2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Clp 20240702 6908 94 80 0480 xxx-x D-DB Berlin Ostbahnhof: Platte· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2. I11 088 Bf Bln-Grünau, 480 542: Falk2· CC BY-SA 4.0
what is it?
The BVG Class 480 (German: BVG-Baureihe 480) is an electric multiple unit for the Berlin S-Bahn. It was originally meant to replace the aging S-Bahn rail cars in West Berlin, but after the reunification of the city, the remaining orders were cancelled and replaced by new orders for DBAG Class 481 cars in 1993. Following the withdrawal of the Class 485 in November 2023, the Class 480 are the oldest trains in service on the Berlin S-Bahn.
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- Weighs about as much as 10 African elephants (~6 t each).
- 36.8 m long: about 8 cars parked nose to tail.
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- —
- number built
- 85
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- builders
- AEG, Siemens, Waggon Union
- designer
- Herbert Lindinger
- operators
- Deutsche Bahn
- top speed
- 100 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- electric system
- third rail
- wheel arrangement
- Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′
- length
- 36.8 m
- weight
- 59 t
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q180202, Wikipedia: BVG Class 480 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.