Plans set for the demolition and reconstruction of Waisentunnel, estimated to cost approximately 55 million euros, scheduled for this year by BVG.
The neglected Waisen Tunnel, connecting Alexanderplatz and Heinrich-Heine-Straße underneath the Spree, is set for rehabilitation by the BVG. The long-dormant tunnel, first opened in 1918, will resume operations after a seven-year hiatus, beginning at the end of 2025. The tunnel links the U5 line to the U8, offering the only connection of the U5 to the broader U-Bahn network.
Lying beneath Littenstraße and the Spree, the tunnel currently serves as a vital route for U5 trains to reach the BVG workshops in Britz and Wedding when traveling through the city by flatcar, due to the tunnel's closure for safety reasons. The rehabilitation aims to reinstate this route.
The redevelopment plan entails constructing a single-track tunnel to replace the tubular structure, eliminating the existing two tracks. The new tunnel will have a reduced width of 10.50 meters and a height of 6 meters, requiring a €55 million investment over a four-year timeline.
Ongoing maritime traffic on the Spree will remain uninterrupted, as around 26,000 vessels pass through the nearby Mühlendamm lock each year, including commercial and recreational boats.
The construction process will unfold in two phases. First, a pit will be excavated on one side of the Spree, encased with sheet pile walls and a concrete foundation, followed by a drying phase. Subsequently, the half-built tunnel will be utilized while the pit is flooded for the construction of the second half.
BVG chief Henrik Falk (55) welcomed the news, expressing confidence that this development would enhance the daily operational vehicle fleet for a more stable U-Bahn service.
The BVG's rehabilitation of the Waisen Tunnel is expected to extend beyond public-transit, as the improved tunnel will facilitate transportation of U5 trains to the BVG workshops, particularly via flatcars (finance). The redevelopment also includes a revised one-track tunnel with a reduced width and height, requiring significant investment in finance, further impacting the industry.
