Berlin u-bahn
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U1 crossing Oberbaum Bridge
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) |
| Locale | Berlin |
| Transit type | Rapid transit |
| Number of lines | 10 (numbered U1-U9, U55) |
| Number of stations | 173 |
| Daily ridership | 1,390,000 (average daily, 2012) |
| Annual ridership | 507.3 million (2012) |
| Website | BVG |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 1902 |
| Operator(s) | Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) |
| Train length | ~100 metres (330 ft) |
| Headway | 4-5 minutes (daytime) |
| Technical | |
| System length | 151.7 km (94.3 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Electrification | 750 V DC Third rail |
| Average speed | 30.7 km/h (19.1 mph) |
| Top speed | 72 km/h (45 mph) |
The Berlin U-Bahn ([uː.baːn]; short for Untergrundbahn, "underground railway") is a rapid transit railway in Berlin, the capital city of Germany, and a major part of the city's public transport system. Together with the S-Bahn, a network of suburban train lines, it serves as the main means of transport in the capital. In addition, a tram network operates in the eastern parts of the city.
Opened in 1902, the U-Bahn serves 173 stations spread across ten lines, with a total track length of 151.7 kilometres (94.3 mi), about 80% of which is underground. Trains run every two to five minutes during peak hours, every five minutes for the rest of the day and every ten minutes in the evening. Over the course of a year, U-Bahn trains travel 132 million km (82.0 million mi), and carry over 400 million passengers. In 2012, 507.3 million passengers rode the U-Bahn. The entire system is maintained and operated by the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe, commonly known as the BVG.
Designed to alleviate traffic flowing into and out of central Berlin, the U-Bahn was rapidly expanded until the city was divided into East and West Berlin at the end of World War II. Although the system remained open to residents of both sides at first, the construction of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent restrictions imposed by the Government of East Germany limited travel across the border. The East Berlin U-Bahn lines from West Berlin were severed, except for two West Berlin lines that ran through East Berlin (U6 and U8). These were allowed to pass through East Berlin without stopping at any of the stations, which were closed. Friedrichstraße was the exception because it was used as a transfer point between U6 and the West Berlin S-Bahn system, and a border crossing into East Berlin. The system was reopened completely following the fall of the Berlin Wall, and German reunification.
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