Riding Berlin’s Public Transit System

My wife and I visited Germany in late 2021 to tour the famed German Christmas markets. We visited Berlin, Cologne (Koln) and Frankfurt during our 12 day visit. We used public transit in each city, and in this post I’ll share a few photos and comments on Berlin’s subways and trams.

Berlin’s public transit system is the Transport Assocation Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB), which operates the subways, buses, trams, ferries and regional trains. The subway is called the U-Bahn, “Untergrundbahn” or “underground railway”, while the regional trains are called S-Bahn.

Flughafen Express

Flughafen Express at Hauptbahnhof
Flughafen Express at Hauptbahnhof

When we arrived at the Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, we took the Flughafen Express (FEX) from the airport’s station to the Hauptbahnhof (main train station). This was a quick and comfortable ride.

Inside the Flughafen Express
Inside the Flughafen Express

From there, we walked through the station area to catch the U5 subway train. This took us to a station near our hotel, the Arcotel John F Berlin.

The U-Bahn

The U-Bahn has nine lines (U1 through U9). The first line was opened in 1902, while U9 was started in 1961 and extensions of several lines have continued until the present.

U5 train in Hauptbahnhof, Berlin
U5 train in Hauptbahnhof, Berlin

Later that day, we took the U2 line to a Christmas market near the Europa Center.

U2 line subway near Europa Center in Berlin
U2 line subway near Europa Center in Berlin

The U-Bahn lines are not all underground.

U-Bahn near the Deutsche Technikmuseum in Berlin
U-Bahn near the Deutsche Technikmuseum in Berlin

We visited the famed Oberbaum Bridge (Oberbaumbrücke) and I really enjoyed watching the U-Bahn trains roll over it. The bridge was built in 1896, and features a vehicle deck and a train deck carrying the U1 and U3 lines. This bridge was blocked during the Cold War, as it connected East and West Berlin.

Two U-Bahn trains passing on the Oberbaum Bridge, Berlin
Two U-Bahn trains passing on the Oberbaum Bridge, Berlin

There are some striking subway stations in Berlin. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see them all – maybe next time! – but I liked the starry blue sky appearance of the Museuminsel station near our hotel.

Museuminsel station in Berlin
Museuminsel station in Berlin

The S-Bahn

An S-Bahn train through Berlin's Hauptbahnhof (main train station)
An S-Bahn train through Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof (main train station)

The S-Bahn is a regional rapid transit system and complements the U-Bahn subway system. You can think of the S-Bahn like a commuter rail system, although it does serve some rapid transit functions.

Equipment on the S-Bahn consists of four different types of electric multiple unit (EMU) trains. The photos above and below show DBAG Class 481 EMUs, first used in 1996.

S-Bahn train under the Berlin airport
S-Bahn train under the Berlin airport

Trams

Tram near Berlin's TV Tower
Tram near Berlin’s TV Tower

Trams in Berlin mostly run in the former East Berlin, as West Berlin replaced most of its trams with buses during the Cold War. These trams are mostly Bombardier Flexity vehicles.

Tram on the M5 line in Berlin
Tram on the M5 line in Berlin

The trams are clean and comfortable, although I’d say there is not a lot of seating inside. There are a lot of wide open spaces, which I imagine makes wheelchair use easier inside.

Interior of a tram in Berlin
Interior of a tram in Berlin
Trams at Alexanderplatz in Berlin
Trams at Alexanderplatz in Berlin

Just One More Thing

The Christmas Market in Frankfurt, Germany
The Christmas Market in Frankfurt, Germany

Please consider checking out my post over at Canadian Travel Geek about Germany’s Christmas markets. They are something else!

3 thoughts on “Riding Berlin’s Public Transit System”

  1. I have a question for you Steve. The S-Bahn in Berlin is electrically powered. Are they running under overhead lines picking up power with a pantograph, OR do they collect power at ground level not unlike Toronto’s subway system?
    Thanks, Gus K

    • Hello Gus, I didn’t see any catenary on any S-Bahn or subway train. I believe they are using a third rail. I think the grey strip along the tracks in the two S-Bahn photos holds the third rail, and a “shoe” from the car makes contact with that. I think the red bogies on the cars have the shoes.

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