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What does "Ringbahn" mean in English?

Last updated on 10 April 2024

The Ringbahn is Berlin’s circular railway line that loops around the central districts of the city. Its literal translation in English is “Ring Railway.”

What is “Ringbahn”?

The Ringbahn is a 37.5-kilometer-long railway that encircles Berlin’s inner city, forming a loop that connects various neighborhoods and provides a continuous service without a distinct start or end point[13]. It is an integral part of the Berlin S-Bahn network and is used by hundreds of thousands of people daily, making it a vital component of the city’s public transportation system[5]. The Ringbahn is especially significant for its historical development and its role in shaping Berlin’s urban landscape.

More information about “Ringbahn”

The Ringbahn has a rich history, with the first stretches built in the mid to late 1800s[5]. It has been shaped by Berlin’s tumultuous past, including the division of the city during the Cold War when the Berlin Wall cut the Ringbahn in two[5]. Today, the Ringbahn is not only a means of transportation but also a symbol of Berlin’s reunification and progress. Its route includes important stations such as Westkreuz, Gesundbrunnen, Ostkreuz, and Südkreuz[10]. The line is often referred to as the Hundekopf (Dog’s Head) due to its distinctive shape on the map[13].

Here are some additional terms that are related to Ringbahn:

  • S-Bahn: The suburban railway system in Berlin, of which the Ringbahn is a part[10].
  • Ostkreuz: A major railway station in Berlin where the Ringbahn intersects with other lines[13].
  • Südkreuz: Another key station on the Ringbahn, serving as a transportation hub[6].
  • Gesundbrunnen: A station on the Ringbahn that also serves as a connection point for other lines[10].
  • Westkreuz: A station where the Ringbahn intersects with the Stadtbahn, another major railway line in Berlin[13].

The Ringbahn is more than just a railway; it is a symbol of Berlin’s history and a lifeline for its residents and visitors.

Sources

[1] https://www.eisenbahnfreunde-berlin.net/en/the-ringbahn/ [2] https://www.rbb-online.de/30favoriten/archiv/2021/die-schoensten-orte-an-der-ringbahn/die-schoensten-orte-an-der-ringbahn0.file.html/Ringbahn-Infos_F%C3%BCrOnline_230609.pdf [3] https://www.bahn.de/wmedia/view/mdb/media/intern/cityticket_c32.pdf [4] https://www.stadtschnellbahn-berlin.de/strecken/02/index.php [5] https://www.goethe.de/prj/tbp/en/bpa/rin.html [6] https://sbahn.berlin/en/plan-a-journey/s42/ [7] https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/public-transit [8] https://www.tip-berlin.de/berlin-besucher/nahverkehr/ringbahn-berlin-s41-s42-strecke/ [9] https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/en/berlins-endless-train-the-ringbahn-turns-150-li.168434 [10] https://www.berlin.de/tourismus/infos/nahverkehr/1746751-1721041-sbahn.html [11] https://www.berlin.de/en/public-transportation/1772016-2913840-tickets-fares-and-route-maps.en.html [12] https://www.berlinstadtservice.de/xinh/S41.html [13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Ringbahn [14] https://sbahn.berlin/tickets/vbb-tarif-erklaert/tarifbereiche/ [15] https://sbahn.berlin/fahren/s41/ [16] https://sbahn.berlin/en/about-us/company-profile/history-of-s-bahn-berlin/ [17] https://www.bvg.de/de/abos-und-tickets/tarifzonen-und-tarifbestimmungen [18] https://sbahn.berlin/was-hast-du-vor/neues-entdecken/artikel/die-ringbahn-tour-berlin-in-60-minuten/ [19] http://www.slowtravelberlin.com/ode-to-berlins-s-bahn/