The city and KVG plan to invest 18 million euros in the Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe station from 2021. The traffic situation should improve.
- Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe station is being renovated
- Remodeling should cost 18 million euros
- Construction work must be completed at the beginning of documenta (start: June 18, 2021)
Kassel - After almost 30 years, the forecourt at Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe station is to be rebuilt. Since the opening of the long-distance train station in May 1991, there have been repeated criticisms of the traffic routing under and next to the pillar roof.
Now the plans of the city and the Kasseler Verkehrsgesellschaft (KVG) are ready for a new start at Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe station. 18 million euros are earmarked for this. "Our goal is to improve the situation for all users," says Dr. Georg Förster , the head of the road traffic and civil engineering office of the city of Kassel .
Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe station (KVG): Traffic should be improved
So far, everyday life in front of the Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station in Kassel has seemed like a provisional provision. Drivers who are not familiar with the area are unsettled if they are to change lanes from the mountain park just before the train station.
It gets completely confusing on the entrance to the forecourt in front of the frequent stop of the Deutsche Bahn (DB) between trams, buses and taxis .
The situation is similarly confusing for pedestrians who come from the main entrance of the Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station and have to overcome an obstacle course on the way to the bus or tram.
Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe station (KVG): More safety for pedestrians and cyclists
The Willy-Brandt-Platz - that's the name of the area under the pillar roof at the Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station - poses a major challenge for the planners in Kassel. "You always have to make compromises here, but we are working on noticeable improvements," says Head of Office Förster. Overall, they want to create more security in front of the train station in Kassel for pedestrians and cyclists, offer drivers a clear orientation and reorganize local public transport and the taxi connection.
Kassel: Forecourt at Wilhelmshöhe station (KVG) becomes a major construction site
Without a major construction site at the Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station in Kassel, this is not possible.
There is a schedule for this , which starts construction in early summer 2021 .
The city and KVG have now informed the local advisory board in Bad Wilhelmshöhe . Accordingly, a construction period of a good one year is planned.
The Wilhelmshöhe train station in Kassel is to be converted. This is how it looks today: The cars are still driving directly at the entrance and exit of Wilhelmshöhe station. That should change so that pedestrians can reach buses and trains safely.
© Dieter Schachtschneider
Work on the ICE train station should be completed by May 2022 at the latest.
Among other things, it will have to be clarified in the next few months whether there is a replacement track for the tram or whether it will be replaced by buses in Bad Wilhelmshöhe. What is certain is that everything must be ready in Kassel in June 2022. Then the next documenta begins.
Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe station (KVG): Cyclists get more space
It is one of the busiest places in Kassel. More than 20,000 people use the Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station every day.
From the summer of 2021 , the forecourt of the ICE train station will become a major construction site . Tracks are relocated, traffic routing changed, and cyclists have more space.
"The station forecourt is almost 30 years old and is therefore quite old," said Dr. Georg Förster, head of the road construction office. Together with Dirk Neubauer of the Kasseler Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (KVG), he has now presented the plans for the redesign of Willy-Brandt-Platz in the recent meeting of the local advisory board in Bad Wilhelmshöhe.
Kassel: After renovation, there are fewer parking spaces at Wilhelmshöhe train station (KVG)
One of the biggest changes: The car and taxi traffic has been completely reorganized. If cars and taxis drive past the exit of Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station today, the short-term parking spaces and the taxi rank should move to Wilhelmshöher Allee after the renovation.
There will also be parking spaces again - a maximum of 30 minutes. However, only 17 instead of 24 parking spaces are available today.
There are also two taxi parking spaces . The current car and taxi lane will only be used by buses after the renovation. Anyone coming from Wilhelmshöhe station on foot should no longer walk around between cars.
#kassel #bahnhof # Wilhelmshöhe #town #urban #architecture #archidaily #style #minimalism #minimal #pattern # geome… https://t.co/RQc7x5rloz pic.twitter.com/VZSObg05FO
- Hilthart Pedersen (@ h3palpha) May 20, 2017Kassel - Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station (KVG): Three-meter wide cycle path planned
There should also no longer be any conflicts between cars and regular services on the busy square in Kassel. Because for cars there is a separate access to the site in the new planning. After the conversion, trams from the direction of the mountain park should have the opportunity to turn around at Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe station .
In particular, the KVG wants to expand its offer on water play days in Kassel. The stops on the forecourt will be rebuilt barrier-free .
A three-meter-wide cycle path along Wilhelmshöher Allee is planned for cyclists. There should be 100 to 180 partially covered bike racks (there are currently 112 bike parking spaces). Construction is scheduled to begin in 2021 and to be completed by May 2022.
Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station (KVG): Local advisory board praises traffic concept
There was much praise from the local advisory council and also from the approximately 20 citizens who came to the meeting for the plans for the redesign at the ICE station.
"I am pleased that the situation for cyclists and for bus and train passengers will improve," said Mayor Anja Lipschik (Greens). Your wish: even more bike racks.
Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe station (KVG): Central transport hub in Northern Hesse
Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe station is a central hub for ICE and trains. Therefore, there are always incidents. At the Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station, a man slipped under a rolling IC last year. He was seriously injured.
Video surveillance has long been standard at many large train stations, but not so far in Kassel Wilhelmshöhe. That should change.
For many months, the catering areas in Kassel in Wilhelmshöhe station along Willy-Brandt-Platz were empty. Last year the Backwerk chain moved in as a new tenant.
Train delays are nothing unusual. In Kassel, however, there was an "absolute single case" at the Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe train station, namely an early train, 43 minutes earlier.
By Mareika Krug and Siemon Thomas
Section photo: Dieter Schachtschneider
List of rubric lists: © Illustration: Stadt Kassel
