Located in the heart of Frankfurt, Germany, the Frankfurt Metro is an integral part of the city’s transport system. Often referred to by its German nickname, U-Bahn, an abbreviation of Untergrundbahn meaning ‘underground’, it stretches an impressive 40.32 miles. It is made up of nine lines that encompass approximately 86 stations. The Metro has been in operation since its inauguration in 1968 and has been continually expanded over the years. In addition to the Metro, the city is served by the S-Bahn, a suburban railway. A standard trip on Frankfurt’s underground costs passengers at least 2 euros (equivalent to $2.3). This ticket gives access to the entire network. Operating hours can vary depending on the line, but most subway services are available between 3:30 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. the following day.
The Frankfurt Metro, also known as the U-Bahn, operates in Germany with an average daily ridership of 380,000. The metro does not operate 24 hours from Monday to Thursday, but does operate 24 hours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The typical fare is €2.80.
The metro does not use driverless trains, has no air conditioning and no platform screen doors. However, passengers are allowed to walk between platforms. The maximum speed of the metro is 80 km/h.
The operator is Stadtwerke Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt am Main mbH. For more information, you can visit the Frankfurt Metro Official Website. The metro’s contact number is +49 069 213-03.
Frankfurt Metro Map
Map of Frankfurt Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it.
German Metro: Spotlight on Frankfurt
Frankfurt, known in German as Frankfurt am Main, is located in the south-central region of the Federal Republic of Germany. With a population of just over 700,000, it is the most densely populated city in the state of Hesse and ranks fifth nationally, behind Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne. Frankfurt’s importance stems from its status as a major financial centre in Europe, home to the headquarters of the European Central Bank and the country’s main stock exchange. The city’s central location lends itself to a variety of connections, resulting in an extensive transport network.
Spanning 40.32 miles (64.9 kilometres) in and around Frankfurt, the U-Bahn (subway), or Frankfurt Metro, has been continually expanded since its inception in 1968 and now operates nine lines serving 86 stations. All lines except the newest U9 run through the city centre. The metro carries an estimated 321,000 passengers daily, rising to a staggering 117.3 million passengers in 2012. The fleet has undergone five rounds of modernisation, the last of which took place in 2008 with the addition of Bombardier cars.
A Glimpse into History
By the 1950s, the city’s former trolley car system was considered outdated and inadequate, prompting the search for a more efficient and sophisticated transport system. A feasibility study was carried out to weigh up the options between a full underground metro system, a partial system and an elevated railway. On 4 October 1968, the underground project was completed and the Frankfurt Metro officially opened. The original line ran between Hauptwache and Nordwestzentrum.
Extension work began immediately after the opening. In 1971, the line was extended from Gonzenheim to Heddernheim. Soon after, the network was extended southwards, and in 1978 a new line was opened between Zeilweg and Ginnheim. Since then, new lines and routes have been opened regularly. As part of the ongoing expansion process, two new lines, U8 and U9, were added as recently as 12 December 2010.
Lines and Stations
The Frankfurt subway, commonly known as the U-Bahn, consists of nine different lines serving 86 stations. The entire network is managed by the Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt (VgF), which also manages the city’s suburban transport.
U1
The U1, the first line of Frankfurt’s underground system, is 12.3 kilometres long and has 20 stations. It runs through the city centre, connecting the northern suburbs from its terminus at Ginnheim to the southern station, Südbahnhof. It is represented by the colour red.
U2
The U2 line mirrors part of the U1 route, diverging only at the last seven stations. Its northernmost station is Bad Homburg Gonzenheim, and it terminates in the south at Südbahnhof. It is 16.6 kilometres long, has 21 stations and is represented by a light green colour.
U3
Line 3 stretches 19.3 kilometres from Oberusel Hohemark in the northwest to the southern terminus at Südbahnhof, stopping at 28 stations. This line, marked with a dark purple colour, was also in service when the underground was opened in 1968.
U4
Introduced in 1980, the pink U4 line was the first to cross the city from east to west. It starts at the western end at Bockenheimer Warte and runs north-east to its terminus at Enkheim, covering a distance of 11.3 kilometres and 15 stations.
U5
The U5 line, shown in dark green, starts at Preungesheim station in the north and ends at Hauptbahnhof station in the south. This 7.6 kilometre line was built in 1974 and has 16 stations.
U6
The U6 line, built in 1986, runs from the north-west station Praunheim Heerstr to the eastern terminus Ostbahnhof, covering 8.7 kilometres and 15 stations. This line is marked in blue.
U7
Inaugurated in 1986, the orange U7 line stretches 11.8 kilometres from Hausen in the west to Einkheim in the east and has 21 stations.
U8
The U8 line, introduced in 2010 and shown in light purple, follows a north-south route. It starts at Riedberg station in the north and ends at Südbahnhof station in the south.
U9
Opened in 2010, the U9 is the shortest line in the system, covering just 10.3 kilometres and serving 12 stations. It runs from Nieder-Eschbach to Ginnheim and is marked in yellow.
Interconnection with Other Systems
The U-Bahn, which serves as the primary underground transport system in most major German cities, is often complemented by an overground system, usually known as the S-Bahn. Frankfurt’s S-Bahn, also known as the Rhein-Main S-Bahn, consists of nine lines serving 111 stations, and even extends beyond the underground itself.
The S-Bahn connects Frankfurt with nearby cities such as Wiesbaden, Mainz, Offenbach am Main, Hanau and Darmstadt. Through this system, numerous public transport routes converge at Frankfurt’s stations, creating a nexus of transit options. For example, the central Hauptbahnhof and the southern Südbahnhof stations each provide connections to four underground lines.
In addition to the U-Bahn and S-Bahn, Frankfurt has an extensive tram network. Frankfurt’s tramway, which operates ten lines and a single tourist-oriented line, is fully integrated with the U-Bahn and managed by the same operator. With 136 stations over a 67.25-kilometre network, tram coverage is slightly more extensive than that of the underground.
Tram lines run from numbers 11 to 21, with the addition of the tourist tram, the Ebbelwei-Expreß, which only runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The tram lines are well connected to the underground, especially the lines serving the southern part of Frankfurt.
Buses also operate in the city, but mainly in the northern half, where tram services are more limited.
Airport Connections
Frankfurt Airport is a key transport hub in the region, serving as Lufthansa’s base alongside Munich Airport. Ranked third in Europe for passenger traffic, behind London’s Heathrow and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle, its importance cannot be underestimated.
Given the airport’s importance, its connection to public transport is vital. Although the Underground does not run directly to the airport, its links with the commuter rail system ensure seamless access. There is a regional railway station at the airport, which not only provides connections to other cities, but also serves the S8 and S9 suburban railway lines. These lines connect with the U4 and U5 underground lines at Frankfurt Central Station and the U1, U2, U3, U6, U7 and U8 lines at Hauptwache. In addition, S8 and S9 connect with U4, U5, U6 and U7 at Konstablerwache. This means that all underground lines except the shortest and newest U9 can be reached from the airport by S-Bahn.
Schedule and Frequency
The Frankfurt Underground operates between 3:20 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. the following day, with slight variations depending on the line. Trains usually run every 15 minutes from opening until 6:00 am, increasing to about every ten minutes for the rest of the day. After midnight the frequency reverts to every 15 minutes. Each Underground line has its own timetable with different first and last trains and different frequencies at peak times, weekends and public holidays.
Rates, Tickets, and Cards
Like many large public transport systems, Frankfurt’s underground operates a fare system based on the distance travelled. Fares, which are part of an integrated transport system managed by the RMV, vary according to the distance travelled.
Single tickets are available, ranging from 2 euros ($2.3) to 15.50 euros ($17.78), depending on the distance travelled. Reduced fares are available for children, ranging from €1.20 ($1.37) to €9.15 ($10.90).
Passes are also available for unlimited travel for a set period of time, such as a day, week, month or year. Prices for daily passes range from €3.90 (USD 4.47) to €13.20 (USD 15.13), depending on the area covered. As with single tickets, reduced fares are available for children.
In addition to single tickets and season tickets, there are special fares for special needs, large groups, students and people with disabilities.
Future Expansions
The Frankfurt Metro, a constantly evolving transport system, has recently undergone significant expansion with the opening of lines U8 and U9 in 2010. Current construction and extension plans are underway to continue this growth. For example, the U5 line is in the process of adding a new station, Güterplatz, which is scheduled to open in 2022. There are also plans to extend the U4 line.
At the heart of the system, a line extension towards Bad Homburg is planned to open in 2023. In addition, in area C of the system, extension plans include potential additions such as Hanauer Landstraße, Leuchte, Steinbach and Bergen, which may be allocated to lines U6 and U7.
Advice
Despite Germany’s reputation for safety, it is always important to keep personal belongings within reach to prevent theft when using public transport. You don’t need to insert a ticket or card into a machine to access Frankfurt’s underground, as access is unrestricted. Therefore, it is important to ensure that your cards are charged and that you have tickets to hand in case you are stopped during your journey.
To avoid fines, make sure you have enough money to cover the distance of your journey, especially if you plan to use other modes of transport such as suburban trains and trams.
Interesting Facts
- The system integrates the S-Bahn suburban trains and commuter trains.
- Its construction sparked a public debate that led to the modernisation of the old trams in the 1990s.
- More than half of the system is underground, but some sections are on the surface.
- All lines except the newest U9 run through the city centre.
Sights to See from the Frankfurt Metro
Frankfurt Cathedral: Known as St Bartholomew’s Cathedral, this 13th-century church played an important role as a coronation site for kings and German emperors. Accessible by U4 and U5 at Dom/Römer station.
Römerberg Plaza: Located in the heart of the city, this square is surrounded by historic and traditional buildings, making it one of Frankfurt’s most picturesque spots. Dom/Römer station also serves this location.
Goethe House and Museum: The former home of German literary icon Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is now a museum dedicated to his life and work. To get here, take the U1, U2 or U3 to Hauptwache station.