Delay in the Advancement of U81 Rail Project
The U81 tram line in Düsseldorf, a significant expansion of the city's tramway network, officially opened its segment between Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof and Düsseldorf Airport on July 16, 2025. This marked a significant milestone, improving connectivity to the airport.
Beyond the initial opening, work continues on the second construction phase of the U81 line, with a focus on safety concepts, bridge designs, and tunnel variants. This phase, covering the stretch from Messe/Arena to Handweiser in Heerdt, is currently in the planning stage, but specific timelines for its completion are yet to be announced.
The completion of construction on 35 out of 45 tender units for the U81 line between Lohausen and the terminal is a positive sign of progress. Work is also underway for the underground station at the airport for the U81 line.
Discussions between the city and Deutsche Bahn are ongoing for the third construction phase of the U81 line, though specific details have not been disclosed. A new schedule for the U81 line has been established due to cabling issues, with operations expected to commence by June 2026. However, there are still schedule risks associated with this timeline.
Furthermore, a feasibility study is currently being conducted for the extension of the U81 line to Ratingen, but no timeline has been provided for this project. Bridge designs for the "Rhein crossing" are also being developed for the U81 line, as of March 2024.
In summary, the U81 tram line in Düsseldorf is progressing as planned, with the initial segment operational and further phases in engineering and safety planning underway. While specific timelines for the completion of the second and third construction phases, as well as the extension to Ratingen, have not been announced, the ongoing discussions and work suggest that the project is progressing steadily.
The second construction phase of the U81 line, encompassing the segment from Messe/Arena to Handweiser in Heerdt, is currently in the planning stage, focusing on safety concepts, bridge designs, and tunnel variants.
The city's public-transit network expansion, the U81 line, also involves finance and transportation aspects, with discussions underway for the third construction phase and a feasibility study for extending the line to Ratingen.
