Berlin mayor Michael Müller has launched the IK series metro at Warschauer Straße station on September 2.
Built in neighbouring Velten, BVG has been testing two pre-series vehicles on Berlin’s U-bahn network.
BVG has already exercised an option for 11 four-car, bi-directional trains – the first of which will arrive in 2017 – from its original framework agreement with Stadler for 37 trains.
€158 million is being invested in the new rolling stock and an additional €58 million will be spent on infrastructure improvements.
Additional capacity has been created in the new trains by “ballooning” the carriages, making them 10cm wider than the current stock.