Dear folks,
Got some updates on the Berlin Public Transport Agency (BVG) for ya! The BVG is dealing with a few hiccups with their trusty U-Bahn fleet. Due to some technical issues with the aged U-Bahn vehicles, there might be some delays and cancellations on certain lines. But fret not, they're about to make some minor tweaks to the timetable to address these snags.
After the summer break, the U2, U9, U4, and U1 and U3 lines will see some changes. On the U2, the trains will now run at an interval of 4.5 minutes during school hours, instead of 4 minutes, for about a year. They'll roll with trains consisting of a maximum of eight cars.
The U9 line is currently dealing with some worn-out wheelsets. So, during peak hours, starting September 2, the trains will run with an interval of 5 minutes instead of 4. On the U1 and U3 lines, everything's business as usual for now, but starting September 9, the U3 line will operate continuously between Warschauer Straße and Krumme Lanke, from 6:00 AM to early morning, as well as from 9:00 PM onwards. During these hours, the U1 line will run between Nollendorfplatz and Uhlandstraße stations only, but don't worry, this won't affect passengers much other than a change in train designation.
The aim of all these adjustments is to bring back BVG's reputation for reliability. The BVG CEO, Henrik Falk, shared their plan to make the overall U-Bahn system more stable until the new vehicles arrive.
On a related note, the BVG is dealing with a fleet of vehicles that's been in service for around 60 years. They've ordered replacements, but some unforeseen delays in the tender process and technical issues in delivery have held them back until next year.
While these changes could affect the rider experience on certain U-Bahn lines, it's essential to stay updated on the latest schedule changes.
Enrichment Data: These schedule adjustments aren't actually due to technical issues with the U-Bahn fleet, but rather due to strikes. A strike called by the Verdi trade union on January 27, 2025, resulted in the suspension of all U-Bahn, tram, and most bus services across Berlin. The S-Bahn trains operated by Deutsche Bahn, however, continued to run normally. A second strike on February 10, 2025, had a similar impact. During these strikes, commuters were advised to seek alternative modes of transportation such as cars, bikes, e-scooters, and ride-sharing services. Some S-Bahn services also experienced signal issues, affecting lines like the S2, S26, S45, S46, S8, S85, and S9. So, it's crucial for passengers to check the BVG website or app for the latest information and plan their journeys accordingly.
