© dpa
More staff at stations and more trains on the rails: Berlin's S-Bahn is expanding capacity for the European Football Championships.
"With more and longer trains during the European Championships, we will ensure that our guests from all over Europe can get to the Olympic Stadium and the fan festival at the Brandenburg Gate reliably by S-Bahn," announced S-Bahn boss Peter Buchner on Thursday. Six instead of two trains per 20 minutes will then run between the city centre and the Olympic Stadium, as ordered by the states of Berlin and Brandenburg.
Additional trains will also be used on the S1 between Gesundbrunnen and Schöneberg and on the S5 between Westkreuz and Mahlsdorf for late arrivals and departures. "During the entire tournament, trains in the city centre area will also run with longer trains in the evening and at weekends," it said. The railway is also planning to increase staffing levels at the stations, particularly at Berlin Central Station. A total of around 50 additional employees will be on hand to help fans and visitors find their way around the station.
A total of six matches will be played in Berlin during the European Championships, including the tournament final. The city has also set up a fan mile on Straße des 17. Juni, where the matches of the German national team in particular will be broadcast.