BVG Class A3
A3 type cars
After World War II a new batch of vehicles became necessary - the trains had been badly damaged in the war. At this point the new A3 type, modelled on its big Großprofil brother DL, was designed. There were three batches of this type in the years 1960/61, 1964 and 1966. However, because these were built from steel, the new trains required a large amount of electricity.
| Type | Series | Number | Fleet Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| A3-60 | 1960 | 984/985–998/999 | 16 |
| A3-64 | 1964 | 934/935–982/983 | 50 |
| A3-66 | 1966 | 892/893–932/933 | 42 |
In 1960, the A3-60 used to deploy on Line B I and A I for a start. After the construction of Berlin Wall, A3-60 trains were only allowed to run on Line B I (Schlesches Tor - Ruhleben). It used to run to Pankow until the Berlin Wall was built on 13 August 1961. The A3-64 was deployed on Line A III and A I again.
A3 trains have begun refurbishment for A3-64 and A3-66 from 2003 to 2006, known as A3E, but 8 trains were scrapped in 2000. Those train numbers were 482/483 - 536/537.
A3L type cars
So, based on the A3, the A3L type built from aluminum was developed.
| Type | Series | Number | Fleet Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| A3L66 | 1966 | 884/885–890/891 | 8 |
| A3L67 | 1967 | 794/795–882/883 | 90 |
| A3L71 | 1971 | 656/657–792/793 | 138 |
| A3L82 | 1982 | 640/641–654/655 | 16 |
| A3L92 | 1993-95 | 538/539–638/639 | 102 |
The first A3L66 trains was deployed in 1966, and it replaced all the older train cars from 1906 to 1913, on the U2. These are replaced in 2000.
The second A3L67 trains was deployed in 1967, and it replaced all the older A I train cars, on the U3 and U4. These are replaced in 2006.
The third batch of A3L71 trains was deployed in 1971, and it replaced all the older A II train cars, on the U2. These are replaced in 2016.
In 1982 the design was slightly modified, but remained compatible to the existing trains and could be used interchangeably with them. They were called A3L82. These were deployed on Line 1 (Schlesches Tor - Ruhleben). Originally they want to class them A4, but they still want to produce the A3L until 1996, and so the "A4" was eventually replaced by HK in 1999, made by Bombardier Transportation.
In the years 1993–1995 another new series of Kleinprofil trains were manufactured for the BVG, meant for their extra trains on line U1 and U2. They were based on the A3L82, but were painted grey on the inside, unlike the earlier trains, which had wooden panelling. That was not the only change, however - they were the first Kleinprofil trains to use three-phase electric power. These trains were called A3L92.