BERLIN | Public Transport

[Justme]

I love Berlin's S-bahn network. The central elevated section is possibly the coolest elevated line in any city in the world. Some great stations along it.

There is also an S-bahn restaurant train (using an historical train) has anyone got pictures of this?

[Justme]

Originally Posted by Songoten2554

wow the S-bahn is unique and that part of the railway is unique as it has Third Rail on one side for the S-bahns and Overhead Wires on the other side for the Regional, Intercity and High Speed ICE Trains very cool

and London i think has now an S-bahn type called the London Overground it started recently a few days ago

It's not that unique. Nearly every city in Germany has an S-bahn network, although Berlin's was the first from what I know, and the most famous. France and Spain also has their own versions of S-bahns in their major cities, in fact many European cities do.

[Justme]

Originally Posted by gappa

Looks very similar to Melbourne's train network. Similar amount of lines, length, rolling stock etc.

Just a question: how are they powered? I don't see a third rail or overhead wires.

Not really. The S-bahn (in general description) is similar to Australian, and Melbourne's rail network - in that it is a primarily suburban service that in bundled area's acts almost like a metro. Also in that the trains don't terminate in the city centers but usually continue out the other side.

But Berlin is different to Melbourne in that it has a circular line, it has many elevated sections (the most well known is through the central city) and the stations are vastly different in style.

Also keep in mind that the S-bahn is only one of several different heavy rail options for Berlin, where as the rail network in Melbourne is the only type. In Berlin you also have an extensive U-bahn system (proper metro) and the regional bahns (which operate as express commuter trains in Berlin's metro - often on fully dedicated lines, i.e. extra routes above the S-bahn)

[Svartmetall]

Originally Posted by Justme

It's not that unique. Nearly every city in Germany has an S-bahn network, although Berlin's was the first from what I know, and the most famous. France and Spain also has their own versions of S-bahns in their major cities, in fact many European cities do.

I guess one way in which the S-bahn is unique is that it is also supplimented by Regionalbahn trains which provide the more limited stop and far flung services in the cities regional areas.

Berlin and Hamburg are the only S-bahn's in Germany to run on third rail power though, which is pretty unique to both of those S-bahns.

And Justme - we seem to be parroting each other a lot with our answers! My response to Gappa was very similar to yours!

[gappa]

Originally Posted by Justme

Not really. The S-bahn (in general description) is similar to Australian, and Melbourne's rail network - in that it is a primarily suburban service that in bundled area's acts almost like a metro. Also in that the trains don't terminate in the city centers but usually continue out the other side.

But Berlin is different to Melbourne in that it has a circular line, it has many elevated sections (the most well known is through the central city) and the stations are vastly different in style.

Also keep in mind that the S-bahn is only one of several different heavy rail options for Berlin, where as the rail network in Melbourne is the only type. In Berlin you also have an extensive U-bahn system (proper metro) and the regional bahns (which operate as express commuter trains in Berlin's metro - often on fully dedicated lines, i.e. extra routes above the S-bahn)

Yes I know - gappa may be stoopid, but he's not that stoopid!

[Justme]

Originally Posted by gappa

Yes I know - gappa may be stoopid, but he's not that stoopid!

Oh, I never thought you were stupid. I apologize if my post hinted at that

[Svartmetall]

Are there any expansions on the cards for the S-bahn? I know that the U-bahn has been ceased apart from the U55 - U5 extension because the city has run out of money (and believes that the current system is extensive enough).

[beta29]

No, not on this map...but I have another one....


..but notice, most of this maybe will be built in the year 2124

[beta29]

I found a picture from 1902, it shows the beautiful elevated station "Nollendorfplatz".




Today it looks so ugly, it´s hard to find words for this

[Svartmetall]

I don't think the current one looks that bad!

[GNU]

Really?

Id prefer this anyday:



Too bad that the square is gone aswell, as a result of the heavy fighting that occured there during the battle of Berlin.

Soviet soldiers storming a U-Bahn entrance in 1945:

[micro]

Nolli today - only a skeleton of its former self:

[Hybrid 87]

Can someone post a pic of how does today look that place where the U-Bahn went through that building?

[GNU]

Heres an aerial pic of that area:



You can see two modern residential houses in the upper right corner and one below under the U-Bahn tracks. (disregard the green arrow)
That was the spot where the U-Bahn used to pass through the buidlings.
As you can see, the old buildings are all gone now, and have been replaced with these modern buidlings.

Historic pic showing the train coming from the station Bülowstr to approach that buidlding underpass






This is the same spot shortly after the war:



The Bülowstr. station:



The station Nollendorfplatz after ww2 and the heavy fighting that occured there:





Underground station Stadtmitte in the 30s:




very comprehensive site for the Berlin U-Bahn:

http://www.berliner-untergrundbahn.de/

[beta29]

Here are some quite nice subway entrances!









Believe it or not...yes, this is a metro entrance!










The famous Wittenbergplatz station:

[beta29]

some more pictures....

[Svartmetall]

Fantastic photos of the S-bahn! Thank you very much!

[Svartmetall]

Thanks for the photos again Beta, some of those stations looks really amazing - especially this one:

[Azia]

will there be an expand line to falkensee in 2015 ?

[city_thing]

I remember arriving in Berlin by air, and catching a train from Shonefeld to Warcshauer (spelling?) station.

The train was one of these ones:



We couldn't believe how ugly and gross it looked

But we loved Berlin anyway. It's my favourite city on Earth.