As of: February 13, 2024, 4:40 p.m
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People get off the train at the “Freie Universität” subway stop.
© Jörg Carstensen/dpa/archive image
Berlin's subway network is set to grow.
But that takes time.
Now the first concrete project is getting closer.
Berlin - The subway line 3 in the southwest of Berlin is being extended.
On Tuesday, the Senate decided to close the gap between the U3 terminus Krumme Lanke and the Mexicoplatz S-Bahn station.
This was announced by Transport Senator Manja Schreiner (CDU).
According to their information, the approximately 800 meter long subway route will run underground under Argentinische Allee and will probably be built using an open construction method.
The new subway station is to be built south of Mexico Square in order to preserve the square itself as a garden monument.
Schreiner said she is confident that the groundbreaking will take place during this 2026 legislative session.
According to Schreiner, the route could open around 2030 or 2031. Around 12,000 passengers are expected per working day.
The senator put the costs at 103 million euros.
She hopes that the federal government will cover up to 75 percent of it.
According to Schreiner, the Senate commissioned the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) to take further planning steps and implement the project.
The next big step is the planning approval process.
The documents for this should be available by May or June so that the process could start afterwards.
Schreiner described the project in the Zehlendorf district as an important step towards expanding local public transport in Berlin.
The added value is particularly great for commuters, who can then change trains barrier-free at Mexicoplatz.
So far, buses have been running between the Krumme Lanke subway station and the Mexicoplatz S-Bahn station.
BVG CEO Henrik Falk explained: “This is a good signal for Berlin.
If we together want more and more people in our city to choose environmentally friendly mobility, then we have to offer them better and better offers.” A growing network is a basic prerequisite for this.
The Greens called on Senator Schreiner to “finally put the turbo in” on the project.
“The extension of the U3 is one of the most sensible and best new subway projects in Berlin,” explained the transport policy spokeswoman for the Green parliamentary group in the House of Representatives, Antje Kapek.
The line opens up new urban districts and strengthens Berlin's local transport network by providing new options for transferring between different means of transport.
Berlin's IHK Vice President Robert Rückel explained: "The expansion of local public transport is one of the biggest levers for the success of the mobility transition and a climate-neutral Berlin by 2045 at the latest." The extension of the U3 that has now been decided is therefore an important signal.
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“In order for local transport to become a real alternative to private cars, extending a subway line is not enough.” In addition, it is necessary to shorten the frequency and renovate and upgrade existing routes.
“An extension of the U7 to BER is also on the business wish list for the next step in order to better connect the airport, but also the BER area,” said Rückel.
The Berlin subway network currently covers almost 147 kilometers and 175 train stations.
The U3 extension is the first new construction project since the extension of the U5 from Alexanderplatz to the main station.
Schreiner pointed out that in addition to the U3, other subway projects were being examined.
As examples, she cited the extension of the U8 to the Märkischesviertel, but also the extension of the U7 from Rudow to BER Airport and from Spandau to Heerstrasse.
The traffic administration is also considering extensions of the U9 from Osloer Straße towards Pankow and the U2 from Pankow towards the north.
Planning and implementing such projects takes a very, very long time.
Those involved here are more likely to calculate in decades rather than years.
The procedures include, among other things, cost-benefit calculations and other economic feasibility studies.
dpa