Public Transport of the Future: The Second S-Bahn Main Line in Munich

1 Longitudinal section of the 2nd S-Bahn main line Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG
1 Longitudinal section of the 2nd S-Bahn main line
Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG
2 Route of the 1st main line (green) and the new 2nd main line (red) with tunnel sections (dashed) as well as the three new stations and two stations to be converted (red) Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG
2 Route of the 1st main line (green) and the new 2nd main line (red) with tunnel sections (dashed) as well as the three new stations and two stations to be converted (red)
Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG
3 The two tunnels will be excavated separately from each other using hydro-shield tunnelling and the new rescue concept will be implemented with the central third tube Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG/Fritz Stoiber Productions
3 The two tunnels will be excavated separately from each other using hydro-shield tunnelling and the new rescue concept will be implemented with the central third tube
Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG/Fritz Stoiber Productions
4 Visualisation of the integrated overall solution of the main station with preparatory structure U9, 2nd main line and new construction of the entrance building Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG/Fritz Stoiber Productions
4 Visualisation of the integrated overall solution of the main station with preparatory structure U9, 2nd main line and new construction of the entrance building
Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG/Fritz Stoiber Productions
5 Work at the main station is carried out without interrupting services Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG/panTerra
5 Work at the main station is carried out without interrupting services
Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG/panTerra
6 Access structure of Marienhof station with central rescue tunnel, the 60 m long platform tubes on the west and east side and the mezzanine level with cube in the middle of the structure Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG/Fritz Stoiber Productions
6 Access structure of Marienhof station with central rescue tunnel, the 60 m long platform tubes on the west and east side and the mezzanine level with cube in the middle of the structure
Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG/Fritz Stoiber Productions
7 Diaphragm wall cutter (rear left) and grab during the production of the 110 slabs, each 3.20 m long and 1.50 m thick Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG/Jürgen Stresius
7 Diaphragm wall cutter (rear left) and grab during the production of the 110 slabs, each 3.20 m long and 1.50 m thick
Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG/Jürgen Stresius
8 Excavation work on Munich‘s Marienhof is in full swing: the approx. 320 m long diaphragm wall around the excavation pit, the 50 to 68 m deep primary supports, the 1.20 m thick concrete deck slab  and the first level under the deck slab have already been constructed Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG/Jürgen Stresius
8 Excavation work on Munich‘s Marienhof is in full swing: the approx. 320 m long diaphragm wall around the excavation pit, the 50 to 68 m deep primary supports, the 1.20 m thick concrete deck slab  and the first level under the deck slab have already been constructed
Credit/Quelle: DB Netz AG/Jürgen Stresius

With around 840 000 passengers per day, the Munich S-Bahn is one of the largest public transport systems in Germany. Originally opened in 1972 for the Olympic Games, the 11.3 km long main line has reached its capacity limit, as all S-Bahn trains have to pass under the Munich city centre through a tunnel. A solution is now being provided by the construction of the approximately 10 km long 2nd main line. It is intended to relieve the existing line, serve as a fallback option in case of disruptions and, above all, significantly shorten the travel time from west to east by introducing a new express S-Bahn system. Similar to the existing main line, the core of the new connection is a 7 km long tunnel that starts in the west of Munich in front of the bridge Donnersbergerbrücke, passes through new or rebuilt stations at the main station, Marienhof and Ostbahnhof and is reunited with the main line at Leuchtenbergring.

In the Munich metropolitan region with about 6 million people, the west-east connection via the S-Bahn main line, designed for 250 000 daily users, has long been congested and is the bottleneck in public transport that everyone has to pass. The remedy is to be a second, parallel line with in part newly built stations, the implementation of which is a technical and logistical challenge. The 2nd main line is a project of the Federal State of Bavaria, which is being implemented by the German railway company Deutsche Bahn together with the state capital Munich.

1 Project Overview

The 7 km long...

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Ressort:  Projektbericht | Project Report
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Dipl.-Ing. Roland Herr, International Freelance Journalist/Internationaler Freier Journalist, Wetzlar, Germany/Deutschland

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