The infrastructure of the Munich Transport Company (MVG), a subsidiary of Stadtwerke München (SWM), is showing its age. Parts of the subway network are now more than 50 years old. During this time, the track systems have reached the end of their service life. According to MVG boss Ingo Wortmann, SWM will invest 82 million euros in rail projects for trams and the underground next year. The cost of maintenance and new construction increases over the years. According to Wortmann, more than 500 million euros are due in 2030, half of which will be contributed by the federal government, and SWM will have to shoulder the rest themselves. On Wednesday, the MVG together with the mobility department gave an outlook on the construction sites in the rail network in 2023. They are only a small fraction of the up to 20,000 construction sites registered in the city area.
Tram 25 and tram 21: From mid-February to mid-June, the route for tram 25 between Max-Weber-Platz and Ostfriedhof will be closed. During this time, tram 21 will also have to be interrupted for three weeks. MVG will announce the exact time. The reason for the restrictions is work on the district heating network between Wörthstrasse and Welfenstrasse. SWM is replacing the tracks between the Wörthstraße and Rosenheimer Platz stops. The Rosenheimer Platz tram stop will also be made barrier-free. The new Carl-Amery-Platz stop is being built between Regerplatz and Ostfriedhof, and SWM is renewing a switch at Johannisplatz.
Tram 25: From the end of July to mid-August, the line between Ostfriedhof and Grünwald is interrupted. At Wettersteinplatz, SWM is renewing three points and a track crossing. In addition, a grass track will be installed between Authariplatz and Klinikum Harlaching on the section that was already renewed and prepared in autumn 2022. According to SWM, they were not able to do this this year because the ballast laid in the track bed only had to settle for six months.
Tram 12, 23, 27 and 28: Line 23 is completely closed for 14 weeks from September to December. Lines 27 and 28 will be canceled for at least eight weeks after the Oktoberfest in October. Tram 12 will be diverted at Nordbad in the direction of Petuelring.
The reason: SWM is building a direct turning relationship between Belgrade and Parzivalstrasse. This means that MVG can offer an additional connection from Scheidplatz for Parkstadt Schwabing to Schwabing West and beyond. The Scheidplatz Süd stop on Parzivalstrasse will be rebuilt for the tram. It will be barrier-free and prepared for the use of longer vehicles. Points and tracks are due for renewal at Scheidplatz and Kurfürstenplatz, as well as in the area of the Pinakotheken and Nordendstrasse.
Tram 17: The renovation of the Ludwigsbrücke is expected to last until October 2024. The connection between Sendlinger Tor and Max-Weber-Platz will therefore remain closed.
Subway U3/U6: The section between Sendlinger Tor and Goetheplatz is closed from mid-June to the end of July due to the renewal of three points. SWM use this closure for further renovations, such as the rear track facades, the conductor rails and other technical systems.
U4/U5: From the beginning of October to the beginning of December, lines 4 and 5 going in the direction of Stachus do not stop at Odeonsplatz. There, SWM is renewing the three adjacent escalators between the platforms and the lock floor. The platforms are required as logistics areas.
U1/U2, U3/U6: Due to the ongoing modernization of the Sendlinger Tor underground station, the lines mentioned are only available to a limited extent on various weekends. The MVG provides up-to-date information about the respective closures.
For all closures, the MVG offers a replacement service with buses. The details of the individual measures are currently being worked out. MVG announced that they would be announced in good time. Traffic will also be affected. The first preparatory work for the Westtangente tram should start in the spring, which is why individual lanes on Fürstenrieder Straße have to be closed. There are also likely to be closures on Barer Strasse, says Martin Schreiner, head of the strategy department in the mobility department. MVG boss Wortmann asserts that all construction measures are planned in such a way that they entail as few restrictions as possible. However, it is not possible without blocking.