U55 - does not connect

The Berlin U-Bahn is one of the best (mostly) underground metros in the world. Line U5 runs eastward from Alexanderplatz station to Hönow station. There are plans to extend the line westward from Alexanderplatz to the new main railway station Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

On 8 August 2009, line U55 was opened. U55 is an extension to line U5 but doesn't actually join it yet. There are only three stations from Hauptbahnhof to Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate).


(photo from Der Spiegel)



The very short line took 14 years to build, at a cost of €320 million. The three stops only runs 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mile) and only takes around three minutes. It will cost an additional €433 million to extend the U55 to Alexanderplatz, as planned with a completion date of 2017.

See Der Spiegel (auf Deutsh) und Der Spiegel (English), which was rather critical in its report.

The Berlin U-Bahn is one of my favourite metros in the world and along with the S-Bahn, covers most of Berlin public transport.