- In the future, the U81 will connect the airport with the existing light rail network
- EQOS Energie to provide delivery and fitting of the catenary line system
- Strengthening traffic infrastructure from mid-2025 onwards
Climate-friendly mobility requires efficient and modern local public transport systems. The green potential of public transport must be fully leveraged in order to achieve the ambitious climate protection targets that Germany has set itself. With this in mind, the capital of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia is planning to build a new light rail line: The U81 will also connect the airport, which is already linked to the long-distance and regional transport network, to the existing light rail network. In this large-scale traffic infrastructure project, EQOS Energie is responsible for the supply and installation of the catenary line system.
Traffic relief for the city centre from mid-2025 onwards
The U81 will be a climate-friendly mobility solution that can also make a contribution to the energy transformation. The city centre will be relieved of car traffic, connections to the surrounding areas will be accelerated and CO2 and nitrogen oxide emissions will be reduced. “The construction site is located in the districts of Lohausen and Stockum, between Freiligrathplatz square and the airport”, said Carsten Kuhle, Managing Director of Railway Technology at EQOS Energie: “The U81 will be connected in the area of the Freiligrathplatz station. Here, the existing U79 line will be widened to align the western ramp of the bridge structure over the A44 and B8 motorways, which starts as close as possible behind the station to preserve an existing pedestrian bridge. Before the ramp begins, the sidings will be threaded out towards the airport.”
Project implementation in three construction phases
The project with a contract volume of about EUR 2 million will be realized in three construction phases, with completion scheduled for mid-2025. Since the line is a completely separate rail track, access to the track for construction vehicles in the area of the airport road is a particular challenge for the teams performing the work on site. Since the line is a completely separate rail track, access to the track for construction vehicles in the area of the airport road is a particular challenge for the teams performing the work on site.
Previously, the EQOS Energie experts had the technical feasibility check based on the implementation planning as well as the preparation of the mast drawings on the agenda. The first construction phase of the masts and pre-assembly will start in May 2023.
Photo: © state capital Düsseldorf, Ingo Lammert