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71-527: The bridge links Gertraudenstraße, Spittelmarkt and Leipziger Straße in the southwest with the Alexanderplatz area in the northeast. It thereby is part of the main east–west road connection in Berlin's historic city centre, beside the parallel route of Unter den Linden , Schloßplatz and Karl-Liebknecht-Straße in the north. East of the bridge is a large lockage, called Mühlendammschleuse , part of

142-518: A Berlin map dated 1946 shows the station renamed as Bersarinstraße after the Soviet General responsible for restoring civil administration of the city, this name was used later at another location. Nürnberger Platz station was closed on 1 July 1959. It was replaced by two new stations on either side, Augsburger Straße and an interchange station to the U9 at Spichernstraße. Today, nothing remains of

213-463: A U-Bahn cathedral. The platform area is 7 metres (23 ft 0 in) high, 132 metres (433 ft 1 in) long and 22 metres (72 ft 2 in) wide. It was built in connection with the construction of the first North-South Line ( Nord-Süd-Bahn ), now the U8. The architecturally important department store Karstadt adjacent to the station, was being constructed at the same time. Karstadt contributed

284-434: A castle-like style from red and yellow bricks with towers and battlements, was rebuilt as the seat of a municipal savings bank ( Sparkasse ). Berliners called this the "Norman Castle," a name derived from a previously existing fort. The Swiss poet Gottfried Keller , residing in Berlin between 1850 and 1855, wrote about the building in his poem, "Mühlenromantik:" "But in Berlin, in the aroused aesthetic I saw brand new and in

355-570: A contemporary 1950s style. This lasted until the early 1980s when the interior was retro-renovated back into its original style. Wittenbergplatz station was presented with a London style "Roundel type" station sign in 1952, the 50th Anniversary of the Berlin U-Bahn. Today's station is an interchange station between the U1, U2 and U3 lines. The name of the Gleisdreieck (rail triangle) station

426-454: A continuation to Seestraße following two months later. Desperately underfunded, the new line had to use trains from the old Kleinprofil network; the carriages exits had to be widened to fill the gap to the platforms with wooden boards that passengers jokingly referred to as Blumenbretter ("boards for flower pots"). The line branched at Belle-Alliance-Straße, now ( Mehringdamm ); the continuation south to Tempelhof opened on 22 December 1929,

497-539: A helper). The disability identification card must be in the owner's possession when traveling. With unemployment in the east averaging 15%, another common fare class in Berlin is the S(ocial)-Class. These identification cards are cleared through the normal government offices, then fulfilled at a BVG ride-pass non-automated location. Provided either by the Job Center (Arbeitsamt) for out-of-work residents or by

568-511: A large sum of money towards the decoration of the station and was in return rewarded with direct access from the station to the store. Hermannplatz was also the first U-Bahn station in Berlin to be equipped with escalators . Today, Hermannplatz is a busy interchange between the U7 and U8. Alexanderplatz station is another of the more notable U-Bahn stations in Berlin, and is an important interchange between three lines (U2, U5 and U8). The first part of

639-533: A major part of the city's public transport system. Together with the S-Bahn , a network of suburban train lines, and a tram network that operates mostly in the eastern parts of the city, it serves as the main means of transport in the capital. Opened in 1902, the U-Bahn serves 175 stations spread across nine lines, with a total track length of 155.64 kilometres (96 miles 57 chains), about 80% of which

710-661: A second passage at the present-day Rathaus Bridge . When Berlin-Cölln became the residence of the Brandenburg prince-electors in the 15th century, defenses were laid out at the site. The first lock was built in 1578, enabling frequent changes in the crossing of the Spree, and the citizens were vested with staple rights . The associated sales area was rebuilt under the rule of the "Great Elector" Frederick William of Brandenburg in 1687 according to plans designed by Johann Arnold Nering ; called Mühlenkolonnaden , they functioned as

781-595: A stock exchange until 1739. After several fires, buildings in the early 19th century were erected with sandstone colonnades and the street became a bustling commercial corridor. In 1888, a newly built 110 metres (360 ft) long lockage replaced the former structures dating from the Middle Ages. The Spree river bed was deepened, and the Mühlendamm Bridge rebuilt. The mills and related buildings were demolished in 1892. A former grain mill, erected in 1850 in

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852-555: A third north–south line was needed. The first section of line G was built between Leopoldplatz and Spichernstraße , with the intention of extending it at both ends. It had been planned to open the G line on 2 September 1961, but an earlier opening on 28 August was forced by the announcement of the construction of the Berlin Wall . The next crisis was followed by the Berlin Wall construction on 13 August 1961, which had split

923-544: A very long time. These plans had already been shelved as the expected patronage was not deemed high enough to justify such an expansion. Berlin Transport Minister Manja Schreiner (CDU) and Economy Minister Franziska Giffey (SPD) have underlined the local government's plans to extend the ends of each of the city's nine underground lines so that they reach the city's limits with the neighbouring state of Brandenburg. "We must radically extend all

994-646: Is a Berlin U-Bahn station on line U2 , located in Mitte at the eastern end of Leipziger Straße . The station was opened on 1 October 1908, and was then the terminus of Berlin's second U-Bahn line, connecting it with Potsdamer Platz on the initial Stammstrecke route. It is named after the Spittelmarkt square, former site of the Saint Gertrude hospital established about 1400. The name Spittelmarkt

1065-810: Is also available for E-Plus and O2 (LTE since 2016) customers, and since 2020 mobile reception in some underground sections has also been extended to Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone Germany customers, with complete reception for the latter two telcos expected to be realised by mid-2021. Many of the carriages on the U-Bahn feature small flat screen displays that feature news headlines from BZ , weekly weather forecasts, and ads for local businesses. Most major interchange stations have large shopping concourses with banks, supermarkets, and fast food outlets. There are several stations, platforms and tunnels that were built in preparation for future U-Bahn extensions, and others that have been abandoned following planning changes. For example, platforms have already been provided for

1136-614: Is formed from a contraction of "hospital" (as also in Spitalfields , London) and the German word for "market". The station, designed by Alfred Grenander , was lavishly erected right beneath the banks of the Spree river, with daylight windows above the water's surface. Spittelmarkt became a through station with the extension of the line to Alexanderplatz on 1 July 1913. In 1940 the windows were walled up as an air raid precaution. There

1207-475: Is perhaps the biggest part of the project and one that will impact the most people. While Berlin's current Ringbahn - a circular line which rides an hour-long stretch around the city, connects U-Bahn lines to each other about mid-way through their routes - the local government plans for the U0 Ringlinie to connect the ends of each U-Bahn line that sprawls to near the outskirts of the city. Since this part of

1278-408: Is reminiscent of a construction which can only be imagined today. The wye was built in the opening year 1902. Plans for a redesign were made soon after, because the wye was already obsolete. An accident on 26 September 1908, which claimed 18 to 21 lives, was the final straw. The redesign and expansion of the transfer station , during which the station was still used, took until 1912. After World War II

1349-471: Is separated into three parts, as it was blocked by a concrete wall where it crossed the border between East and West Berlin. Another concrete wall separates this tunnel, which now houses a transformer for an electricity supplier, from the never-completed Oranienplatz Station which is located partially under the square of the same name. Stralauer Tor was a station on the eastern bank of the Spree between Warschauer Straße and Schlesisches Tor stations. It

1420-576: Is still great rivalry for construction money between the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn. After the construction boom that followed the reunification of the city, enthusiasm for further growth has cooled off; many people feel that Berlin's needs are adequately met by the present U- and S-Bahn. As of 2020, the only proposals receiving serious consideration aim to facilitate travel around the existing system, such as moving Warschauer Straße 's U-Bahn station closer to its S-Bahn station. There are several long-term plans for

1491-601: Is still in existence for a distance of 270 metres and now ends at the former junction to the workshop of the Schöneberg line. Platforms at five stations, Rathaus Steglitz , Schloßstraße , Walther-Schreiber-Platz , Innsbrucker Platz , and Kleistpark , were provided for the planned but never constructed U10. The U10 platform at Kleistpark has been converted into office space for the BVG. At Schloßstraße, U9 and U10 were planned to share two directional platforms at different levels;

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1562-526: Is underground. Trains run every two to five minutes during peak hours, every five minutes for the rest of the day and every ten minutes in the evening. Over the course of a year, U-Bahn trains travel 132 million kilometres (82 million miles), and carry over 400 million passengers. In 2017, 553.1 million passengers rode the U-Bahn. The entire system is maintained and operated by the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe , commonly known as

1633-464: Is used as a storage area for theater props. At Jungfernheide station, double U-Bahn platforms similar to those at Schloßstraße were built for the planned extension of the U5. The unused platform sides are fenced off. The finished (U7) tunnel section which leads off towards Tegel airport is now used for firefighting exercises. On 4 December 2020, the U5 extension between Alexanderplatz and Brandenburger Tor

1704-719: The Großprofil ("large profile") network. Construction of the Nord-Süd-Bahn ("North-South railway") connecting Wedding in the north to Tempelhof and Neukölln in the south had started in December 1912, but halted for the First World War . Work resumed in 1919, although the money shortage caused by hyperinflation slowed progress considerably. On 30 January 1923, the first section opened between Hallesches Tor and Stettiner Bahnhof ( Naturkundemuseum ), with

1775-577: The M-Bahn was built from the Gleisdreieck to the Kemperplatz station. It was broken down again after the fall of the Berlin Wall, since it obstructed parts of the reopened U2. Since 1993 the U1 and U2 trains both service the station again. Berlin public transit passes are available from many places, automated and non-automated, from BVG, Bahn, and authorized third-parties. The Ring-Bahn Line and

1846-528: The Margraviate of Brandenburg was established in 1157, this new passage competed with existing river crossings at Spandau and Köpenick. At the ford an embankment dam and a weir were built to generate water power for grain and saw mills. Mentioned as Molendam , it was the key This was a decisive step in the development of the Cölln and Alt-Berlin villages on the two banks of the Spree river, soon followed by

1917-493: The SPD , Alliance 90/The Greens and The Left typically advocate for tram construction instead. After the last extension of U5 opened on 4 December 2020, there are no immediate plans to expand the metro system due to lack of budgetary conditions, although there are several extensions of railway lines that can be discussed over time: There were discussions on U7's extension from Rudow to Berlin-Brandenburg Airport via Rudow-Süd for

1988-499: The 200-Kilometre-Plan was drawn up, detailing the future development of the U-Bahn, which would grow to 200 km (124.3 mi). Extending the C line to run from Tegel to Alt-Mariendorf was considered the highest priority: the northern extension to Tegel was opened on 31 May 1958. In order to circumvent East Berlin, and provide rapid-transport connections to the densely populated areas in Steglitz , Wedding , and Reinickendorf ,

2059-490: The 750th anniversary of the city of Berlin in 1985, the rococo Ephraim-Palais was reconstructed twelve meters from its original location. For this, parts of the facade, which had been stored in West-Berlin, were delivered to East Berlin in 1982 to support the reconstruction. 52°30′55″N 13°24′25″E  /  52.51528°N 13.40694°E  / 52.51528; 13.40694 Spittelmarkt Spittelmarkt

2130-609: The BVG. Designed to alleviate traffic flowing into and out of central Berlin, the U-Bahn was rapidly expanded until the city was divided into East and West Berlin at the end of World War II . Although the system remained open to residents of both sides at first, the construction of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent restrictions imposed by East Germany limited travel across the border. The East Berlin U-Bahn lines from West Berlin were severed, except for two West Berlin lines that ran through East Berlin (U6 and U8). These were allowed to pass through East Berlin without stopping at any of

2201-555: The Berlin S-Bahn passengers boycotted the Deutsche Reichsbahn, and transferred to the U-Bahn with numerous expansion. From 9 November 1989, following months of unrest, the travel restrictions placed upon East Germans were lifted. Tens of thousands of East Berliners heard the statement live on television and flooded the border checkpoints, demanding entry into West Berlin. Jannowitzbrücke , a former ghost station,

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2272-518: The Nazi period the only addition to Berlin's underground railways was North–South Tunnel of S-Bahn , opened 1936–1939. During the Second World War , U-Bahn travel soared as car use fell, and many of the underground stations were used as air-raid shelters ; however, Allied bombs damaged or destroyed large parts of the U-Bahn system. Although the damage was usually repaired fairly quickly,

2343-631: The Sozialamt for people who cannot work or are disabled, the S-Class ride-passes normally restrict travel to the AB zones and must be renewed (a new pass purchased at a non-automated location) on the 1st of each month. Additional passes are available for those which want to bring a bicycle on the public transit system. A bicycle-pass is included in the Student-class ride-pass, which is provided through

2414-650: The Spree- Oder waterway. The earliest river crossing was as a ford on the medieval Via Imperii trade route, leading from the Teltow region in the southwest (in the direction of Halle and Wittenberg ) to the Barnim Plateau in the northeast (in the direction of Oderberg and Stettin ), crossing the river Spree at a shallow spot in the Berlin Urstromtal . Built by German settlers after

2485-624: The U-Bahn lines," Giffey told the Tagesspiegel newspaper. "We must offer Berliners a vision as to which routes we will tackle first," Schreiner added. Speaking to the dpa, Schreiner added that "Masterplan 2030" was crucial for many reasons: "More public transport means better climate protection, a better quality of life and more suitable mobility for everyone in the city." Here's how the city plans to expand Berlin's nine existing underground lines - as well as building an additional two lines to serve travellers: Ringlinie U0 - The outer Ringbahn This

2556-462: The U-Bahn that have no estimated time of completion, most of which involve closing short gaps between stations, enabling them to connect to other lines. This would depend on demand, and new developments in the vicinity. New construction of U-Bahn lines is frequently the subject of political discussion with the Berlin chapters of the CDU , FDP and AfD who usually advocate in favor of U-Bahn expansion while

2627-464: The Western sectors also became subject to restrictions imposed by their government. There was a general strike on 17 June 1953 which closed the sections of the Berlin U-Bahn that traveled through East Berlin. Just after the strike, on the following day, train service on the line A was resumed and the service C was resumed to provide connections to Nordbahnhof and Friedrichstraße. Between 1953 and 1955,

2698-496: The ages of six and 14 and large dogs qualify for the reduced fare. Children below the age of six and small dogs travel free. There are senior discounts in the form of an annual ticket. Residents who have applied for and received a German Disability Identification card confirming 80% or more disability (ID's available from the Versorgungsamt , German Disability Office), can ride without a pass, including an additional person (as

2769-428: The best execution by the state-architect a massive Norman Festival. And it was a Flour-mill high and glorious, with battlements and towers Forming and roaring under the bridge The Berliners see the Spree storming" The city leaders proposed a bridge as a viable steel structures. More bridges had to be constructed to cross over the channel and the lock chamber. The bridge was 15 meters wide with 8.5 meters of sidewalks, and

2840-619: The branch to Grenzallee on 21 December 1930. In 1912, plans were approved for AEG to build its own north–south underground line, named the GN-Bahn after its termini, Gesundbrunnen and Neukölln, via Alexanderplatz. Financial difficulties stopped the construction in 1919; the liquidation of AEG-Schnellbahn-AG, and Berlin's commitment to the Nord-Süd-Bahn, prevented any further development until 1926. The first section opened on 17 July 1927 between Boddinstraße and Schönleinstraße , with

2911-399: The city between east and west. The U2 was split into two sections, and for the north–south lines, trains were not allowed to stop for passengers and become Geisterbahnhöfe (" ghost stations "), patrolled by armed East-German border guards. Only at Friedrichstraße , a designated border crossing point, were passengers allowed to disembark. A further consequence over the years is that most of

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2982-420: The date and time of the first use, and where the ticket was validated (in code), and therefore when the ticket expires. For example, once validated, an all-day pass allows unlimited use from the time of purchase to 3:00 am the following day. Unlike most other metro systems, tickets in Berlin are not checked before entering tram, U-Bahn or S-Bahn stations. They are however checked by the bus drivers upon entering. On

3053-452: The eastern portion of the city still sported bullet-riddled tiles at their entrances, a result of World War II battle damage during the Battle of Berlin . These were removed by 21 December 2004. The U-Bahn has nine lines: Among Berlin's 170 U-Bahn stations there are many with especially striking architecture or unusual design characteristics: Hermannplatz station resembles something of

3124-490: The end of 1945, and the reconstruction was completed in 1950. Nevertheless, the consequent division of Berlin into East and West sectors brought further changes to the U-Bahn. Although the network spanned all sectors, and residents had freedom of movement, West Berliners increasingly avoided the Soviet sector and, from 1953, loudspeakers on the trains gave warnings when approaching the border, where passage of East Germans into

3195-512: The intermediate Hermannplatz becoming the first station at which passengers could transfer between two different Großprofil lines. The completed route was opened on 18 April 1930. Before control of the U-Bahn network was handed over completely to the BVG in 1929, the Hochbahngesellschaft started construction on a final line that, in contrast to its previous lines, was built as part of the Großprofil network. The major development

3266-437: The last few years Alexanderplatz station has, in stages, been restored; the work was due to be finished in 2007. Wittenbergplatz station is also unusually designed. It opened in 1902 as a simple station with two side platforms, designed to plans created by Paul Wittig . The station was completely redesigned by Alfred Grenander in 1912, with five platform faces, accommodating two new lines, one to Dahlem on today's (U3), and

3337-473: The lock. In the last days of the war, the bridges were blown up by the Wehrmacht. A temporary bridge was erected in 1946, and a provisional structure was restored using steel salvaged from the river. This bridge opened to traffic on September 1, 1946. In the 1960s, construction of a modern bridge was planned. The bridge was the largest East German road bridge at the time of its completion. In preparation for

3408-585: The other S-Bahn lines are included, as are all U-Bahn lines, buses, trams, ferries, and most trains within the city limits: tickets are valid for all transportation considered part of the Berlin-Regional public transit system. The Berlin U-Bahn mostly runs on an honor system and has been noted for its relative lack of turnstiles in its stations; instead transportation agents will inspect tickets and fine fare evaders. Ride-passes (tickets) are available in fare classes: Adult and Reduced. Children between

3479-492: The other to Kurfürstendamm, today's Uhlandstraße (Berlin U-Bahn) on the (U1). A provision for a sixth platform was included but has never been completed. The redesign also featured a new entrance building, which blended into the grand architectural styles of Wittenbergplatz and the nearby KaDeWe department store. The interior of the entrance building was again rebuilt after considerable war damage during World War II, this time in

3550-491: The planned "U3" at Potsdamer Platz on the planned line to Weißensee . It is unlikely that this line, which had the working title "U3" will ever be built, so the platforms have been partially converted into a location for events and exhibitions. The line number "U3" has been used to re-number the branch to Krumme Lanke , which had been part of "U1". Line D, today's U8 , was intended to run directly under Dresdner Straße via Oranienplatz to Kottbusser Tor . This segment of tunnel

3621-447: The reconstructions became more difficult as the war went on. Eventually, on 25 April 1945, the whole system ground to a halt when the power station supplying the network failed. Upon unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany following the Battle for Berlin there were 437 damaged points and 496 damaged vehicles. The war had damaged or destroyed much of the network; however, 69.5 km (43.2 mi) of track and 93 stations were in use by

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3692-549: The retention of the pedestrian bridge was 4.5 meters wide. Between 1936 and 1940, the Mühlendamm was again redesigned, and the building and the defense disappeared envisioning a wider street. This included demolishing the Ephraim-Palais, considered "Berlin's finest corner." The outbreak of war prevented the completion of the renovations, which included two eleven-feet wide and 35-feet long steel trusses on both sides of

3763-449: The station as a third track siding was constructed in its place. Another tunnel, which once connected the U4 to its original depot and workshop at Otzenstraße ( Schöneberg ), is still in existence. The connection from Innsbrucker Platz station to the depot was severed when a deep level motorway underpass was constructed in the early 1970s; however, the continuation of the tunnel at Eisackstraße

3834-449: The station was opened in 1913 along with an extension of today's U2 line. In the 1920s Alexanderplatz was completely redesigned, both above and below ground. The U-Bahn station was expanded to provide access to the new D (today's U8) and E (today's U5) lines, then under construction. The result was a station with a restrained blue-grey tiled colour-scheme and Berlin's first underground shopping facilities, designed by Alfred Grenander . Over

3905-449: The station was put back into service on 21 October 1945 (lower platform) and 18 November 1945 (upper platform). However, service was interrupted again by the construction of the Berlin Wall. From 1972 onwards no trains ran on the lower platform, because servicing the U2 was no longer profitable due to the parallel traffic on the U1. The lower platform was reactivated in 1983, when the test line of

3976-535: The stations, which were closed. Friedrichstraße was the exception because it was used as a transfer point between U6 and the West Berlin S-Bahn system, and a border crossing into East Berlin . The system was reopened completely following the fall of the Berlin Wall and German reunification . The Berlin U-Bahn is the most extensive underground network in Germany. In 2006, travel on the Berlin U-Bahn

4047-464: The surrounding areas were annexed to form Groß-Berlin (" Greater Berlin Act "), removing the need for many negotiations, and giving the city much greater bargaining power over the private Hochbahngesellschaft ("elevated railway company"). The city also mandated that new lines would use wider carriages—running on the same, standard-gauge track—to provide greater passenger capacity; these became known as

4118-497: The third incident, the BVG calls the offender to court, as there is now a history of 'riding without paying'. Mobile phone network in 3G, 4G and 5G is in place throughout the entire U-Bahn networks. This system was in place by 1995 for the E-Plus network, and was one of the first metro systems in the world to allow mobile telephone use; by the late-1990s the other networks could be used in some portions as well. Since 2015, UMTS and LTE

4189-572: The tracks, preventing the train from braking. The station did not reopen until extensive reconstruction works started in 2003. [REDACTED] Media related to U-Bahnhof Spittelmarkt (Berlin) at Wikimedia Commons Berlin U-Bahn The Berlin U-Bahn ( German: [ˈuː baːn] ; short for Untergrundbahn , "underground railway") is a rapid transit system in Berlin , the capital and largest city of Germany , and

4260-531: The tram, S-Bahn and U-Bahn, a proof-of-payment system is used: there are random spot checks inside by plain-clothed fare inspectors who have the right to demand to see each passenger's ticket. Passengers found without a ticket or an expired/invalid ticket are fined €60 per incident. The passenger may be required to pay on the spot, and is required on the spot to give a valid address to which the relevant fine notice can be mailed (it does not have to be in Germany). On

4331-404: The universities. For small dogs which can be carried there is no additional fare requirement. For each "large dog", a reduced fare ride-pass must be purchased. Tourist ride-passes, all-day, group passes, and season passes include a dog fare. BVG ride-passes are issued for specific periods of time, and most require validation with a stamping machine before they are first used. The validation shows

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4402-403: The would-be U10 tracks have been abandoned, leaving both platforms used by U9 trains only. The other U10 platforms remain unused and are not generally open to the public. During the construction of Adenauerplatz (U7) station, which was built in conjunction with an underpass, platforms were also provided for a planned U1 extension from Uhlandstraße to Theodor-Heuss-Platz . A short tunnel section

4473-445: Was a direct bomb hit on the platform area on 3 February 1945. It was only by chance that the northern station wall was not destroyed. Since this wall is also the sea wall of the Spree, the inner-city tunnel system would have been flooded and would have disrupted the underground traffic in the long term. In 1990, a major accident occurred when a train crashed into another stopped train. Fourteen people were injured. Spilled oil had covered

4544-425: Was abandoned in favour of a slightly less direct route in order to provide the former Wertheim department store at Moritzplatz with a direct connection. This involved the construction of a 90-degree curve of the line between Moritzplatz and Kottbusser Tor stations. The construction of the tunnel under Dresdner Straße had only been partially completed before abandonment, leaving it with only one track. This tunnel

4615-596: Was also constructed in front of the Internationales Congress Centrum (ICC), beneath the Messedamm/Neue Kantstraße junction. This tunnel was built concurrently with a pedestrian subway and was also intended for the planned extension of the U1. The tunnel section, approximately 60 metres (196 ft 10 in) long, ends at the location of the planned Messe station adjacent to Berlins central bus station (ZOB). The tunnel

4686-543: Was completely destroyed in World War II . It had been opened in 1902 and was renamed Osthafen in 1924. Today, only struts on the viaduct remain to indicate its location. In the post-Second World War period it was not thought necessary to rebuild the station, due its close proximity to the Warschauer Straße station. Also its location was directly on the border between the Soviet and American sectors. Although

4757-442: Was equivalent to 122.2 million km (76 million mi) of car journeys. The Berlin U-Bahn was built in three major phases: In a bid to secure its own improvement, Schöneberg also wanted a connection to Berlin. The elevated railway company did not believe such a line would be profitable, so the city built the first locally financed underground in Germany (intentionally using standard of Kleinprofil Berlin U-Bahn rolling stock ). It

4828-431: Was opened on 1 December 1910. Just a few months earlier, work began on a fourth line to link Wilmersdorf in the southwest to the growing Berlin U-Bahn. The early network ran mostly east to west, connecting the richer areas in and around Berlin, as these routes had been deemed the most profitable. In order to open up the network to more of the workers of Berlin, the city wanted north–south lines to be established. In 1920,

4899-562: Was opened. This included the new Unter den Linden station, which acts as a transfer point between the lines U5 and U6. Französische Straße station on the U6 was simultaneously closed due to its short distance to the new station. Berlin's chronic financial problems make any expansion not mandated by the Hauptstadtvertrag —the document that regulates the necessary changes to the city as the capital of Germany—unlikely. Furthermore, there

4970-403: Was reopened two days later as an additional crossing point. It was the first station to be reopened after the opening of the Berlin Wall. Other stations, Rosenthaler Platz and Bernauer Straße on the U8 soon followed suit; and by 1 July 1990, all border controls were removed. In the decade following reunification, only three short extensions were made to U-Bahn lines. In the 1990s some stations in

5041-592: Was stopped in 1930. The seizure of power by the National Socialists brought many changes that affected Germany, including the U-Bahn. Most notably, the new national flag was hung in every station, and two of the stations were renamed. Extensive plans—mostly the work of architect Albert Speer —were drawn up that included the construction of a circular line crossing the established U-Bahn lines, and new lines or extensions to many outlying districts. Despite such grand plans, no U-Bahn development occurred. In

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