THE State of Berlin-Brandenburg and Berlin Transport (BVG) opened a 2.7km light rail extension between Karl Ziegler street and Schöneweide S-Bahn station on October 30, extending the M17 and 61 light rail lines.

The new line, dubbed Adlershof II, extends the M17 line from Schöneweide S-Bahn station via Groß-Berliner Damm to Adlershof S-Bahn station while line 61 services have been extended in the opposite direction. Line 63 will now terminate at Johannisthal Landscape Park, where a reversing track has been installed.

The project was one of four tram projects prioritised for construction by the Berlin City “Red-Red-Green” coalition government elected in 2016, as part of a major expansion of the city’s tram network.

The line has five barrier-free stops which feature guidance systems for the blind, dynamic information displays and weather protection. The section is expected to be used by 12,000 passengers a day, and BVG will operate four additional vehicles on M17 and two extra vehicles on Line 61 to accommodate the additional demand.

A total of 5.7km of track and 7.4km of catenary was installed for the line. The €40m project was funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the State of Berlin-Brandenburg through the Berlin Programme for Sustainable Development (BENE).