or Abundant Brunch
Whether you are planning a romantic or business lunch, the Emperor’s Car offers a relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable environment. The train even offers morning tours where a historical team shares anecdotes and fun facts about the city. Hire includes a minimum of one hour’s travel and hosts dressed in traditional and emblematic costume.
Weddings on the Nostalgic Kaiserwagen
The Emperor’s Carriage can be used as a unique wedding carriage, providing an unforgettable experience with a distinctive ambience. The service includes 61 seats for guests, a driver and a train assistant.
A wedding on this classic train is bound to be a wonderful experience in an exceptional atmosphere. The service offers interested couples the opportunity to have their ceremony conducted by the Wuppertal registrar.