The longest subway train in the world has been opened in Frankfurt, allowing passengers to ride on the 100-metre long unit for the first time, from today.
Public transportation in Frankfurt will benefit as a whole from the new train. By having such a long carriage to transport passengers, the new XXL subway can lighten the burden on other lines in the region, without requiring extra staff.
The long train will be used on some of Frankfurt's busiest U-Bahn routes. The U4 and U7 lines will benefit the most from the new trains, and it is hoped that they can eventually be introduced on the U2 line as well.
Extra space on the XXL trains will give passengers more room to find a place to sit and is, therefore, more accessible for people who struggle to stand for long periods of time. The train gets its 100-metre length by connecting several 25-metre long and 50-metre long carriages.
The city took receipt of its first XXL unit in July 2021, and has been waiting for the transport timetables to change before rolling it out onto the track. The impressive length of the new U-Bahn carriages means that it takes the record for the longest light rail unit in the world.