Munich’s second core S-Bahn route
The Munich S-Bahn is a mainstay of public transport in the Bavarian capital. With around 840,000 passengers a day and more than 20 million kilometers traveled per year, it is one of the largest rapid transit systems in Germany. The first core route, which opened in 1972 in time for the Olympic Games, has now reached its capacity limits. All S-Bahn lines that travel through the center of the city have to pass through a single tunnel. This tunnel has become a critical bottleneck.
To solve this problem, a second S-Bahn core route is currently being built over the 11 kilometers separating Laim station in the west and Leuchtenbergring station in the east. This new route is intended to relieve some of the pressure on the existing core route and offer an alternative when operations are disrupted. It will also be part of a new express S-Bahn system, which will ensure more frequent service and faster connections. The additional capacity will help to accommodate the growing number of passengers and better connect the entire metropolitan region to Munich’s city center.
Furthermore, the middle section of Munich’s second core route is a seven kilometer tunnel that connects Munich Central and Munich East. This tunnel begins west of Donnersbergerbrücke station and ends east of Munich East.
In addition to the existing Laim and Leuchtenbergring transfer stations, which will be rebuilt during regular operations, three new underground stations will be built. The new stations will be found at Munich Central, Marienhof and Munich East and are intended to relieve much of the pressure on the existing tunnel and create new transfer options.
Munich’s second core route project includes another important construction project: a new underpass at Laim station. This underpass will provide a north-south connection for local public transport as well as for walking and cycling. Pedestrians, cyclists, public service vehicles and, in future, trams will be able to pass under the tracks. In order to build the underpass underneath the tracks at Laim station, provisional bridges were first installed to support the tracks and all rail traffic. Moreover, the bridges will gradually be replaced by a prestressed concrete superstructure, the so-called cover of the future underpass.
Four out of five covers have already been successfully installed despite a number of challenges. Work was carried out on the noise barriers and overhead lines at the same time. This construction method ensures that rail service does not have to be interrupted while the underpass is being built and that the new structure is seamlessly integrated into the existing rail network.
Once the second core route is completed, the Munich S-Bahn network will become considerably more efficient and fit for growing demand in the future.
Project data
- Munich’s second core route (S-Bahn), electrical power systems (Bavaria)
- Construction of a second electrified S-Bahn line between Laim and Leuchtenbergring S-Bahn stations
- Redesign and new construction of S-Bahn facilities at Laim station and Munich East
- Construction of new underground stations at Munich Central, Marienhof and Munich East
- Redesign of the above-ground stations at Laim and Leuchtenbergring
- S-Bahn
- Length of route: 10.10 km
- Electrified
- Design speed: 80 km/h
- Number of lines: 12
- Number of tracks: 2
- Tunnel length: 7 km
- Number of stops: 5
- Tunnel
- Number of tubes: 3
- Type: tunneling
- Project type: new-build
- Underground cable installation
Scope of services
- Design in subsequent HOAI phases 3 and 6: preliminary design and tender preparation for:
- Underground cable installation
- Switch heaters
- Power supply
- Overall grounding concept
- Coordination of design of underground cable installation
- Construction implementation requests
- Construction supervision
- Environmental construction supervision, conservation
- Environmental construction supervision, water pollution control
- Environmental construction supervision, soil protection
