Tunnelling work on Berlin U5 line complete

The 74 meter long, 700-tonne tunnel boring machine “Bärlinde” drilled under the Spree River, on to the Humboldtforum and Spree Canal, below Unter den Linden and onwards to the U-Bahn station at the Brandenburg Gate. (Photo: Antonio Reetz-Graudenz)

Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) has announced completion of tunnelling on Berlin U5 line linking Alexanderplatz to Brandenburg Gate.

The 74 meter long, 700-tonne tunnel boring machine “Bärlinde” drilled under the Spree River, on to the Humboldtforum and Spree Canal, below Unter den Linden and onwards to the U-Bahn station at the Brandenburg Gate. (Photo: Antonio Reetz-Graudenz)

Tunnelling on the on the new €525 million 2.2km U-Bahn link began under the streets of the German capital in 2011, extending the existing U5 line from Alexanderplatz to the Brandenburg Gate and connecting it to line U55.  

‘Bärlinde’ reaches its goal (left to right): Jörg Seegers, GF Projektrealisierungs GmbH U5/BVG; Dr. Evelin Nikutta, Chairwoman BVG; Stefan Roth, CEO Implenia Germany & Austria; Ute Bonde, GF Projektrealisierungs GmbH U5/BVG; Michael Greiner, Projektleiter Finanzen Implenia; Peter Hoppe, Gesamtprojektleiter Implenia; Klaus Schlüter, Vortriebsfahrer Implenia. (Photo: BVG)

With work to connect U5 line with U55 already complete, tunnelling began to extend the existing U5 line in April 2015. Implenia, the Swiss construction company, carried out work to build two tunnels using ‘Bärlinde’ the tunnel boring machine. Now, six months later, the 74-metre long, 700-tonne machine has done its duty and drilled out the second tunnel between the U-Bahn stations of Alexanderplatz and Brandenburger Tor. In total ‘Bärlinde’ has created 1620 metres of tunnel and installed 1076 tubbing rings.

The new U5 line due for completion in 2020

Completion of the Berlin U5 line project, including construction of new tunnels and new link between the two lines, will create one single line that will run from Hönow to Berlin’s main railway station, Lehrter Bahnhof.

Work will now begin to construct three new underground railway stations, Berliner Rathaus, Museuminsel and Unter den Linden. Work is due for completion in 2019 with the first trains running on the new U5 line in 2020.

Further information on the U5 line project can be found here.