Our 485 series
As of 12.11.2023, our oldest model, the 485 series, is kept in reserve.
Rallying the past
Now it's final: the 485 series of our S-Bahn fleet will be taken out of service this year. S-Bahn fans should mark 12 November as the scheduled last day of service in their calendars. This is when the 485 will return to its long-time regular lines S8 and S47 for one more day.
For these so-called rallies ("Sternfahrt"), four trains of the 485 from all four directions will stand next to each other at Schöneweide station for two minutes almost simultaneously - once every hour at 09:57 - 09:59, 10:57 - 10:59; 11:57 - 11:59, 12:57 - 12:59 and 13:57 - 13:59 on tracks 3, 4, 5 and 6.
After five of these "rendezvous", the first farewell will take place: two trains will leave the S-Bahn network. The other two start their very last journey: As special trains, they travel in the opposite direction on the S41 and S42 Ringbahn lines, stopping from 14:41 - 14:43 for the penultimate "rendezvous" at Beusselstraße station (the so-called zero point of the Ringbahn due to a missing terminus) before ending their journey and deployment with a final stop in Schöneweide (arrival: 15:17 / 15:21, common stopping time: 2 minutes).
All interested parties are invited to join us. All trains stop at all intermediate stations. The trips are open to the public, no registration is necessary, and a valid VBB ticket entitles you to travel with us.
The easiest way is to use our electronic timetable information before you start your journey.
A child of the East
Looking back
Back in the early 1980s, today’s “vintage” S-Bahn model was absolutely state-of-the-art: our 485 series.
Following World War Two, S-Bahn production in Berlin had more or less ground to a halt. This only changed in 1979 when Deutsche Reichsbahn (the GDR’s state railway responsible for operating all S-Bahn lines in both East and West Berlin) started engineering a brand-new S-Bahn generation. It still took until early-1990 for the first batch of production vehicles to be delivered – 22 quarter trains of which are still in use today.
Why this series was renamed
Some Berliners might remember that the 485 series used to have a different name. Back in the GDR, these trains were known as the 270s series, but this was changed shortly after reunification.
The 485 series interior
An early pioneer of sustainability
The 485 series is characterised by a lightweight aluminium construction and an electrodynamic braking system designed to feed recovered brake energy back into the electric grid. These innovations helped to cut energy consumption by a third compared to pre-war models.
Why "Coke Can"?
What earned this series its “Coke Can” moniker? The answer is simple: its unique paintwork. For quite some time, these trains sported a red finish with an anthracite-coloured window strip. While the nickname remained, the colour scheme didn’t: starting in 2002, all carriages were repainted in the traditional claret and ochre S-Bahn colours.
Oldie, but goldie
Originally, the 485 was scheduled for gradual phasing out from the mid-2000s. To support the S-Bahn vehicle fleet, some of these deactivated trains were retrofitted in our Fleet Maintenance Depot in Schöneweide from 2010. The first retrofitted 485 carried passengers again on 4 March 2011. 22 quarter-length trains of this series are currently still in service.
However, since the trains can no longer be equipped with the new train control system (ZBS), their service will end this year: On 12 November 2023, the 485 will be used for the last time as scheduled, but will still be provided as a reserve until the timetable change on 10 December. Then, the 485 will be sent into its well-deserved retirement.
The 485 series exterior
Why some trains are called 885
A closer look reveals that some carriages are labelled ‘885’. This is the production series designator for unpowered side carriages that, together with a powered railcar with operator cab, make up a whole quarter train.
Historical photos of the 485 series
Technical specifications | |
---|---|
Specification: | powered carriage/side carriage |
Quantity: | 22 quarter trains, each consisting of a powered car and a side carriage |
Coupling length: | 36.200 mm |
Vehicle width: | 3.000mm |
Floor height: | 1.120 mm |
Seats (additional standing capacity): | 102 (202) |
Maximum speed: | 90 km/h |
Maximum acceleration: | 0,68 m/s² |
Bogie axle base distance: | 2.200 mm |
Performance: | 4 x120 kW = 480 kW |
Supply voltage: | 750 V DC |
Empty weight: | 60,0 t |