The underground station "Heumarkt" in the city centre of Cologne seen on 15
December 2013, the first day of regular operation. Here, the new underground
line through the city (Nord-Süd-Stadtbahn, running from north to south)
passes under the tracks crossing the city from east to west (Ost-West-Stadtbahn,
currently served by lines 1, 7 and 9). This is the upper level, which
will initially be used as a pedestrian underpass. In the far future, it will
house the Ost-West-Stadtbahn which is currently running on the surface. Of
course the shops which are under construction in the centre of the hall have to
be removed then, and the escalators in the foreground have to be relocated, as
the tracks will occupy the dark grey area in the middle. Next to the shops, some
openings in both side walls give access to the lower level, which houses the
Nord-Süd-Stadtbahn. The orientation of the latter line is also reflected in
the dark grey stripes on the floor, and in the light grey stripes on the ceiling
of the upper level.
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Digital photo by Christoph Schmitz
(<a href="mailto:christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de">christoph.schmitz2@post.rwth-aachen.de</a>)