Vehicular-type objects, similar to those designed for automobiles
The city of Düsseldorf is set to expand its U8 tram line, with the extension planned to run from the current terminus at Benrath district towards the industrial area near the Nordstern site. This ambitious project, slated for completion in mid-2024, will bring significant changes to the city's public transport network.
Key features of the project include:
- Route: The extension will traverse through the Düsseldorf boroughs south of the city center, reaching the Nordstern area, a former industrial site being redeveloped for mixed urban uses. From there, it will extend towards the airport, with connections towards Neuss, Meerbusch, and Krefeld.
- Cost: The estimated cost of the project is several tens of millions of euros, reflecting the complexity of railway infrastructure, especially since it involves new track laying and bridge construction.
- Bridge Construction Controversy: The centerpiece of the extension is a new bridge over the Nordstern facility. This bridge has generated controversy regarding its environmental impact and disruption to local communities. Critics argue the bridge construction could negatively affect the Nordstern site's redevelopment plans or local green spaces, while supporters emphasize the benefits in public transport connectivity and sustainable urban mobility.
Despite the controversy, the project is moving forward. Heinz Schulze has been appointed as the personal contact person for residents regarding U8 construction works, reachable at telephone number 0211-89 93859 and email: [email protected].
The bridge construction over the Nordstern will take place in 18 construction phases. The ramp structure, known as Bridge Nordstern, will be built between the tracks of U79, not far behind the Freiligrathplatz stop. The ramp, tunnel structure, and subway station will be built using open construction methods.
A new line will branch off from this track, cross the Nordstern towards the airport, and end at the airport terminal in an underground station. The excavation pit protections using diaphragm walls and bearing walls play a crucial role in preventing soil from sliding into the underground construction and sealing against groundwater.
The first section of the tram line will run over existing tracks from the Freiligrathplatz towards the north. From there, it will lead over an 118-meter-long ramp to the subsequent bridge over the Nordstern. The bridge will be built in a wide arc and supported on five pillars over the intersection of Danziger Street and the A44 motorway.
The planning and public participation for the first construction phase of the tram line were passed by the city council with a broad majority in 2013. Utility and sewerage construction works have been underway since October 2019 and are essentially complete. Funds of around 180 million euros net are expected from the current funding procedure, with the provisional total costs for the project amounting to around 256 million euros gross.
For precise and official updates, local Düsseldorf municipal transport or urban planning sources would be required. The information above synthesizes common issues and typical features of such tram projects in German urban contexts based on general knowledge as of 2025.
- The expansion of Düsseldorf's U8 tram line, set to run from the Benrath district to the Nordstern industrial area, and further towards the airport, involves not only public transit development but also significant investments in transportation and finance, as the project is expected to cost several tens of millions of euros.
- The new U8 tram line extension, which includes bridge construction over the Nordstern facility, is a contentious issue in the city of Düsseldorf, with debates focusing on the project's environmental impact and potential disruptions to local communities, such as the Nordstern site's redevelopment plans or green spaces, as well as the benefits in public transit connectivity and sustainable urban mobility.
