Heat alarm in Berlin: Public transport network struggles without air conditioning!

Heat alarm in Berlin: Public transport network struggles without air conditioning!

In the hot summer months that plague many cities in Germany, public transport is often the subject of criticism. A look at Berlin shows that many subway cars, buses and trams have to make do without air conditioning. Here, temperatures in vehicles often rise above 30 degrees, prompting health officials to warn about the risks of such heat. Rbb24 reports that the older S-Bahn trains are particularly affected by the problem, with more than 750 of these trains not being air-conditioned and many being over 30 years old.

The situation is tense: Only 16 percent of the S-Bahn trains that have been put into operation in recent years have air conditioning. These cool the air around three degrees below the outside temperature, but not below 24 degrees. The complete conversion of the S-Bahn fleet and the installation of air conditioning is expected to last until the mid-2030s. Berlin has made things extremely difficult for itself because the transport company BVG is currently not planning any air-conditioned subway trains because the exhaust air could further heat up the tunnels.

Air conditioning in subways and buses

What are the subway trains actually like? Instead of air conditioning, they rely on ventilation systems. However, these are not the ideal solution because they do not require sufficient cooling. BVG explains, that air conditioning requires a lot of space and is simply not practical on subway trains that are built tightly into tunnels. The trains open their doors at the stops every minute, which further affects the efficiency of the air conditioning.

The challenge becomes even greater when you consider that neither buses nor trams can be effectively kept cool when outside temperatures are very high. The higher energy consumption when using air-conditioned means of transport increases operating costs by around 30 percent. Opening the windows in the vehicles doesn't make the situation any better - they provide some fresh air, but don't really help you cool down.

The challenges posed by climate change

The challenges posed by climate change are becoming increasingly relevant not only in Berlin, but also in other German cities. A network like that National Competence Network for Sustainable Mobility (NaKoMo) has set itself the goal of supporting municipalities in the transition to sustainable mobility. Events such as the 2023 Climate Congress in Karlsruhe shed light on how local public transport can be made more climate-friendly in the future.

In Saxony, for example, companies are working on replacing fossil drives with alternative concepts, which are not only more environmentally friendly but also sustainable. This transformation is crucial in order to better address climate change and the associated challenges in local public transport.

The overall question is: How long will passengers have to wait for a noticeable improvement in driving conditions? And what is being done to better support the many people who rely on public transport during the hot season? A good hand in planning sustainable mobility is definitely required!