Munich U-Bahn facts for kids

Olympia-Einkaufszentrum

Sendlinger Tor platform U1/U2

Candidplatz U1

Feldmoching

The Munich U-Bahn is a cool underground train system in the city of Munich, Germany. It's like a giant underground railway network! The Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft, or MVG for short, runs it.

The U-Bahn has 6 main lines and covers a huge distance of 103.1 kilometers (about 64.1 miles). There are exactly 100 stations where you can get on and off. Only one line, the U6, goes outside the city limits into a town called Garching.

Exploring the U-Bahn Lines

U-Bahnnetz München 2008

The Munich U-Bahn currently has 7 different lines. Each line takes you to different parts of the city. Here's a quick look at where they go:

	The U1 line travels from Olympia-Einkaufszentrum to Mangfallplatz. It passes through important stops like Central Station and Sendlinger Tor.
	The U2 line connects Feldmoching to Messestadt Ost. It also stops at Central Station and Sendlinger Tor.
	The U3 line runs from Moosach to Fürstenried West. It goes through famous places like Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz.
	The U4 line is shorter, going from Westendstraße to Arabellapark. Key stops include Karlsplatz (Stachus) and Odeonsplatz.
	The U5 line travels from Laimer Platz to Neuperlach Süd. It also stops at Central Station and East Station.
	The U6 line is the longest, connecting Garching-Forschungszentrum to Klinikum Großhadern. It passes through Münchner Freiheit and Marienplatz.
	The U7 line runs between Westfriedhof and Neuperlach Zentrum. This line mostly operates during busy times.

The U-Bahn trains can go as fast as 80 kilometers per hour (about 50 mph). This makes them the fastest subway trains in Germany! Most of the U-Bahn is underground. However, parts of the U5 and U6 lines come above ground. The U5 surfaces only at its last station. The U6 goes above ground for its last six stations in the north.

Trains usually run every 10 minutes. During busy times, like rush hour, they come every 5 minutes. In the early morning and late evening, trains run every 20 minutes.

The U-Bahn lines are grouped into "line families." These families share tunnels in the city center. Each family has a special color, which you can see in the stations:

• U1 and U2 are red.
• U3 and U6 are blue.
• U4 and U5 are yellow.

Most U-Bahn stations have a platform in the middle. This means you can get off the train and walk to either side. A few stations have platforms on the sides instead. These include Olympia-Einkaufszentrum (U1) and Nordfriedhof (U6).

Some stations are super busy and have special layouts. For example, Innsbrucker Ring (U2/U5) and Scheidplatz (U2/U3) have four tracks and two platforms. This makes it easy to change trains. You just walk to the other side of the platform!

Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) (U1/U2) and Münchner Freiheit (U3/U6) also have four tracks. At Hauptbahnhof, there are even more tracks on a different level for the U4 and U5 lines. Some stations like Kolumbusplatz (U1/U2) have three platforms. Two platforms are for trains going into the city, and one is for trains leaving the city.

U1 Line: A Short History

The U1 line started running in 1980. Back then, it was part of a line called U8 (which is now the U2). Later, when a new section to Rotkreuzplatz opened, it became its own line.

Today, the U1 is 12.2 kilometers long. It travels between Olympia-Einkaufszentrum and Wettersteinplatz. It shares tracks with the U2 line between Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) and Kolumbusplatz.

U2 Line: The Long Journey

The U2 line also began in 1980 with the U1. It was first known as the U8. Now, it's 24.4 kilometers long. It runs from Feldmoching all the way to Messestadt Ost. Like the U1, it shares tracks between Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) and Kolumbusplatz.

U3 Line: Olympic Beginnings

The U3 line opened in 1972. This was just in time for the Olympic Games held in Munich!

This line is 21.0 kilometers long. It goes between Moosach and Fürstenried West. It shares tracks with the U6 line between Münchner Freiheit and Implerstraße.

U4 Line: The Shortest Route

The U4 line was first called U9. It opened at the same time as the U5. This line is the shortest in the whole U-Bahn network. It's only 9.3 kilometers long and has just 13 stations!

The U4 runs from Arabellapark to Westendstraße. In the evenings, it only operates between Lehel and Arabellapark.

U5 Line: Partner to U4

The U5 line opened alongside the U4. It is 15.4 kilometers long. This line connects Laimer Platz to Neuperlach Süd.

U6 Line: The Oldest and Longest

The U6 is the oldest and longest line in the U-Bahn system. The very first part of it was built in 1938. However, it officially opened in 1971. It is 27.4 kilometers long. The U6 operates between Garching-Forschungszentrum and Klinikum Großhadern.

U7 Line: Rush Hour Express

The U7 line is one of the newer additions, opening in 2011. It runs between Westfriedhof and Neuperlach Zentrum. This line is mainly used during rush hour, when lots of people are traveling.

U-Bahn Trains

The Munich U-Bahn uses three different types of trains. There are about 550 trains in total. Any of these trains can be used on any U-Bahn line.

How the U-Bahn Grew: A Timeline

The Munich U-Bahn has grown a lot over the years. Here are some key dates when new sections of the lines opened:

Recent U-Bahn Improvements

Fröttmaning

The U-Bahn system is always being improved! Here are some recent upgrades:

• Fröttmaning Station: Because of the new Allianz Arena (a big soccer stadium), the nearby U-Bahn station needed to be bigger. A new platform was built, and the old one was moved. Now, the station has four tracks! Construction started on 10 October 2002 and it opened on 4 May 2005.

Marienplatz Station Tunnel Extension

• Marienplatz Station: More people were using this station, especially with the new Allianz Arena. So, new walking tunnels were built, and the platforms were made wider. This project started on 27 May 2003 and finished on 29 May 2006.

• Garching Extension: This extension goes through the town of Garching. It connects the Campus Garching of Munich University of Technology and other research places to the U-Bahn. This was a big help for students and scientists! It started on 2 April 2001 and opened on 14 October 2006.

• Olympia-Einkaufszentrum Extension: This extension goes past the Olympiapark. It reaches the Olympia-Einkaufszentrum, which is also where the U1 line ends. This section opened on 28 October 2007.

Images for kids

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  Train at Dietlindenstraße

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  Munich U-Bahn Police after a football game

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  Georg-Brauchle-Ring station (U1)

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  Candidplatz U1

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  Dülferstraße

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  Munich underground construction near Siegestor, 1967.

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  Oberwiesenfeld platform.

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  Theresienwiese

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  Neuperlach Zentrum

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  Fröttmaning

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  Garching

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  Großhadern

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  U7 departing from Westfriedhof station

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  U8 train in Silberhornstraße

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  Interior of Class A train

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  Class C1 train at Garching-Hochbrück

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  Interior of Class C1 train

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  Class C2 train

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  New pedestrian tunnel at Marienplatz station

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  Renovated Karlsplatz (Stachus) mezzanine level

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  Renovated Münchner Freiheit station platforms

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  New covering roof at Münchner Freiheit

See also

In Spanish: Metro de Múnich para niños