In the run-up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ the city of Gelsenkirchen is benefiting from transport infrastructure investments to the tune of €55m. At the recent rail#tec trade show, staff of the council's transport department and the World Cup Office informed visitors of the progress of the work at a stand forming part of a special World Cup exhibition. A total of 14,000 people visited the show.

"Anpfiff" [Opening Whistle] was the title of the inaugural exhibition opening event on Monday that was attended by Gelsenkirchen mayor Frank Baranowski, amongst others. On Tuesday the FIFA World Cup host city of Gelsenkirchen presented itself at a sixty-minute stage show. Mayoress Gabriele Preuss talked about the preparations the city was making for football's premium event, while World Cup Ambassador Olaf Thon recounted his experiences on the set of the World Cup film "kleine Helden - grosse Träume" ["Little heroes - big dreams"].

Afterwards Bettina Lenort, deputy head of transport at Gelsenkirchen City Council, and local transport authority executive Gisbert Schlotzhauer reported on the latest status of the infrastructure work. Besides the new Schalke motorway junction on the A 42, the refurbishment of the city's railway station is one of the major investments being made. In Gelsenkirchen the 302 tram line will play a central role for the fans. This line connects the railway station with the Glückaufkampfbahn Stadium (site of the FIFA 2006 World Cup™ Fan Fest) and the Gelsenkirchen suburb of Buer. The newly introduced double traction system will significantly increase the passenger capacity of this service. All works are on schedule and will be completed in time for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. Some initial projects, such as the widening of Vinckestrasse, have already been completed.

Below is a list of the infrastructure investments being made in the FIFA World Cup host city of Gelsenkirchen:

• Link between the K5 district road and the Schalke-Nord A 42 motorway junction (€22,000,000)
• Revamp of Gelsenkirchen railway station (€11,575,000)
• Line 302 routing (€7,000,000)
• Platform conversion at the central railway station tram stop (€2,600,000)
• Arena tram stop (€2,250,000)
• Already completed: widening of Vinckestrasse (€2,600,000)
• Widening of Uferstrasse (€4,100,000)
• Optimisation of traffic flow around the Veltins Arena (€2,500,000)
• Disabled persons lift at the central bus station (€395,000)