Overview
- The first production Urbanliner entered regular passenger service on line M4 on Wednesday, beginning scheduled operations in Weißensee after years of testing and postponements.
- BVG expects phased deliveries with 15 Urbanliners in service by the end of 2026, 30 by the end of 2028, and 65 total on order from Alstom for future deployment.
- Regulatory and technical checks delayed the launch because Germany’s approval rules require each vehicle to be certified for each line and inspectors raised concerns about vehicle weight that forced local fixes such as extra tunnel supports at Alexanderplatz.
- The 50.9‑metre Alstom tram carries 303 passengers with 88 seats, features a fully barrier‑free interior, exterior cameras instead of mirrors, and driver‑assist sensors to warn of obstacles.
- BVG says the Urbanliner is intended mainly to add seating on busy routes and to replace older GT6 cars on the M4 while broader roll‑out depends on line‑by‑line approvals, software fixes for the rear driver stand, and further infrastructure adjustments.