U8 (Berlin U-Bahn)

Overview

The U-Bahn line U8 runs in a north–south direction from Wittenau in Reinickendorf via Rathaus Reinickendorf, Gesundbrunnen, Rosenthaler Platz and Alexanderplatz to Neukölln as far as Hermannstraße. It has 24 stations and a length of 18.0 km. The line was opened on 17 July 1927 as the GN-Bahn between Gesundbrunnen and Neukölln; its last extension took place on 13 July 1996 to Hermannstraße station. Until 1966 it bore the designation line D, and since 1984 the designation U8.

Operator

Operated by Berlin Transport Company (BVG).

History

The "GN-Bahn" (Gesundbrunnen–Neukölln) goes back to an AEG project of 1907 and, after interruptions caused by war and inflation, was completed between 17 July 1927 and 18 April 1930. After the construction of the Wall in 1961, the line passed through six closed "ghost stations" in East Berlin. In the 1970s to 1990s the line was extended several times (1977 Osloer Straße, 1987 Paracelsus-Bad, 1994 Wittenau) and reached its present endpoint Hermannstraße on 13 July 1996.

Stations

Stations in operating direction from north to south (Wittenau – Hermannstraße):

• Wittenau
• Rathaus Reinickendorf
• Karl-Bonhoeffer-Nervenklinik
• Lindauer Allee
• Paracelsus-Bad
• Residenzstraße
• Franz-Neumann-Platz
• Osloer Straße
• Pankstraße
• Gesundbrunnen
• Voltastraße
• Bernauer Straße
• Rosenthaler Platz
• Weinmeisterstraße
• Alexanderplatz
• Jannowitzbrücke
• Heinrich-Heine-Straße
• Moritzplatz
• Kottbusser Tor
• Schönleinstraße
• Hermannplatz
• Boddinstraße
• Leinestraße
• Hermannstraße