The first of two pre-production IK series metro trains has begun testing on Berlin’s U-bahn.
Berlin transport authority and manufacturer Stadler Pankow have begun trialling the new vehicle on Berlin’s narrow-profile U-bahn network.
A second unit is expected to arrive in the next four weeks. Testing will continue until May at which point a 12-month trial service will begin.
Following the test phase on lines U1 to U4, BVG will look to exercise an option for new 34 vehicles.
The pre-series units have been assembled at Stadler’s Velten works, Brandenburg.
Both of the four-car trains will have a capacity of around 580 passengers. The additional capacity was created by “ballooning” the carriages, making them 10cm wider than the current stock.
is it me or do these new units look like BR class 508’s
@ nogoohwell – They don’t look like 508s particularly. Maybe it’s the yellow livery, if you squint a bit it could be mistaken for a Merseyrail 508 I suppose.