The Berlin Urbanliner tram has entered passenger service on the M4, bringing 312-passenger capacity and new accessibility, safety and comfort features to the capital’s busiest tram route.

Alstom Urbanliner tram operating in Berlin
Berlin’s 50-metre Alstom Urbanliner has entered regular passenger service on the M4 route.

Berlin Urbanliner tram begins M4 operations

BVG placed the first Alstom-built Urbanliner into regular service on 15 July 2026⁠ after completing final field trials and receiving route-specific approval. Minor infrastructure work was also completed near Alexanderplatz, where two additional supports were installed in the U-Bahn tunnel following structural recalculations. 

The nine-section vehicle is 50.89 metres long and 2.40 metres wide. BVG’s published specifications⁠ give a total capacity of 312 passengers, including 92 seated and 220 standing. The new trams will gradually replace coupled GT6 vehicles on the M4, which carries approximately 100,000 passengers per day.

Don’t miss…Forest Park Branch design funding advances planning

Alstom says further Urbanliner deliveries are now beginning⁠. The fleet is expected to reach around 15 vehicles by the end of 2026 and double by 2028, while all 65 Urbanliners currently ordered are scheduled to arrive by 2030. Approval initially covers only the M4, but BVG plans to introduce the type on additional routes later. 

Berlin Urbanliner tram adds accessibility and camera systems

The Urbanliner is the first BVG tram designed to operate without exterior mirrors. Cameras provide the driver with an improved rearward view, while an assistance system warns about obstacles in the vehicle’s path. 

Passenger features include multifunctional areas for wheelchairs and walking frames, 51-centimetre comfort seats, lower 40-centimetre seats and textured handrails that help visually impaired travellers identify door zones. A gap-bridging device also supports step-free boarding at stops with platforms on the left. 

Inside, lighting changes between warm and cool white according to the season and time of day, while red and green LED strips indicate whether boarding is permitted. The vehicle also uses redesigned running gear intended to reduce vibration and improve ride comfort. 

BVG has removed onboard ticket machines from the Urbanliner because most passengers now buy tickets digitally or use passes such as the Deutschlandticket. To retain access to physical ticket sales, the operator says it has increased the number of vending points along the M4 by approximately 70%.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…SkyTrain elevator closures alter access at two stations