STADLER: OFFICIAL HANDOVER OF THE FIRST VEHICLE OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF BERLIN'S UNDERGROUND TRAINS

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 public transport industry and the media attended the presentation of the first train with the internal BVG series designation “JK”. They were able to take a close look at the brand-new vehicles inside and out and, above all, experience the new feeling of space.

Passengers will be the main beneficiaries of 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. Passengers can look forward to other innovations including light colour controlled by the time of day and the position of the sun, 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 stations 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.




High-quality standards are important for passengers, manufacturer and BVG alike. After all, the new J and JK series trains will indeed shape 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. 1,500 vehicles can be delivered by 2035. With a total volume of up to 3 billion euros, the contract also stipulates 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 vehicles in total, 12 each for small and large profiles). Possible findings from the tests can still be incorporated into the series production on an ongoing basis.