MÜNCHENER Verkehrsbetriebe has unveiled details of the revision to U-Bahn services which will come into effect with the opening of a 7·7 km branch to the new trade fair at Riem on May 30 1999. Work on the line was delayed by a tunnel collapse linked to the use of the New Austrian Tunnelling Method.
Built on the site of the city’s former airport in the eastern suburbs, the fair complex will be linked to the existing 85 km network at Innsbrucker Ring. With stations at Josephsburg, Kreillerstrasse, Trudering, Moosfeld, Messestadt West and Messestadt Ost, the branch will be served by U2 from Feldmoching. Trains will initially run only during fair events, but will become permanent as residential and industrial development takes place on the former airport site.
To balance the new branch, U4 from Arabellapark will be cut back from Laimer Platz to Westendstrasse and U5 will be worked by six-car trains. Two extra daytime routes will enhance frequencies on the cross-city sections. U7 from Rotkreuzplatz to Kolumbusplatz will be extended to Messestadt on fair days, whilst U8 will link Feldmoching and Neuperlach Zentrum.
