By the way: The automation of the underground operation will not replace the drivers. They will continue to be responsible for the passenger exchange and can intervene if necessary. The journey itself will be fully automatic and computer-controlled. This is the only way to achieve the 100-second interval. In today's operation, the tightest possible regular cycle is 2.5 minutes.

Since September 2024, six signal boxes along the entire U4 line from Elbbrücken to Horner Geest and on the U2 line between Mümmelmannsberg and Christuskirche have been converted to automated operation and expanded. Twenty-one stations and 25 kilometres of track are being prepared for the interaction between underground trains, track infrastructure and signal boxes. Here, 400 ‘balises’ bolted to the track bed will take over the precise location of the vehicles, and 160 kilometres of cable will connect 250 ‘access points’ installed along the route, which will enable communication between the signal box and the vehicle in future. The U2 route between Horner Rennbahn and Mümmelmannsberg will be equipped by 2030.

First public test run successful

A subway every 100 seconds – on the way to achieving this goal, the U-Bahn100 project successfully completed its first public test run on the U1 line between Farmsen and Berne at the end of July 2025. The trains are controlled from a central control centre and can travel at a variable safety distance. Train crew remain on board and are responsible for passenger changes at the stops. The underground trains travel automatically between stops.

Background: How U-Bahn100 works

In addition to the digitalisation of track and rail, which will enable automated journeys in GoA2 (Grades of Automation) mode, we will use a completely new train control technology. In contrast to today's train protection, where following underground trains always have to travel in blocks with a fixed distance to each other, the "Moving Block" system creates a system in which underground trains can communicate with each other and travel in a moving space distance.

The vehicles communicate constantly with the signal boxes and other vehicles via radio to exchange the current position and thus always travel at the optimal and safe distance. The new system will reduce disruptions and enable more stable and reliable operation.

The investment volume for the U-Bahn100 project, which will be completed by 2029, is around 200 million euros.