The next generation of Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe’s (BVG) yellow underground trains can finally be seen, heard and felt today, Thursday 11 January 2024. The official handover of the first test vehicle from manufacturer Stadler to BVG took place at the Olympia-Stadion underground station. Numerous guests from politics, the local transport industry and the media attended the presentation of the première train with the BVG internal series designation JK. They were able to take a close look at the brand new carriages inside and out and, above all, experience the new feeling of space.
Passengers in particular will benefit from the latest addition to the Berlin underground family. Thanks to newly designed door areas and extremely flat passenger information systems on the side walls, the vehicle appears much more spacious than its predecessor. Other innovations that passengers can look forward to include the time-of-day and sunlight-controlled light colour, which ensures a pleasant ambience at all times, and the “BVG Wi-Fi”, which in future will provide good Internet connections not only in the station but also on the trains. Outwardly inclined handrails also provide plenty of space in the passageways, for example for wheelchair users or parents with pushchairs.
The workshop specialists are currently familiarising themselves with the new vehicles. At the same time, the training of the drivers required for the test and acceptance runs has already begun. Then it’s onto the tracks – first on the Grunewald workshop site, then on the entire small-profile network (lines U1 to U4). Once all the tests have been successfully completed, a phase of around twelve weeks with test runs in passenger service is planned – probably from late summer 2024. Delivery for the series vehicles is scheduled to begin immediately afterwards.
High quality standards unite passengers, manufacturers and BVG. After all, the new J and JK series trains will indeed characterise the image of the Berlin underground for decades to come. This is the largest procurement order in the history of BVG. According to the framework agreement with Stadler, a total of up to approx. 1500 carriages can be delivered by 2035. With a total volume of up to 3 billion euros, the contract also provides for the supply of spare parts for 32 years. The current delivery order comprises 236 carriages of the large-profile J series and 140 carriages of the small-profile JK series.
The agreement initially covers the delivery of the test vehicles, which has now begun (24 wagons in total, 12 each for small and large profiles). Possible findings from the tests can still be incorporated into series production on an ongoing basis.
As is well known, there were unfortunately delays in delivery. According to the manufacturer, this was due to supply chain problems on the global market.
(Info: BVG)
We last reported on Berlin’s new generation of underground trains here:
https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/u-bahn-berlin-stadlers-first-jk-metro-train-for-bvg/
