The first Urbanliner tram manufactured by Alstom has entered commercial service in Berlin on the M4 line, the busiest tram route in the German capital. The vehicle is 50 meters long, can carry over 300 passengers, and does away with both exterior mirrors and onboard ticket machines.
BVG, Berlin’s public transportation company, put the first of the new Urbanliner trams into service on Wednesday, following the completion of testing and authorization procedures.
The vehicle, manufactured by the French group Alstom, is 50 meters long and is larger than any tram previously used in the German capital. The first route chosen is the M4, which has long been considered Berlin’s busiest tram line.
Two support structures installed in the subway tunnel
The entry into service was preceded by several infrastructure upgrades in the Alexanderplatz area.
Following a structural reassessment, two additional support elements were installed in the subway tunnel to reinforce the infrastructure in the event of higher load conditions. The work represented one of the final requirements for the tram’s authorization.
The Urbanliner is currently approved only for service on the M4; authorization is granted separately for each line. However, the BVG plans to introduce the new trams on other routes as well.
From left to right: Christoph Klaes (Alstom), Senator Franziska Giffey, Henrik Falk (BVG), and Senator Ute Bonde (Copyright: BVG/Florian Buendig)
65 trams ordered by 2030
With the first vehicle entering service, Alstom is beginning to deliver the remaining trams in the order.
BVG estimates that the Urbanliner fleet will reach approximately 15 vehicles by the end of this year, and that number is expected to double by 2028. In total, the Berlin-based company has ordered 65 trams, which are scheduled for delivery by 2030.
On the M4 line, the new vehicles will gradually replace the GT6 trams, which are currently operated in two-car trains.
No exterior mirrors and with obstacle warning
The Urbanliner is the BVG’s first tram to operate without exterior mirrors. These have been replaced by a camera system that improves the driver’s visibility and nearly eliminates blind spots.
The vehicle also features an assistance system that alerts the driver when it detects obstacles on the route.
The new bogie design is intended to reduce vibrations and improve ride comfort. Inside, the color temperature of the lighting changes depending on the time of day and the season, and LED strips mounted on the doors indicate with green or red whether passengers can board.
Adapted for passengers with limited mobility
The tram includes multifunctional spaces for wheelchair and walker users, as well as seats positioned at different heights.
Grab bars with a special texture, similar to the surface of a golf ball, help blind and visually impaired passengers more easily identify the door area.
An additional device to bridge the gap between the tram and the platform allows for step-free access, even at stations where boarding takes place on the left side.
Berlin’s first tram without ticket machines
The Urbanliner is also the first tram model in Berlin to no longer feature mobile ticket machines.
BVG justifies the decision by citing changes in passenger behavior, as most passengers now purchase tickets digitally or use passes such as the Deutschlandticket.
For passengers who continue to buy physical tickets, the company has increased the number of ticket vending machines along the M4 line by approximately 70%.
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