BVG Class F
BVG Class F are trains that run on the Berlin U-Bahn.
In West Berlin, the new F type followed the D and DL types. These trains were longer, built from light metal and had a different seating arrangement, with the two double seats at 90 degrees to the sides of the train. A test vehicle was built in 1973, it was scrapped in December 2006.
After the production ended, it was replaced by BVG Class H in 1993.
History
68 F74 trains were delivered from 1974 to 1978, mainly deployed to U9, and all the D60 trains were transferred to U6, mainly to replace the D57 trains which shifted to U8 to replace the final 45-year old train cars.
In 1980 37 F79 trains were introduced. They used the new three-phase electric power, which would be used on all future models as well. They were divided into three phases (F79.1, F79.2 and F79.3). The F79.3 has been sold to firefighting exercises at Jungfernheide since 2003, and the remainder were scrapped in 2004 - 2006.
Later the F84 and F87 followed, but there were no major changes to the basic design. Minor changes included newly designed fronts and plug-doors are used instead of sliding doors of the previous models
From 1990 on, the BVG bought more trains, which were called F90/F92, which also featured no major changes. Minor changes included improved automatic doors that closed more quietly.
Prior to 1990, most of the trains have their "U-Bahn" logo as a destination display on it, before they have a line number rolled out. Most of the trains do have a destination display equipped with a line number on it. The F74, F76 and F79 trains all ran on the U5, U8 and U9. For the F84, F87, F90 and F92, they all ran on the U6 and the U7.
On 8 August 2009, selected trains had been deployed to U55 until 1 March 2017. These include 2658/59, 2660/61, 2668/69 and 2674/75, which were unable to connect to the existing lines of the Berlin U-Bahn.
Fleet information
| Type | Numbers | Built | Withdrawn |
|---|---|---|---|
| F74 | 2500/2501–2554/2555 | 1974 | |
| F76 | 2556/2557–2636/2637 | 1976 | |
| F79.1 | 2638/2639–2670/2671 | 1977-78 | |
| F79.2 | 2672/2673–2710/2711 | 1978-79 | |
| F79.3 | 2712/2713–2722/2723 | 1980-81 | 2003-05 |
| F84 | 2724/2725–2800/2801 | 1984 | |
| F87 | 2802/2803–2842/2843 | 1986-88 | |
| F90 | 2844/2845–2902/2903 | 1990-91 | |
| F92 | 2904/2905–3012/3013 | 1992-94 |
Retirement
The earliest F trains are due for retirement by the 2020s. It could be replaced by BVG Class I vehicles.