Strassenbahn madness in Berlin: No traffic in the north for weeks!

Strassenbahn madness in Berlin: No traffic in the north for weeks!

Pankow, Deutschland - From April 11th, regular tram traffic will be discontinued in parts of the north of Berlin until at least June 30th. The Berlin Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) replace tram traffic with buses, which primarily affects the areas of Wedding, Gesundbrunnen and Pankow. This drastic measure is the result of extensive construction work at the intersection Schönhauser Allee/Wisbyer Straße/Bornholmer Straße and Berliner Straße near the Pankow Church. The aim of this work is to expand larger track sections, the exchange of switches and the laying of around 120 meters of new track.

The construction work on the track systems in the area of ​​Drontheimer Straße/Osloer Straße/Koloniestraße will also continue until June 30, 2025. The affected tram lines M1, M13 and 50 are severely restricted during this time. Access to the tram depot in Indira-Gandhi-Straße is interrupted, which means that no lines can be operated.

Details on the restrictions

The replacement traffic is set up on different routes. For line M1 there is no longer a regular connection between Eberswalder Straße underground station and the Schillerstraße/Rosenthal stops; Replacement buses are in use here. The M13 line only runs between the Warschauer S- and U-Bahnhof and Prenzlauer Allee/Ostseestrasse. Line 50 is also affected and shortens to the Björnsonstrasse stop. For the route between Bornholmer Straße and Pankow-Heinersdorf, the use of the S-Bahn is recommended.

Future view

The return to regular tram traffic is planned for August 3, 2025, depending on the construction progress. In the meantime, Bornholmer Straße will remain interrupted between Grüntaler and Jülich Strasse until the end of May. In addition, Jülicher Straße is declared a one -way street to control traffic. The construction work at the Schönhauser Allee/Wisbyer Straße/Bornholmer Straße intersection is expected to last until August 2, 2025 and are divided into four construction phases.

Current information on timetables and changes are available on the official channels of the BVG and in the BVG app. The situation is complicated by the fact that the BVG had already affected strikes several times this year and that negotiations with the Verdi union are still underway. By April 10th it will be decided whether a permanent strike comes, which also makes the situation precarious for passengers.

Although the construction work is necessary to make the infrastructure future-proof, commuters and travelers face additional challenges, since significant restrictions in the subway and tram network have already been determined this year. The BVG carries out extensive construction work to renew the over 120 year old underground network, which also contributes to a tense traffic situation.