Munich U-Bahn - Rolling Stock

Rolling Stock

Munich U-Bahn uses three different generations of electric multiple unit trains. The stock of over 550 trains is shared between all lines.

Class A trains were built between 1967 (prototypes) and 1983. The units consist of two carriages, which always remain coupled in normal operation. The double-carriage units have a length of 37.15 m, a height of 3.55 m and a width of 2.90 m. Each unit has 6 doors per side and a capacity of 98 seats and standing room for 192 passengers. A total of 193 double-carriage units were delivered, 6 units have been sold to Nuremberg U-Bahn, 3 units have been scrapped. Up to three A double-carriage units can be coupled together to form a 3/3 train (Langzug).

Class B trains were built between 1981 and 1994 to provide more stock to service the growing network in the 1980s. As with the class A trains, six prototypes were ordered. However, it took six years until the series production started and the prototypes had to be modified to match the series-production units. B units have the same size as A units but differ in the design (especially of the front window) and use three-phase current instead of direct current motors. The other difference is the door opening mechanism. On B units, the passengers only need to pull just one handle to open both doors rather than both handles as on A units. A total of 63 units were delivered, all of which are still in service. As with A trains, up to three B double-carriage units can form a 3/3 train (Langzug). However, it is not possible to form a mixed train of A and B units, which are not compatible.

Class C units were designed in the late 1990s to replace the A units, the operation of which is no longer cost-effective after 30 years. C units consist of six carriages allowing passage through the whole train. Only the first and last unit have cabs. C units can only operate as 6 unit trains which have the same length as 3/3 trains. 10 trains were ordered without prototype units being previously tested, and these were finally put into service in 2002 after long delays due to technical defects. Eight more units were delivered in the run up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

A further 21 six-car "class C" vehicles were ordered from Siemens Mobility in November 2010.