BERLIN CENTRAL

RAILWAY STATION

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INTRODUCTION:
Berlin Hauptbahnhof is the main railway station in Berlin, Germany. The station is operated by DB Station
Service, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG, and is classified as a Category 1 station, one of 21 in Germany
and four in Berlin, the others being Berlin Gesundbrunnen, Berlin Südkreuz and Berlin Ostbahnhof.
TRANSPORT IN BERLIN:
Berlin has developed a highly complex transportation infrastructure providing very diverse modes of urban
mobility.979 bridges cross 197 kilometers of inner city waterways, 5,334 kilometers (3,314 mi) of roads run
through Berlin, of which 73 kilometers (45 mi) are motorways.

Long-distance rail lines connect Berlin with all of the major cities of Germany and with many cities in
neighboring European countries. Regional rail lines provide access to the surrounding regions
of Brandenburg and to the Baltic Sea.

RAILWAYS:
Long-distance rail lines connect Berlin with all of the major cities of Germany and with many cities in
neighboring European countries. Regional rail lines of the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg provide
access to the surrounding regions of Brandenburg and to the Baltic Sea. The Berlin Hauptbahnhof is the
largest grade-separated railway station in Europe.

RAILWAY SYSTEM OF GERMANY:

 Total 41,315 km
 Double track 18,201 km
 Electrified 19,857 km
 Passengers 300,000 per day

GAUGE OF RAILS:
 4’-8.5” ( 1436 mm)

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FUNCTION
The Berlin Hauptbahnhof is part of the mushroom concept that was being made in Berlin, in which the
station forms as a connecting point for converging and intersecting lines, of different modes of public
transport there.

The station's length is 430 meters, whereas some of the platforms are 80 meters.

Structurally, the entire station complex is a tower station; operationally it is a crossing station similar to all
central stations. The complex consists of several independent operating points:

 Platforms 1 to 8 are located underground and are used for regional and intercity services.
 Platforms 9 and 10 are located underground and will be used for the future S21 S-Bahn
line.
 Platforms 11 to 14 are located above-ground and are used for regional and intercity
services.
 Platforms 15 and 16 are located above-ground and are used for the Berlin S-Bahn.
 Platforms U1 and U2 are located separately from the main station, and are used for
the U55 U-Bahn line.

OPERATIONAL USAGE:

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The upper level of the station has six tracks (two of which used for the  Berlin S-Bahn) served by three island
platforms. The lower level has eight tracks served by four island platforms for main-line trains, plus a further island
platform for the  Berlin U-Bahn. The lower level is often denoted by 'tief' on travel guides, etc. (thus the calling point
may be "Berlin Hbf (tief)"). There is no rail connection between the upper and lower level track in the station area (or
anywhere else nearby). 1,800 trains call at the station per day and the daily number of passengers is estimated to be
at 350,000.
As of 2011,the station is used by  intercity Express,  Intercity,
Interregioexpress,  RegionalExpress,  RegionalBahn  and  S-Bahn  trains.
The station also hosts several international trains, and the most distant cities reached are  Novosibirsk  (Russia)
and  Nur-Sultan  (Kazakhstan), with an express named "Sibirjak". The upper part of the station, with the east-west
tracks, is part of the Berlin Stadtbahn, with trains leading to locations like  Hanover  or  Cologne. The subterranean
station, which lies in the north-south Tiergarten tunnel, offers long distance services to  Hamburg,  Leipzig  or  Munich.
 S-Bahn

The Berlin S-Bahn keeps passengers up to date with the Passenger Information System (RIS-S); a real-
time data system displaying exact forecasts of departure times and information on train delays on station
platforms. This service is also available on the Internet.

 U-Bahn
The U-Bahn platforms are presently served only by the U55, which is not connected to the rest of the U-
Bahn network.
The platform hall has a length of 140 meters, 11 meters in height and 19 meters in width.

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 Tram

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ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY:
The infrastructure that a railroad transportation company uses consists of tracks, points, and signals. At
Deutsche Bahn, this infrastructure is managed from signal boxes via DB Netz. Germany has been investing
in the upgrading of these systems for years. With the construction of state-of-the-art electronic interlockings
(ESTW), digital control and signaling technology is used to ensure a smooth and safe train operation.
Under EU law, DB Netz is obligated to make the infrastructure available to all railway companies on a non-
discriminatory basis.

UPGRADATION OF TECHNOLOGY:

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ZBS: The Installation of a New Train Control System

Since October 2011, DB Netz has been gradually upgrading the route network with a new train control
system (ZBS) for the Berlin S-Bahn, which will replace the previous safety technology, a mechanical train
control system. The entire changeover will be completed by the end of 2020 in the Inner (Stadtbahn) sub-
network, by the end of 2023 in the North-South (Nord-Süd) sub-network, and by the end of 2025 in the
Outer (Ring) network.

The Versatile Functions of ZBS

Compared to the previous technology, the new system also monitors compliance with the permitted speed
of trains, with respect to railway signaling. For this purpose, the tracks are equipped with balises, electronic
transponders which serve as "beacons" providing the exact location of a train. A computer system on the
train evaluates the data, monitors the speed, controls the decreasing speed when thebr train approaches
stop signals, and releases the emergency brake if necessary. Electronic displays and announcements in
the cab of the train assist the conductor at work.

SIGNALS:
Who controls the switches and signals?

The electronic interlockings in the Berlin S-Bahn network are controlled from the DB Netz S-Bahn Berlin
operations center. The team consists of a network coordinator, dispatcher, area dispatcher, and an
emergency control center operator. They work in a three-shift, remote-controlled system, setting the course
and signals and guiding the S-Bahn trains along their respective infrastructure. The electromechanical
interlockings are distributed throughout the network, taking care of the operating areas that can not yet be
operated by the automatic electronic interlockings.

Why aren’t the classic traffic lights used in the S-Bahn network?

Signals are comparable to traffic lights that provide safety. A car driver knows he is allowed to accelerate
as soon as a traffic light turns green, given that he sees no other traffic is blocking his path. “Driving by
sight” is not possible on S-Bahn trains as the braking distance of the heavy trains is too long. If a signal is
green, the conductor knows that the path ahead is safe until the next signal –he is “driving by signal.” There
can only be one S-bahn in between two signals to ensure a safe distance before and after the train. This is
possible by train detection systems which support a track inspection.

DB Netz: Signal operation by mouse click

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SAFETY:
The underground station of the main station, and east of the deep north-south train platforms (tracks 1-8). It has
a central platform, which is covered with granite. To exit the platform are three stairs, an escalator and a lift. In
addition, the Underground Station is equipped with tactile paving for accessibility.

PLATFORM HEIGHT:
The European Union Commission issued a TSI (Technical Specifications for Interoperability) on 30 May
2002; (2002/735/EC) that sets out standard platform heights for passenger steps on high-speed rail. These
standard heights are 550 mm and 760 mm.

In Germany new builds are 550 mm and 760 mm. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has new builds with
550 mm. Hesse, NRW, Berlin had new builds with 760 mm

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TYPE OF RAIL:
 Flat bottom rails are used.

SLEEPERS
 Concrete sleepers are used.

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BALLAST:
 Aggregates are used as ballast

TRACK FITTING AND FASTENING:

RAILWAY POINTS AND CROSSINGS:

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Various interlocking models are in operation at the S-Bahn Berlin: The vast majority are electronic
interlockings, i.e. computer-based interlockings. In addition, there are still electromechanical interlockings,
which are characterized by an interaction of mechanical and electrical design, they expire in 2025. In
addition, there are purely electrical interlockings, which will be upgraded by 2025 with modern technology.

TRAVELER’S NAVIGATION BOARDS:

LCD Displays at the Stations

The LCD displays on the station platforms also indicate how many car units the arriving train has and where it will
stop at the platform. The main stops are also displayed, and if necessary, information about delays, cancellations, or
upcoming construction work is displayed in the ticker line.

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 REFERENCES
 Ballast

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/ballast-train.html

 Sleepers

https://www.seat61.com/stations/berlin-hauptbahnhof.htm

 Platforms

https://depositphotos.com/55761431/stock-photo-people-inside-berlin-central-train.html

 Advanced technology

https://sbahn.berlin/en/about-us/information-and-transport-technology/

 Fastners

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/berlin-central-railway-station-platform-with-train-germany-gm1050876276-
280988174

 Other Information

https://www.seat61.com/stations/berlin-hauptbahnhof.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Hauptbahnhof

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