Berlin opens new S-Bahn line S15, shaving ten minutes off travel to Hauptbahnhof
The new S15 S-Bahn service begins shuttle operations today between Gesundbrunnen and Hauptbahnhof, cutting travel time by around ten minutes. Deutsche Bahn expects 40,000 daily passengers on the 6-minute ride.
Launch day
Berlin's S-Bahn network gains a new line today as the S15 begins shuttle service between Gesundbrunnen in the north and Hauptbahnhof. Trains will run every ten minutes, covering the distance in six minutes and cutting the previous journey time by around ten minutes. The inaugural trip departs from Hauptbahnhof at 11:57 a.m., with a stop at the Wedding station along the way. Deutsche Bahn expects daily ridership of 40,000 passengers.
I'm a little worried that it might actually run much better, because it is simply such a good connection towards the central station.
A long-delayed project
The start of service follows years of setbacks. The line was originally slated to open in 2017, but construction was repeatedly pushed back by unforeseen soil conditions, the coronavirus pandemic, material shortages triggered by the war in Ukraine, staffing problems, and protracted certification procedures. All approvals and technical checks are now complete.
- Originally planned completion date for S15
- S15 line opens between Gesundbrunnen and Hauptbahnhof
- Expected planning approval for second construction phase to Potsdamer Platz
- Earliest estimate for S-Bahn connection from Hauptbahnhof to Potsdamer Platz
The bigger picture: S21
The S15 is the first piece of the larger S21 project. A second construction phase is expected to receive planning approval this autumn, extending the line south to Potsdamer Platz and eventually to Yorckstraße. DB officials estimate that it will take at least ten more years before trains run directly from Potsdamer Platz to Hauptbahnhof. An interim station has been built beneath Hauptbahnhof, and plans call for a future stop at Perleberger Brücke to serve the Europaviertel district.
