Berlin: From 2032, 350 New S-Bahn Half-Trains Will Run on the City Line and North-South Connection

Award After Years of Disputes

In addition, legal disputes with the unsuccessful bidder Alstom delayed the award. The Stadler and Siemens Mobility groups are responsible for construction and delivery. As before, they will be operated by Deutsche Bahn. The transport contract for operations runs for 15 years, and the contract for train maintenance runs for 30 years, it was said.

According to Deutsche Bahn, the new trains will feature greater accessibility, additional space for bicycles, and USB-C sockets at every double seat. Passenger information systems are also to be fundamentally revised and improved. What is clear is that the new fleet will be larger than those of the previous series 480 and 481.

Features and Technology of the New Vehicles

Visually, the new vehicles will likely be almost identical to the new S-Bahn trains that have been running on the Ringbahn for some years now. These were also built by Stadler and Siemens. Siemens Mobility CEO Michael Peter also explained technical improvements: "Modern semiconductors are intended to save energy when converting electrical current." Peter also said: "Weight-optimized bogies save weight and relieve the strain on the rail network."

To ensure the old S-Bahn trains last until 2032, they will need to go into the workshop in the coming years and be comprehensively refurbished and upgraded. A new maintenance facility for the S-Bahn is therefore to be built in Fredersdorf by 2032 at the latest. The 350 new vehicles are to gradually replace the previous series 480 and 481. The old trains will then be retired.

Transition Period With Restrictions

Restrictions for passengers are therefore foreseeable, particularly on lines S1 and S5. According to Transport Senator Ute Bonde (CDU), the transport services on the S-Bahn network will be reduced by 0.5 percent as a result of the general overhaul of the two series.

It is still unclear on which lines the new vehicles will first be deployed, said S-Bahn chief Heiko Büttner. He did not initially comment on the order of delivery or the first specific routes on which they would be used. The new trains are intended to reinforce and at the same time rejuvenate the fleet.

With the contract now awarded, a long period of uncertainty comes to an end. The contract covers the procurement, operation, and maintenance of Berlin S-Bahn services from 2032 on the West-East and North-South axes. With the new half-trains entering service from 2032, the participants expect a noticeable improvement in services on the affected routes.