Berlin’s BVG Switches to Winter Mode
Subways, trams and buses are not supposed to fail in icy conditions. This city's public transport operator is preparing them.
Berlin, October 31st, 2026 - As Germany braces for winter, Berlin's transportation provider, BVG, is gearing up for the colder months. The city is only three weeks away from the start of the Christmas market season, and preparations are underway to handle the icy conditions. Over 941 railway switches within the tram and aboveground subway track network are being checked and set to standby mode, ready to automatically heat up when they detect freezing conditions.
To prevent further chaos, the BVG is taking necessary precautions. Crews are inspecting snow plows and ensuring their functionality. A special train, known as the "power rail greaser train", is preparing to grease contact surfaces on the power rails, specifically on U-Bahn lines 1, 2, and 3. This greaser train also applies anti-icing fluid, which is crucial for U-Bahn trains to operate smoothly during cold winters. However, the lines U5 to U9 do not require greasing due to their wider aboveground tracks.
Additionally, the BVG is preparing 381 trams. Some of these vehicles are equipped with grinding bars on their pantographs, allowing them to scrape ice off overhead wires while moving around the city. Yet, the 1,631 buses, which have all-weather tires, are not yet being modified. Instead, the BVG is focusing on stocking up on winter windshield washer fluid and ensuring the heating systems in all buses are in good working condition.
Despite occasional issues, passengers can rest assured that public transport in Berlin will not leave them freezing.
Written by urgent.news from The Berlin Spectator's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
