The tram station Haus Vorst in the west of Cologne seen on 17 March 2005, with
the turning track in the background. The access to the platform crosses the
track via a level crossing with full barriers. This line, which was operated by
the Köln-Frechen-Benzelrather Eisenbahn (KFBE) in the past, is technically
a "real" railway line, although the catenary is fed with 750 V DC. Freight
trains are pulled by diesel locos of the Häfen und Güterverkehr
Köln (HGK). Luckily this line is served by low-flor trams, which require a
platform height of only 35 cm. So platforms allowing a stepless entrance do not
interfere with the loading gauge of the freight trains, although the trams are
only 2,65 m wide. The leftmost track is not electrified, it connects the Grundig
factory at Marsdorf with the station Frechen (the next station).
<p>
Digital photo by
<a href="http://www-users.rwth-aachen.de/christoph.schmitz2/index.html">Christoph
Schmitz</a>
(<a href="mailto:christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de">christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de</a>)