Berlin, September 18th, 2026 (The Berlin Spectator) – A fire at the Wittenbergplatz subway station has left three U-Bahn lines in Berlin disrupted, with full service not expected to return for more than a week.
According to Berlin’s transport authority BVG, the U1 line is not running at all. The U2 is interrupted between Bahnhof Zoo and Gleisdreieck. The U3 is out of service between Spichernstraße and Gleisdreieck. A replacement bus service has been set up for that stretch, and BVG says it will be adjusted and improved in the coming days. Passengers heading toward Kurfürstendamm can also switch to the U9 at Spichernstraße.
The Wittenbergplatz station itself is completely closed and cannot be served by any line at the moment. BVG is advising travelers to take a wide detour using other U-Bahn lines, such as the U7, or the S-Bahn.
BVG said on Thursday afternoon that the U3 is expected to resume service on the affected stretch between Spichernstraße and Gleisdreieck this morning. Crews will then turn their attention to the U2, though BVG cautioned that regular service on that line will remain suspended for some time. Under the current forecast, the U2 should be running again sometime next week. The disruption on the U1 is expected to last even longer.
The fire broke out during a period when the station was not in operation, in a switching room at Wittenbergplatz station. BVG attributed the blaze to a technical defect. Firefighters were able to extinguish it quickly, and police said no one was injured.
