The Class G is an

electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number o ...

train type used on the

Berlin U-Bahn The Berlin U-Bahn (; short for , "underground railway") is a rapid transit system in Berlin, the capital and largest city of Germany, and a major part of the city's public transport system. Together with the Berlin S-Bahn, S-Bahn, a network of ...

. The trains were originally developed for the of

East Berlin East Berlin (; ) was the partially recognised capital city, capital of East Germany (GDR) from 1949 to 1990. From 1945, it was the Allied occupation zones in Germany, Soviet occupation sector of Berlin. The American, British, and French se ...

Specifications

Formation

Each set consists of two cars, only one of which has a driving cab. Thus, the smallest operable formation is a four-car train. Up to four two-car sets can be operated together. File:Fahrerstand von Gisela.jpg, Driver's cab of a GI/1E train, April 2016 File:GI, Wagenende ohne Führerstand.jpg, Rear without driver's cab, March 1980

Electric systems

The trains are powered by one self-ventilated motor per bogie. Both axles are powered by two hollow-shaft gears.

Interior

The interior features longitudinal seats. File:GI, Fahrgastraum.jpg, Interior, March 1980 File:U-Bahn Berlin Baureihe GI 1984.jpg, Interior, 1984 File:Innenraum U-Bahn-Baureihe GI-1E auf der Innotrans 2016.jpg, Refurbished interior, September 2016

History

Twelve sets were lent to the

Athens Metro The Athens Metro () is a rapid transit system serving the Athens urban area in Greece. Line 1 opened as a single-track conventional steam railway in 1869 and was electrified in 1904. Beginning in 1991, Elliniko Metro S.A. constructed and ext ...

between 1983 and 1985. Class GI trains replaced all Class A1 and A2 trains by 5 November 1989. In 1997, 60 sets were sold to the

Pyongyang Metro The Pyongyang Metro () is the rapid transit system in Pyongyang, the capital and largest city of North Korea. It consists of two lines: the Chollima Line, which runs north from Puhŭng Station on the banks of the Taedong River to Pulgŭnbyŏl ...

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

.The train received new features over the years. The automatic next station announcements that first appeared on the BVG Class H trains were implemented in the BVG Class G trains in the early 2000s. A twin LCD advisement displays were also added and since the 2010s, the left screen shows next station information. The GI/1 trains were refurbished into GI/1E trains between 2005 and 2007 giving the outside unibody a full paint livery of yellow. The refurbished interior received yellow polls, new seats and the door handles to open the doors were removed and replaced with a button. The interior of the doors was also repainted gray replacing the oak brown color. File:Triebwagen 135 886 BVB.jpg, New GI train at the ''Leipziger Frühjahrsmesse'' in March 1982 File:19911227p GI Wuhletal.jpg, Different livery variations, BVB (left) and BVG (right), in December 1991

Replacement

The Class G trains are to be replaced by the Class JK trains starting in 2025.

Korean State Railway 500 series

After the GI class was withdrawn from use on the

, they were converted by the

Kim Chong-t'ae Electric Locomotive Works The Kim Chong-t'ae Electric Locomotive Works () in P'yŏngyang is North Korea's largest manufacturer of railway equipment. Established in November 1945 in Sŏsŏng-guyŏk, P'yŏngyang near the P'yŏngyang Railway University and the Korean State ...

to operate as EMUs on the national railway lines of the

Korean State Railway The Korean State Railway is the operating arm of the Ministry of Railways of North Korea (), commonly called the State Rail () and has its headquarters at Pyongyang, P'yŏngyang. The current Minister of Railways is Chang Jun-song. History 19 ...

, which numbered them in the 500 series. They are frequently seen in the northern part of

, running along the

Hambuk Line The Hambuk Line is an electrified standard-gauge trunk line of the Korean State Railway in North Korea, running from Ch'ŏngjin on the P'yŏngra Line to Rajin, likewise on the P'yŏngra line.Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no ...

, the

Pukpu Line The Pukbunaeryuk Line, also called the Hyesan–Manp'o Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line after the only completed stage of three planned stages, is an electrified standard-gauge secondary trunk line of the Korean State Railway in Chagang and Ryanggang Provinces ...

, and the

Manpo Line The Manp'o Line is an electrified standard-gauge trunk line of the North Korean State Railway running from Sunch'ŏn on the P'yŏngra Line to Manp'o on the Pukpu Line. The line continues on from Manp'o to Ji'an, China.Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍� ...

; they are occasionally seen running as mixed trains pulling regular railway freight cars.

References

External links

* {{DPRKloco Berlin U-Bahn Train-related introductions in 1975 Electric multiple units of Germany Locomotives of North Korea 750 V DC multiple units