Renovations at Bonn train station Deutsche Bahn still looking for a roofing company
Bonn · Deutsche Bahn still has not found a construction company to carry out renovations of the station roof. Will this lead to delays or even a halt in the entire renovation works?
At Bonn central station the extensive renovation work to the hall roof seems to be making no progress. Since the beginning of November, the trains have no longer been able to stop at platform 1 due to the construction work. Instead, they have to use the other platforms. In the first few weeks, diggers could be seen in action on the first platform which was still partly blocked off for passengers. Now there are no signs of any work being carried out at the site. A spokesman for Deutsche Bahn responded to enquiries from General-Anzeiger: “At the moment, we are working on renovation of the canal system on platform 1 of the station building. At the same time the platform is being extended. These are preparatory measures.”
There is no talk of halting the construction work or of any delays in its completion. The Federal Government, Deutsche Bahn and the Nahverkehr Rheinland (NVR) are planning to invest a total of 13 million euros in the roof renovation project up to the end of 2019. The spokesman concedes however, that no company was found in the first tender process for the main renovation works, ie. the roof renovation.
According to GA information, only one applicant took part in the first tender process and the company’s offer was allegedly too expensive for the Deutsche Bahn. However, the DB has neither confirmed nor denied this. The new tender process is ongoing. The Deutsche Bahn is looking for a company who will gradually renew the roofing - which has been leaking and dilapidated for years – using a portable scaffolding structure along with a construction crane. Procurement rules prevent the DB spokesman from commenting on possible applicants. They are awaiting positive results.
“DB Netz AG has announced platform shutdown periods during the roof renovations. These will begin in July 2017. At the same time the works on the hall roof are due to start” he said. When the schedule for the three year station renovation project including the glass roof, lighting and loudspeaker system was presented in November, this was already known and included in the plans. Trains need to be diverted now to allow for the preliminary works to be carried out.
The fact that the trains run along platforms 2 and 3 only is leading to cramped conditions in peak commuting times, as reported by GA. The Deutsche Bahn developed a safety concept that stipulates markings and extra security personnel on the platforms, additional signs and announcements over the loudspeakers. During carnival, extra staff are also being employed according to the DB spokesman. The Federal Railway Authority (EBA) deems these measures sufficient. EBA spokesman Moritz Huckebrink disclosed that the EBA has now “made some recommendations in connection with the building works at Bonn central station concerning the procedures on the platform and the speed of passing trains. An official directive has not yet been issued.”
The Deutsche Bahn sees no reason to reduce the current speed limit of 100 km/h for through trains (mostly goods trains) and 60 km/h for stopping trains. During the construction works, many trains have to travel over turntables and therefore must pass through the station at lower speeds. The city council wants to hold talks with DB about establishing a basic speed limit for goods trains. In one of its first meetings, the council planning committee issued an order to this effect. “From our point of view, the current situation on the platforms is suboptimal for passengers boarding and leaving the trains in Bonn, particularly in peak commuting times,” said Stefanie Zießnitz from the city press office.
(Original text: Philipp Königs. Translation: Caroline Payne)
