Luftschlange's video: U-Bahn Berlin: U2 Action in the Center - Part 1

Today’s film is the first of two parts showing the U2 line on the Berlin Underground (U-Bahn Berlin). Similarly to New York City and London, Berlin’s underground system has two incompatible divisions: The older “Kleinprofilnetz” and the newer “Großprofilnetz”. The former has very small tunnel diameters (actually built to tram standards), while the latter uses wider tunnels and hence more capacious rolling stock. The U2 line, which runs east-west through the city’s both former western and eastern centers, is part of the Kleinprofilnetz, and its first stations opened in 1902. The tunnels and stations are built very close beneath the surface and the ceiling is supported by columns, similarly to the New York City Subway, however, with the difference that the stations are in much better shape. We begin our journey at “Stadtmitte” station, which is in the former eastern part of Berlin and is located near Gendarmenmarkt (quite close to “Checkpoint Charlie”), a very beautiful area of the city. We then make our way east to Hausvogteiplatz, Spittelmarkt and Klosterstraße. The rolling stock used on the U2 line is quite diverse. Besides old A3L and newer Hk stock, the line operates my favorite stock of the Berlin U-Bahn: The East German built GI/1 stock, also called “Gisela,” with its timeless angular design and high-pitch motor sound. Enjoy!