All 106 new trains in the Berlin S-Bahn fleet have now entered service, marking a significant milestone in the modernization of the city's iconic suburban rail network. The new trains, which are equipped with air conditioning, modern displays, and camera technology, offer passengers a more comfortable and convenient travel experience.
The new fleet also increases transport capacity on parts of the S-Bahn network, thanks to longer trains on the Ringbahn lines S41/S42 and the S8 line, as well as the extension of the S8 line to Wildau during peak hours. In total, the new S-Bahn fleet has around 18,000 seats.
The new trains have been put into operation step by step since the beginning of 2021 and have been traveling for customers on lines S41, S42, S46, S47, and S8 since then. They are part of the transport contract for the Ring sub-network, while the Berlin S-Bahn is also continuing the "Longevity Program BR 481," which has already converted more than 300 of 500 vehicles from the 481 series which was initially in service from 1996 until 2004.
The new trains are Stadler 483/484 models and have a maximum speed of 100 km per hour. The first ten trains have been in use since 2021 and were pre-production models.
The BR 483 differs from the 484 model as it is a quarter train, consisting of two walk-in cars and features various engineering innovations. This includes the drive-relevant components which are present twice – this means that if the drive fails in one car, the other quarter train remains fully powered and it can continue. The BR 484, is a half train and consists of a four-car unit.
Jure Mikolčić, CEO, Stadler Germany said: “The project accompanied our employees in the various project phases for almost a year. The collaboration with our consortium partner Siemens and the S-Bahn Berlin was very good throughout the entire project.
“We are particularly proud that we were able to manufacture the new S-Bahn trains for Berlin at our location in Berlin.”
Elmar Zeiler, head of commuter and regional trains, Rail Siemens Mobility said: “As a company with Berlin roots, we are particularly proud that we are contributing to a sustainable improvement in the travel experience and comfort for passengers on the Berlin S-Bahn.
“The trains of the new 483/484 series not only shine through their reliability, more seats and air conditioning, but also through their modern, energy-efficient drive technology.”
Photo/Video Credit: Berlin S-Bahn
