The second construction phase of the S21 runs from Hauptbahnhof to Potsdamer Platz and is scheduled for completion by 2036. The route runs underground through the Tiergarten, passing west and east of the Reichstag building. South of the Brandenburg Gate, it merges into an existing tunnel from the late 1930s, currently used as a storage facility and requiring partial reconstruction.
The closure affects the section between Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz. The exact start date remains open as the planning approval process is still ongoing. The Greens in the Bundestag also criticize that it is unclear whether trains can run between Nordbahnhof and Brandenburg Gate during construction – the necessary switches are missing.
Bettina Jarasch, leader of the Green Party in the Berlin House of Representatives, said: ‘The new S21 line closes a gap in the network and thus makes public transport more attractive. Deutsche Bahn must do more to keep the impact on passengers as low as possible.’ The first construction phase from Gesundbrunnen to Hauptbahnhof had only gone into operation a few weeks ago after years of delay.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de
