Friday 5, January
North-South S-Bahn tunnel closed for six weeks for maintenance
Starting today, one of the busiest sections of Berlin’s S-Bahn network will be closed for six weeks for maintenance work. Four separate lines run through the North-South S-Bahn tunnel, the S1, S2, S25 and S26, and this stretch of track sees traffic from 780 trains every day.
The six week period of maintenance work is scheduled to last until Friday, February 16 at precisely 1.30 in the morning, until which time a replacement bus will be in service.
Regular travellers along this route may already be used to interruptions: it is one of the trickiest sections of the entire Berlin S-Bahn network and needs to be closed for maintenance every year. This is because the tunnel, built in the 1930s, stretches for six kilometres along a series of tight curves and steep inclines which would likely not receive planning permission today: passengers along this route often hear the wheels of the carriages squeaking as they make these turns. This means the rails wear out more quickly, hence the annual repairs.
Berlin have already planned to expand its North-South S-Bahn axis with a new route – the S21 – running from Südkreuz via Hauptbahnhof to Westhafen and Wedding. The first construction phase from this new line is expected to start this year.
