A New S-Bahn Line

Berlin is getting a new S-Bahn line, which in this city is roughly as sensational as "construction site discovered". But this time it is actually concrete: the S15 is due to start as a short gap-closer between Gesundbrunnen and Hauptbahnhof at the end of March 2026, as the first section of the long-planned north-south S-Bahn (project S21).

What is remarkable is not the length (short) but the back story (long). Years of waiting, postponements, technical and approval hurdles, as S-Bahn Berlin itself reported during earlier delays, and current media are picking up the new attempt.

What is remarkable is not the length (short) but the back story (long).

On the date, Berlin is doing what it does best: several truths at once. One report (from rail circles) says the start is 28 March 2026, another gives 30 March 2026. What is certain: things are meant to get going at the end of March 2026, initially on this short section only.

The punchline, of course: a new line that is extremely short to begin with is still treated like an infrastructure breakthrough. Perhaps because Berlin has learned to celebrate small completions the way other cities celebrate entire projects. And perhaps also because every new link between the Ring and Hauptbahnhof genuinely makes a difference in everyday life.

What to watch next

• Which date is finally confirmed (28 or 30 March, or "Berlin decides on the day").
• How reliably the service runs (the first weeks are often the reality check for new lines).
• Which next stages of the north-south link (S21) actually get dates.