[Lear]

After 14 years of complicated and costly construction work, Berlin opens a new subway line at this weekend.

Chancellor's Subway Line Opens in Berlin (http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,641209,00.html)

Picture gallery of the Metro line (http://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article1018426/Berlins_neue_U_Bahn.html?slideshowpage=8)

http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/42569/2962561420102410569S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2962561420102410569AbSeyS)
http://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article1146956/Kanzler_U_Bahn_ist_frei_fuer_alle_Berliner.html

The short 3 station encompassing Metro line (1800 meters length) connects some of the most important buildings in Berlin. It is the reason why the design of the 3 stations can be considered outstanding even noble.

It connects the Hauptbahnhof Berlin, the city´s central station and largest rail crossing station in Europe...

http://www.pointoo.de/iu/p/625/734/O-Hauptbahnhof-Berlin.jpg
Bilder zu Hauptbahnhof Berlin in Berlin (http://www.pointoo.de/Galerie/Berlin/Hauptbahnhof-Berlin-279189/)

with the Government district of Germany....

Federal Chancellory (White House of Germany)
http://www.berlin.citysam.de/fotos-berlin/berlin/regierungsviertel/kanzleramt-21.jpg
http://www.berlin.citysam.de/fotos-berlin/kanzleramt-21.htm

and finally stops at the Brandenburg Gate.
http://www.berlin.de/imperia/md/images/stadttouren/n_01_brandenburger_tor.jpg
© Berlin Partner GmbH / Scholvien (http://www.berlin.de/stadttouren/360/pariser_platz/index.en.php?detail=a)

[alps]

The stations have such a clean, modern, and elegant design - looks very fitting for such a district.

[waterloowarrior]

That's pretty cool... when I went to Berlin last year I walked that route and thought it would be a convenient connection (at least as a tourist)

here's a map from wikipedia showing what looks to be the eventual full route connecting with U-5
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Karte_berlin_u_u5.jpg/800px-Karte_berlin_u_u5.jpg

[OhioGuy]

Always good to see new rail routes/stations opening. :tup:

[hackunion]

I just wish they started with the connection to Tegel.

[MolsonExport]

Can't wait to visit Berlin someday soon to check it out personally.

[urbanfan89]

What took so much time and money? Did they perform the tunnelling with spoons, or do they have a secret military institution?

[ChunkyMonkey]

Berlin had a great transportation system. Hauptbahnhof was quite impressive though the area it is in seems very suburban to me, with large open spaces and lack of any density.

[waterloowarrior]

I just wish they started with the connection to Tegel.

Tegel is going to close within a few years as they are currently expanding Schoenefeld (Tempelhof closed last year)... Schoenefeld will become Berlin-Brandenberg International http://www.berlin-airport.de/EN/BBI/index.html

there is a pretty sweet 360 webcam of the construction of the new airport that updates every hour
http://www.berlin-airport.de/EN/BBI/ArminUndDieBaustelle/meinewebcam.html