Bus transport is the oldest public transport service in Berlin, the capital city of Germany, having been introduced in 1846. Since 1929, services have been operated by the Berlin Transport Company (German: Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe, BVG), although during the Cold War-era division of the city they operated in West Berlin only. In East Berlin the public transport agency split off from the BVG and rebranded as BVB, operating the buses in the Soviet sector of Berlin.
Currently, the BVG's fleet consists of 1,550 vehicles, which cover 300,000 kilometres per day.
As have many transit operators around the world, the BVG has set a goal to have their entire fleet running without emissions until 2030. For this reason the number of battery electric buses in Berlin is steadily rising.
History 30 October 1846 saw the first bus services from the Concessionierte Berliner Omnibus-Compagnie. In 1868, a new company was created, the ABOAG (Allgemeine Berliner Omnibus Aktien Gesellschaft). Some busses were horse-drawn as of approximately 1906. The last Berlin horse omnibus ran on 25 August 1923, though some horse omnibuses remain in use today for sightseeing tours.
Horse-drawn omnibuses The public transport system of Berlin is the oldest one in Germany. In 1825, the first horse-drawn omnibus line from Brandenburger Tor to Charlottenburg was opened by Simon Kremser, already with a timetable.Textagentur-Grimm.de: Simon Kremser The first omnibus service inside the city operated from 1840 between Alexanderplatz and Potsdamer Bahnhof. It was run by Israel Moses Henoch, who had run the cab service since 1815.Elfi Bendikat: (Walter de Gruyter), Seite 103http://www.ceciliengaerten-berlin.de/web/zeitrahmen/1800_1899.html Cecilengarten Berlin: Zeitrahmen On 1 January 1847, the Koncessionierte Berliner Omnibus Compagnie (Concessionary Berlin Bus Company) started its first omnibus line. The growing market witnessed the launch of numerous additional companies, with 36 bus companies in Berlin by 1864. The noted author Robert Walser, who lived in Berlin around 1906, published a prose piece about a Berlin horse-drawn omnibus titled "Full."
1929 and later On 1 January 1929 merged with other Berlin public transport companies to create the BVG.
Massive Allied bombing of the city during World War II left only 37 busses operating at the end of the war.
After the opening of the Berlin Wall, the transport companies were no longer able to cope with the traffic, and so once again, solo buses by other transport companies and 100 hired coaches were used. The three-digit numbering system was unified and implemented on 2 June 1991, just before the reunification of BVG on 1 January 1992.
Routes Normal buses Normal bus routes () make up most of the network and consist of around 120 lines, numbered from 100 to 399. The most famous line is the 100, which serves the tourist route from Alexanderplatz to the Zoological Garden, passing many of Berlin's sights. The suburban buses, operating outside Berlin and not managed by BVG, are included in the tariff area of Berlin public transport.
Each bus line has a three-digit number. The second digit indicates the borough in which the line runs:
0 = across more than one or two boroughs 1 = for the former boroughs of Wilmersdorf and Zehlendorf 2 = for the district of Reinickendorf 3 = for the district of Spandau 4 = for the districts of Mitte and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg 5 = for the district of Pankow and the former one of Hohenschönhausen 6 = for the district of Treptow-Köpenick 7 = for the districts of Tempelhof-Schöneberg and Neukölln 8 = for the former district of Steglitz 9 = for the district of Marzahn-Hellersdorf and the former one of Lichtenberg These bus routes are:
100: S+U Zoologischer Garten ↔ S+U Alexanderplatz 101: U Turmstraße ↔ Zehlendorf, Sachtlebenstraße 106: U Seestraße ↔ Schöneberg, Lindenhof 107: Niederschönhausen, Grabbeallee/Pastor-Niemöller-Platz ↔ Arkenberge 108: S+U Lichtenberg ↔ Waldesruh, Mahlsdorfer Allee 109: Tegel, Urban Tech Republic ↔ U Jakob-Kaiser-Platz 110: S+U Zoologischer Garten ↔ U Oskar-Helene-Heim 112: S Nikolassee ↔ Marienfelde, Nahmitzer Damm 114: S Wannsee → Zum Heckeshorn → S Wannsee 115: Nikolassee, Lissabonallee ↔ U Fehrbelliner Platz 118: Rathaus Zehlendorf ↔ Potsdam-Drewitz, Stern-Center 120: Märkisches Viertel, Wilhelmsruher Damm ↔ Hauptbahnhof 122: U Kurt-Schumacher-Platz ↔ Waidmannslust, Titiseestraße 123: S+U Hauptbahnhof ↔ Saatwinkler Damm/Mäckeritzwiesen 124: Französisch Buchholz, Aubertstraße ↔ Alt-Heiligensee 125: U Osloer Straße ↔ Frohnau 128: U Kurt-Schumacher-Platz ↔ U Osloer Straße 130: U Ruhleben ↔ Spandau, Westerwaldstraße 131: U Ruhleben ↔ Spandau, Im Spektefeld/Schulzentrum 133: Alt-Heiligensee ↔ U Haselhorst 134: Wasserwerk Spandau ↔ Kladow, Hottengrund 135: S+U Rathaus Spandau ↔ Alt-Kladow 136: S+U Rathaus Spandau ↔ Hakenfelde 137: Spandau, Goldkäferweg ↔ Staaken 139: Hakenfelde, Werderstraße ↔ Charlottenburg, Schlosspark-Klink 140: S+U Tempelhof ↔ S Ostbahnhof 142: U Leopoldplatz ↔ S Ostbahnhof 143: Neu-Westend, Brixplatz ↔ Schöneberg, Planetarium 147: S Ostbahnhof ↔ U Leopoldplatz 150: U Osloer Straße ↔ Karow-Nord, Hofzeichendamm 154: Französisch Buchholz, Aubertstraße ↔ Alt-Blankenburg / U Elsterwerdaer Platz 155: S+U Pankow ↔ Wilhelmsruh, Fontanestraße 156: S Storkower Straße ↔ Weißensee, Piesporter Straße 158: Prenzlauer Berg, Michelangelostraße ↔ S Buch 160: Schöneweide, Hasselwerderstraße ↔ Altglienicke, Siriusstraße 161: Schöneiche, Dorfaue ↔ S Erkner/ZOB 162: Schloßplatz Köpenick ↔ U Rudow 163: S Schöneweide ↔ S Schönefeld 164: S Köpenick ↔ S Schönefeld 165: U Märkisches Museum ↔ Köpenick, Müggelschlößchenweg 166: S Schöneweide ↔ U Boddinstraße 168: Alt-Schmöckwitz ↔ Rauchfangwerder, Moßkopfring 169: U Elsterwerdaer Platz ↔ Alt-Müggelheim 170: S Rathaus Steglitz ↔ Baumschulenstraße/Fähre 171: U Hermannplatz ↔ S Schönefeld 172: U Rudow ↔ S Lichtenrade 175: S Lichtenrade → Lichtenrade, Nahariyastraße → S Lichtenrade 179: U Alt-Mariendorf ↔ Buckow, Gerlinger Straße 181: Britz, Kielingerstraße ↔ U Alt-Mariendorf 184: S Südkreuz ↔ Teltow 186: S Grunewald ↔ S Lichterfelde Süd
263: S Grünau ↔ Flughafen BER
324: Alt-Heiligensee ↔ Konradshöhe, Falkenplatz 326: S Hermsdorf → Veltheimstraße/Schildower Straße → S Hermsdorf 327: U Leopoldplatz ↔ S Schönholz 334: Hohengatow, Waldschluchtpfad ↔ Alt-Gatow ↔ Gatow, Habichtswald 337: Falkenseer Chaussee/Zeppelinstraße ↔ S+U Rathaus Spandau 338: Heerstraße/Wilhelmstraße - Seeburg 347: S Ostbahnhof ↔ Stralau, Tunnelstraße 349: S Grunewald → U Theodor-Heuss-Platz → S Grunewald 350: Alt-Karow ↔ Karow-Nord 353: Buch, Pölnitzweg ↔ Campus Buch 358: S Blankenburg → Gernoder Straße → Treseburger Straße → S Blankenburg → Freischützstraße → S Blankenburg 363: S Grünau ↔ Krankenhaus Hedwigshöhe 365: S Baumschulenweg → Wilhelminenhof/Edisonstraße → S Baumschulenweg 369: Müggelheim Dorf ↔ Gosen, Eiche 371: U Rudow → Liselotte-Berger-Platz → U Rudow 372: U Rudow → Ostburger Weg/Lettberger Straße → U Rudow 377: S Plänterwald ↔ S+U Hermannstraße 380: S+U Rathaus Steglitz ↔ Lichterfelde, Saaleckplatz 390: S Ahrensfelde → Eiche, Dorf → Eiche, Kaufpark Mehrow, Kirche → S Ahrensfelde 395: S Mahlsdorf → U Hönow → S Mahlsdorf 396: S Nöldnerplatz ↔ S Karlshorst 398: S Mahlsdorf ↔ U Elsterwerdaer Platz 399: S Kaulsdorf → Kaulsdorf, Grottkauer Straße → S Kaulsdorf 620: Wannsee - Teltow Stadt 622: Krumme Lanke - Stahnsdorf 623: Oskar-Helene-Heim - Stahnsdorf 638: Rathaus Spandau - Potsdam Jungfernsee 671: Rathaus Spandau - Nauen 694: Potsdam-Hermannswerder - Potsdam-Drewitz 697: Kladow - Potsdam-Bornstedt 710: Buckower Chaussee - Ludwigsfelde, Birkengrund 711: Buckower Chaussee - Großbeeren 733: Wernsdorf - Zeuthen 743: Lichtenrade - Selchow 744: Gropiusstadt - Schönefeld 806: Zühlsdorf - Hermsdorf 809: Hennigsdorf - Hermsdorf 893: Zepernick - Klinikum Buch - Hohenschönhausen 941: Hönow - Digitalstraße 943: Hoppegarten - Digitalstraße
MetroBus As for the MetroTram lines, there are 19 MetroBus () lines, each running at least every 10 minutes with a 24-hour service. Unlike the other bus lines, they were shown on many tramway maps and on some railway maps of the city, in their early existence.
The MetroBus routes are: M11: U Dahlem-Dorf ↔ S Schöneweide M19: S Grunewald ↔ U Mehringdamm M21: Rosenthal Nord ↔ U Jungfernheide M27: S+U Pankow ↔ S+U Jungfernheide M29: Grunewald, Roseneck ↔ U Hermannplatz M32: S+U Rathaus Spandau ↔ Dallgow-Döberitz, Havelpark or Staaken, Heidebergplan M36: Wilhelmstadt, Am Omnibushof ↔ U Haselhorst M37: Spandau, Waldkrankenhaus ↔ Staaken, Hahneberg M41: (Baumschulenweg) Sonnenallee/Baumschulenstraße ↔ S+U Hauptbahnhof M43: Stralau. Tunnelstraße ↔ U Berliner Straße M44: Buckow-Süd, Stuthirtenweg ↔ S+U Hermannstraße M45: Spandau, Johannesstift ↔ S+U Zoologischer Garten M46: S+U Zoologischer Garten ↔ U Britz-Süd M48: Zehlendorf, Bussealle ↔ U Mohrenstraße M49: (Staaken) Heerstraße/Nennhauser Damm ↔ S+U Zoologischer Garten M76: U Walter-Schreiber-Platz ↔ S Lichtenrade M77: Marienfelde, Waldsassener Straße ↔ U Alt-Mariendorf M82: Marienfelde, Waldsassener Straße ↔ S+U Rathaus Steglitz M85: S Lichterfelde Süd ↔ S+U Hauptbahnhof
Express bus The express buses () are 13 rapid lines, mainly used to reach the airports or linking the suburbs to the city centre, with far fewer stops. The most famous route is the former TXL bus line (Tegel Airport – Alexanderplatz), which ceased service after the closure of Tegel Airport.
The ExpressBus routes are: X7: Flughafen BER – Terminal 1-2 ↔ U Rudow X10: S+U Zoologischer Garten ↔ Teltow, Rammrath-Brücke X11: U Krumme Lanke ↔ S Schöneweide X21: Märkisches Viertel, Quickborner Straße ↔ U Jakob-Kaiser-Platz X33: Märkisches Viertel, Wilhelmsruher Damm ↔ S+U Rathaus Spandau X34: Kladow, Kaserne Hottengrund or Kladow, Gutsstraße ↔ S+U Zoologischer Garten X37: Falkensee Station ↔ U Ruhleben X49: Staaken, Hahneberg or Im Spektefeld ↔ U Wilmersdorfer Straße/S Charlottenburg X54: S+U Pankow ↔ U Hellersdorf X69: Marzahn, Köthener Straße ↔ Köpenick, Müggelschlößchenweg X71: U Alt-Mariendorf ↔ Flughafen BER – Terminal 1-2 X76: U Walter-Schreiber-Platz ↔ Lichtenrade, Nahariyastraße X83: (Dahlem) Königin-Luise-Straße/Clayallee ↔ Lichtenrade, Nahariyastraße
Night buses The night buses (N) consist of 40 lines and another nine lines to substitute (from N1 to N9) the U-Bahn (except at weekends). The N7X bus line is an express line, only serving stations with higher demand on its journey. The line can also only be taken in one direction towards the airport. The other lines serve suburban neighbourhoods not served by any public service running in daytime.
The aforementioned U-Bahn substitution night bus lines are:
N1: Warschauer Straße ↔ Zoologischer Garten N2: Pankow ↔ Ruhleben N3: Wittenbergplatz ↔ Mexikoplatz N5: Hauptbahnhof ↔ Hönow N6: Alt-Tegel ↔ Alt-Mariendorf N7: Rathaus Spandau ↔ Flughafen BER N7X: Zoologischer Garten → Flughafen BER N8: Märkisches-Viertel ↔ Hermannstraße N9: Osloer Straße ↔ Rathaus Steglitz Others do include:
N10: Zoologischer Garten ↔ Zehlensdorf N12: Zehlendorf Eiche ↔ Stahnsdorf (Loop) N16: Nikolasee ↔ Potsdam Hauptbahnhof N17: Potsdam-Bornim, Institut für Agrartechnik ↔ Potsdam Am Stern, Johannes-Kepler-Platz N18: Zehlendorf Eiche ↔ S Nikolassee N20: Frohnau, Hainbuchenstraße ↔ S+U Hauptbahnhof N22: Tegelort ↔ Alt-Lübars N23: Saatwinkler Damm/Mäckeritzwiesen ↔ U Rohrdamm N24: Märkisches Viertel, Wilhelmsruher Damm ↔ S Heiligensee N25: S Tegel ↔ Hermsdorfer Damm/Berliner Straße N26: U Seestraße ↔ S+U Zoologischer Garten N30: S+U Rathaus Spandau ↔ Spandau, Westerwaldstraße N33: U Alt-Tegel ↔ U Haselhorst N34: S+U Rathaus Spandau ↔ Kladow, Gutsstraße N35: Alt-Kladow → Kladow, Hottengrund → Alt-Kladow N39: U Rohrdamm ↔ Hakenfelde, Aalemannufer