The program controller, commissioned by Stadtwerke Bonn (SWB, the municipal utility company ) since summer 2025, is currently working in close coordination with the city and the municipal utility company to optimize the cable car route.

The city administration has been in dialogue with property owners and major employers along the route – including DHL, Haribo, and Bonn University Hospital. One of them has raised questions regarding the alignment of the route.

DHL wants to relocate the towers

DHL has expressed concerns about two towers planned on its property. The city administration and DHL agreed to examine potential alternatives as part of the ongoing technical planning and to continue discussions thereafter.

Against this backdrop, the program controller’s team is currently reviewing whether the two planned towers can be relocated away from the property.

According to the current planning status, the number and position of the towers can be adjusted in line with DHL’s preferences. A decision is expected by the end of the year, as adjustments must be evaluated within the overall route planning framework.

Once the planning has progressed further, the city of Bonn will re-engage with DHL to resume discussions regarding the route alignment and tower locations.

Letter of Intent as the Goal

The objective is to agree upon declarations of intent, so-called Letters of Intent, with major employers. These documents would outline the framework conditions for site-specific planning and express support for the project.

These Letters of Intent are currently being coordinated and are already in the final stages in some cases.

Numerous Reports in Progress

In addition to optimizing the route, a multitude of factors must be examined for the cable car project. Various preliminary reports and planning services have been commissioned and are being carried out, concerning aspects such as nature conservation, subsoil and geology, wind, noise, and hydrology.

The Next Steps

The next step involves the preliminary project planning, which will form the basis for the functional tender used to commission a cable car manufacturer.

This will be followed by a formal planning approval procedure conducted by the regional council, which will establish the building rights. During this procedure, the interests of residents along the route and of public stakeholders will be examined and balanced.

Following the successful completion of the planning approval procedure, construction of the cable car can begin.