The subway in Berlin often runs at frequent intervals, but sometimes there are problems. (Archive photo)
© dpa
Passengers on the Berlin subway will soon be able to find out more precisely when their train will arrive at the station.
Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) and MOXZ are testing a "globally innovative" radio technology in the subway network, according to a press release.
The aim of the pilot project is to locate underground trains in real time and with meter-level accuracy, even in tunnels. "This will make arrival displays on platforms more accurate – and the control center will be able to monitor operations down to the second," says BVG. The first tests on the U2 line have now begun. According to the BVG, subways and stations will be equipped with specially developed radio devices for the project. The system will make it possible to continuously determine where a train is located, how fast it is traveling, and how many seconds remain until it enters the next station.
"Smart innovations are a key component of stable and reliable operations," said Henrik Falk, CEO of BVG. "If we can successfully locate trains precisely at all times, even in tunnels, both our control centers and our passengers will benefit—through more up-to-date displays, better forecasts, and greater transparency in operations." On the platforms of Berlin's underground stations, there is a display that shows the minutes until the arrival of the next train and often also the train after that. The display is often helpful, but has not always been reliable up to now.