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Berlin

Germany (Europe)


Date of opening [d.m.y]18.02.1902
Network length144.1 km (89.56 mi)
Number of stations192 (170*)
Number of lines9
Stations per line21.33
Avg. station distance*0.85 km (0.53 mi)
Avg. line length16.01 km (9.95 mi)
*with transfer stations counted once
World Metro List by J. Serradell, 1/2008.
     
System known asU-Bahn
Annual ridership 475 million (2006) [source]
Track orientationRight
Air-conditioned trainsNo
Walk-through trainsYes
Rubber-tyred trainsNo
Driverless linesNo
Platform screen doorsNo
Metro Features List




Metro Arts and Architecture

Examples of good station design:


Rating: 2 stars (silver)  Berlin

The Swedish architect Alfred Grenander has designed more than seventy underground and elevated station buildings in Berlin. His style evolved from decorative to modernist between 1902 and 1930 [untergrundbahn.de], [berliner-untergrundbahn.de].

Photo: Refurbished entrance building of Wittenbergplatz station, built in 1913 by Alfred Grenander.
The co-financing of the U-Bahn line to Dahlem (called U3 today) by the posh district of Wilmersdorf facilitated a prestigious architecture in some stations.

Photo [Daniel Erler, absence-of-fear.de]: Heidelberger Platz station from 1913 by Wilhelm Leitgebel.
Most of the newer stations in Berlin are by Rainer G. Rümmler. Designs range from 1960s Minimalist style and colourful 1970s Pop Art design to Postmodernism.

Photo [u-bahnbilder.de]: Postmodernist-style Rathaus Spandau station from 1984 by Rainer G. Rümmler.




Departure Procedure and Sounds

After a train arrives in station: "Zug nach [terminal station]" (meaning "Train to [terminal station]"), a few moments before departure: "Einsteigen, bitte" ("Please board"; mp3 from haltestellenansage.de), departure announcement: "Zurückbleiben, bitte!" ("Please stand back"; mp3 from haltestellenansage.de), all by a pre-recorded female voice). Next-station announcements are like "[Dong] [name], Übergang zur U-Bahnlinie [line], Ausstieg rechts" ("[Dong] [name], transfer to subway line [line], exit on the right"; mp3 from haltestellenansage.de).

Berlin

Line U8 train departing from Rathaus Reinickendorf station.

Length: 25 sec.

Other videos




Metro Fonts

Typefaces that have been designed exclusively for this metro:

FontDesignerYearSampleAvailabilityReference
Transit (based on Frutiger)Erik Spiekermann, Lucas de Groot, Henning Krause1991fontshop.comtypophile.com




Metro Museums

U-Bahn-Museum. An exhibition of signals, signage, ticket machines and other metro-related objects. Historical trains are used on special tours. Since 1999. Location: Abandoned control centre in a metro station.
At Olympia-Stadion metro station.
Hours: Only one day per month (2nd Saturday), 10:30 to 16:00. Admission: 2 EUR.
Reference: ag-berliner-u-bahn.de (official website). bvg.de, Tunnel walking tours bvg.de, Night-time tunnel rides on an open-roofed carriage bvg.de.

S-Bahn-Museum. An exhibition of commuter metro-related objects such as signals and signage as well as historical photos and descriptions on display charts. Since 1997. Location: Unused transformer substation.
Address: Rudolf-Breitscheid-Straße 203, 14482 Potsdam. At Griebnitzsee (S-Bahn) metro station.
Hours: Only one weekend per month April through November (2nd weekend), Saturday and Sunday 11:00 to 17:00. Admission: 1.80 EUR.
Reference: s-bahn-museum.de (official website).





Other Rail Transport in Berlin

S-Bahn (suburban metro)




Metros to Beaches

Wannsee lake: Line S1 to Nikolassee (trip takes about 30 minutes).




Photo Tours

  Berlin photo tour




Handpicked Resources

baunetz.de„Blinde Tunnel“ und „Geisterbahnhöfe“ unter Berlin (1894-2001). Unused tunnels (PDF) (In German)
Gympel, JanTunnel mit Tiefgang: Mit der U-Bahn durch Berlin. Elefanten Press 1993. (In German)
Klünner, Hans-WernerS- und U-Bahnarchitektur in Berlin. Senator für Bau- und Wohnungswesen Berlin 1985. Exhibition booklet (In German)
Loop, Andréuntergrundbahn.de A website including photos of all stations. (In German)




Useful Links for Berlin U-Bahn

Search (Google) (will most likely bring up Berlin U-Bahn's official website)
System maps (Google Images)
City map (Google Maps) (might show metro stations when zoomed in)
Images (Google Images)
Search urbanrail.net
Wikipedia page
Berlin city information (Wikipedia)



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