BVG Class G

Class G are a type of electric multiple unit trains used on the Berlin U-Bahn.

Class GI/1E in Hennigsdorf
A Class GI trainset at Manp'o, North Korea
A Class GI trainset pulling a mixed train in North Korea.

While in West Berlin newer and newer vehicles were built and used, in East Berlin the pre-war A-I and A-II trains were still running. Only the Line E (currently U5) had trains converted from the former Berlin S-Bahn vehicles. The problem with the procurement of the vehicles is that they need a modified design for the smaller profile vehicle, as it has to differentiate the normal shoes, that is why transport companies were reluctant to commission them. In 1974, the LEW "Hans Beimler" had commissioned four prototypes of the new G double multiple unit, called Gustav in popular parlance.

As before, the seats were located alongside the train walls. The top speed was 70 km/h. The smallest unit of these trains were half trains made up of two double multiple units. After intensive testing the LEW Hennigsdorf factory began manufacturing the trains. The production models had lower side windows and a changed front, but were technically the same. 114 cars were built until 1982. There were 24 more, but those were delivered to Greece for a railway line there. They were returned to Berlin in 1984/85.

In 1987 a new batch of GI-trains was delivered, but with technical changes that made coupling them with the older cars impossible. Because of these changes the new trains were called GI/1. Their popular nickname was Gisela. A speciality of these cars was the fact that they had only two doors per side, unlike the other Kleinprofil trains, which had three. Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the last trains were delivered on October 1989. It replaced all the BVG Class A trains by 5 November 1989.

Most of the trains were deployed to the former eastern part of U2, before reusing it on U1 (Schlesches Tor - Ruhleben) for the increasing night service in December 1990, before deploying it on U12 and U15 after the U2 was reconnected in 1993. As of today, this trains are deployed on U1 and U2. Those trains are not deployed on U3 and U4 unless it is for emergency use. Trains were renumbered to use 2xx - 4xx numbers in 1992.

All the older G stock were sold to Pyongyang (GI), the G cars went for scrap in 1997, and all the GI/1 trains were refurbished into GI/1E from 2005 to 2007 in order to extend its lifespan.

Fleet information

Type Class Year Athens BVB BVG
G1974135 750–135 756
135 751–135 757
499–493
498–492
GI1978135 758–135 772
135 759–135 773
491–477
490–476
1979135 774–135 778
135 775–135 779
475–471
474–470
1979135 782–135 794
135 783–135 795
469–457
468–456
1980135 796–135 832
135 797–135 833
455–419
454–418
1980135 836
135 837
417
416
1981135 838–135 852
135 839–135 853
415–401
414–400
1982135 854–135 856
135 855–135 857
399–397
398–396
1983135 858–135 862
135 859–135 863
395–391
394–390
GII1983102
202
135 866
135 867
389
388
1983104–107
204–207
135 870–135 876
135 871–135 877
387–381
386–380
1983108
201
135 878
135 879
379
378
1983109–112
209–212
135 880–135 886
135 881–135 887
377–371
376–370
GI/11987135 896–135 898
135 897–135 899
369–367
368–366
1988135 900–135 938
135 901–135 939
365–327
364–326
1989135 940–135 998
135 941–135 999
325–267
324–266

Korean State Railway 500 series

A Class GI trainset pulling a mixed train at Sambong on the Hambuk Line, North Korea.

After the GI class were withdrawn from use on the Pyongyang Metro, they were converted by the Kim Chong-t'ae Electric Locomotive Works to operate as EMUs on the national railway lines of the Korean State Railway, which numbered them in the 500 series. They are frequently seen in the northern part of North Korea, running along the Hambuk Line, the Pukpu Line and the Manpo Line; they are occasionally seen running as mixed trains pulling regular railway freight cars.

References

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