BVG | Track damage near Alex: Shorter trains on several tram lines

The use of the high-capacity GT6 double traction units on the M4 is history for the time being. Photo: Nicolas Šustr The scratches on the asphalt cannot be ignored as the M4 tram turns from Otto-Braun-Straße into Wadzeckstraße shortly before Alexanderplatz. The last part of the composition, which consists of two three-part vehicles, sits firmly on the road surface.

The "nd" video clearly shows why the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) withdrew the high-capacity GT6 doubles from the M4 on Wednesday afternoon. The 300-passenger trains were replaced by seven-car Flexity trains, which offer space for less than 250 passengers.

When asked by “nd”, the BVG said nothing about the specific cause. She informs that the tracks on Wadzeckstrasse are “in the future for renewal” and are being “continuously checked”. It remains unclear exactly when the usual capacity can be offered again on the Berlin tram line, which is the second most popular in demand with almost 100,000 passengers every day.

»Surveying work will be carried out in the next few days. Until the analysis has been completed, the coupled GT6 railways cannot be used on the M4 for the time being," says the BVG.

»If you love your passengers, you will inform them – quickly and completely.«

BVG insiders confirm the obvious: a so-called track position error has developed. A depression or a hump has probably formed and as a result the rail has torn off or become loose. This causes the GT6 type trains to “dip and touch down,” says the expert. “The phenomenon is not new, but I have never seen it in such a severe form,” the insider continued.

This is due to the design of the three-part vehicles, which were mainly built in the 90s. Only the rear of the two joints can swing up and down. As a result, the two front parts of the car form a lever that pushes the rear down deeply when the car humps.

Flexity and Urbanliner, the BVG's newer vehicle types, do not exhibit this behavior and can therefore continue to be used on this section of route. Only the Urbanliners, which have been running since July, offer the same capacity as the GT6 doubles. At least ten units have now been delivered and put into operation by the manufacturer Alstom. But during rush hour, 27 trains are needed for the M4.

The seven-part Flexity units used as replacements were withdrawn from the M1 line, among others. The GT6 cars now drive there individually. In a press release on Friday, the Berlin passenger association IGEB complained about the significantly lower capacity of 150 passengers.

The latest Urbanliner trains can continue to run on the M4 route. Photo: Nicolas Šustr The experts “reacted immediately and in the interests of the passengers,” says the BVG. In order to create the greatest possible capacity on the heavily used M4 line, long Flexity trains were relocated from other lines to the M4 at short notice. »The use of vehicles and the operational options in the coming days are currently being examined. The top priority is safety and the best possible offer for our passengers under the given circumstances," the BVG continued. Passengers are asked to “understand that there may be a temporary change in vehicle deployment on some lines.”

It is noteworthy that the BVG once again fails to simply name a deterioration as such. Fortunately, the autumn holidays mean less passenger demand overall, and there is still a reduction on the M1 due to construction work.

“The tram operators’ quick response to the problem is pleasing,” praises the IGEB passenger association. “But unfortunately the BVG has once again failed to inform its passengers promptly about the resulting capacity restrictions,” criticizes the passenger lobby. This needs to be done so that affected passengers can look for alternative routes if necessary.

Incidentally, there was no answer to the question asked by “nd” on Thursday to the BVG as to why there was no transparent information about the capacity restriction and its cause.

The IGEB also complains about incomplete information in the southwest of Berlin. Due to falling parts of the facade on Bierpinsel, the southbound lane of Schlossstrasse has been closed since Thursday. The BVG announces on its homepage "only the loss of stops on Kieler Straße, but not the extended bus travel times due to diversions and temporary traffic jams." The bus routes M48, M85, 186 and 282 are affected.

“In this case too, the BVG is depriving its passengers of the chance to think about alternatives in advance,” says the passenger lobby. “If you love your passengers, you inform them – quickly and completely.” However, the BVG has so far ignored all appeals in this direction without any consequences.

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