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New subways for Berlin: comfort and hope for punctuality!
The BVG will put new JK series subways into operation in Berlin from September 2025 to increase comfort and reliability.
New subways for Berlin: comfort and hope for punctuality!
The Berlin subway is facing change, as new JK series trains will be put into operation from the beginning of September 2025. This initiative is no coincidence: Passenger customer satisfaction has been declining for years, mainly due to numerous cancellations and delays due to an outdated fleet of cars, some of which are over 60 years old. According to berlin live BVG plans to initially use the new trains on the U2 between Pankow and Ruhleben. Subway boss Stefan Kärgel highlights the many advantages of the new series, which offer a significant increase in comfort compared to previous trains.
What exactly can passengers expect with the new trains? The JK series will offer continuous walkability, which significantly improves the feeling of space. Wheelchair users, parents with strollers and cyclists will particularly benefit from the wider passages between the carriages. Grab bars have been redesigned: Instead of vertical bars, there are now curved models that create more space. There are also special multi-purpose areas behind the driver's cabs for bicycles. The trains rely on an innovative lighting concept that adapts depending on the time of day and is intended to make them more comfortable. However, there is no air conditioning as this would heat up the tunnels and train stations too much. Instead, improved ventilation systems are used to ensure a pleasant climate.
A step into the future
The hard facts should not be neglected: BVG has ordered a total of 484 new wagons, 140 of which are small-profile trains and 344 for large-profile lines. The first 140 trains of the JK series must be delivered by the end of December. However, 216 of these trains are needed for the U2, a clear indication of the urgency of renewing the transport infrastructure. The new models will not be used on the large-profile lines (U5 to U9) until summer 2026. This is the largest procurement order in the history of BVG Daily Mirror notes.
The need for these new trains is also reflected in the alarming statistics: In 2024, there were record-breaking numbers of train cancellations and delays, so that more than one in 17 subways had a wrong journey. Loud rbb24 the punctuality rate fell to 98.3 percent. The reasons for the poor figures are obvious: a lack of skilled workers, infrastructure problems and a dilapidated fleet of cars are affecting the BVG, while training the drivers for the new trains brings additional personnel strain.
However, Transport Senator Ute Bonde (CDU) sees no reason to panic; she describes the BVG as “adequately financed” and a “highly attractive employer”. If everything goes according to plan, the new trains should also be used on the U1 to U4 lines by the end of the year, which should be a welcome relief for passengers. It remains to be seen whether the announced comfort and the new designs will help to sustainably increase passenger satisfaction.