BVG Introduces New Alstom Urbanliner Tram to Boost Capacity on Berlin’s Busiest Route

BVG Introduces New Alstom Urbanliner Tram to Boost Capacity on Berlin’s Busiest Route

(IN BRIEF) Alstom and BVG have launched Berlin’s new extra-long Urbanliner tram into commercial service. The first 50-metre tram entered regular operation on 15 July 2026 after final field trials and is now running on the M4, Berlin’s busiest tram route. The Urbanliner can carry more than 300 passengers and offers improved comfort, accessibility and passenger information features. It includes larger multi-purpose areas, seats for passengers with reduced mobility, extra-low seats, textured handrails for visually impaired passengers, LED door indicators, improved ride comfort and a camera-based rear-view system instead of exterior mirrors. Further deliveries from Alstom are now beginning. BVG expects to have around 15 Urbanliners by the end of 2026, with the fleet doubling again by 2028. A total of 65 Urbanliners are currently on order and are expected to be delivered by 2030.

(PRESS RELEASE) SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, 16-Jul-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Alstom and Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe have celebrated the entry into commercial service of Berlin’s new extra-long tram, the Urbanliner, following the completion of final field trials.

The first 50-metre Urbanliner officially began regular passenger service on Wednesday, 15 July 2026. The tram has been introduced on the M4 line, one of the busiest routes in Berlin’s tram network.

Passengers were invited to experience the new vehicle during its official maiden journey, with Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, and Ute Bonde, Senator for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment, joining the event at the Weißensee depot.

Before the tram could enter passenger service, minor infrastructure adjustments were required in the Alexanderplatz area as part of the approval process. Following structural recalculations, two additional supports were installed in the underground tunnel to provide additional safety for a higher calculated load scenario. BVG said the required measures were implemented quickly and successfully.

Henrik Falk, Chief Executive Officer of BVG, said the company acted swiftly to complete the final steps before commercial operation.

“As the BVG team, we acted swiftly and purposefully to overcome the final hurdles. All the conditions are now in place to bring a new dimension to Berlin’s public transport,” said Falk.

He added that the new trams will help prepare Berlin’s tram fleet for the coming decades, following investment in the underground fleet and other major infrastructure projects.

Falk described the Urbanliner as another visible sign that BVG is investing consistently in modern vehicles and high-performance infrastructure for Berlin.

Franziska Giffey said the Urbanliner reflects Berlin’s growth and the need for public transport to grow with the city.

“The new trams are setting new standards simply through their size: more space for Berliners and visitors to our city, greater comfort and full accessibility,” said Giffey.

She added that the investment strengthens local transport on the M4, Berlin’s busiest tram route, and supports a future city where mobility is available to all.

Ute Bonde said the Urbanliner trams represent more than a technical upgrade.

“They are investments that make a difference. And with space for more than 300 passengers, they represent a form of mobility that is geared towards people’s needs,” said Bonde.

Further deliveries of the Urbanliner trams from Alstom are now beginning. The fleet is expected to grow to around 15 vehicles before the end of 2026 and to double again by 2028. The remaining vehicles from the current order of 65 Urbanliners are expected to follow by 2030.

As usual, approval for the new trams is being granted route by route. The Urbanliner is currently approved for the M4 line, with future use planned on other routes.

The new trams can carry more than 300 passengers. On the M4, they will replace GT6 trams, which are currently coupled to form double trains and are gradually being withdrawn from service.

Passengers will benefit from several new features. A modern lighting concept creates a more comfortable interior atmosphere, with colour temperature changing between cool and warm white depending on the time of day and season.

At the doors, green and red LED strips clearly show when passengers can board and when they should wait. A new chassis design improves ride comfort and reduces vibrations.

Christoph Klaes, Vice President Customer Management for Central and Northern Europe at Alstom, said BVG plays an important role in making Berlin accessible and liveable.

“The BVG makes the capital a place that millions of people can experience and enjoy living in. We at Alstom are proud that the new Urbanliners now play a central role in this,” said Klaes.

He added that the new tram generation combines high performance with greater comfort and accessibility and has been designed to meet Berlin’s growing mobility needs.

Accessibility was a central focus in the development of the Urbanliner. Large multi-purpose areas provide space for passengers using wheelchairs or walking frames. Comfort seats at a height of 51 centimetres are available for passengers with reduced mobility, while extra-low seats at 40 centimetres are provided for children and people of short stature.

Handrails with a “golf ball texture” at the doors help blind and visually impaired passengers find their way more easily. An additional gap filler also supports barrier-free boarding at stops with left-hand boarding.

For the first time, a BVG tram will operate entirely without exterior mirrors. Instead, the Urbanliner uses a camera system that improves the driver’s rear view and reduces blind spots. An assistance system also warns of obstacles in the tram’s path.

The Urbanliner is also the first Berlin tram type to operate without mobile ticket machines, reflecting changing passenger purchasing behaviour. BVG said most passengers now buy tickets digitally or already hold a ticket such as the Deutschlandticket.

To support passengers on the M4 line, BVG has expanded its sales network along the route, increasing the number of sales points by around 70%.

Media Contacts:

Joern Bischoff
joern.bischoff@alstomgroup.com

Stefan Brauße
stefan.brausse@alstomgroup.com

SOURCE: Alstom