S-Bahn-Weihnachtszug
The Historic S-Bahn Association's Christmas S-Bahn train runs through Berlin on all four Advent weekends with four museum cars from 1928 and 1938, starting from Ostbahnhof, Potsdamer Platz, or Nordbahnhof. Families sit on wooden benches in third class, and children's punch and Stollen are available on board. Children pay 8.00 Euros.
S-Bahn Christmas Train: Through Wintery Berlin in Historic Carriages
The S-Bahn Christmas train runs through Berlin on all four Advent weekends, starting from Ostbahnhof, Potsdamer Platz, or Nordbahnhof, depending on the trip. It operates on the Stadtbahn and Ringbahn, as well as on the routes to Oranienburg, Bernau, and Hennigsdorf; on the last Advent weekend, it travels via the Wannseebahn through Grunewald and Zehlendorf. A journey lasts between one and one and a half hours. The train does not stop en route, and the starting and destination stations vary for most trips, which is worth checking before booking. It is operated by the Historic S-Bahn Association, which maintains the vehicles on a voluntary basis and collects donations for this every year. Only tickets purchased in advance are valid; the Deutschlandticket and VBB tickets are not valid on the Christmas train. Children aged three to thirteen pay 8.00 Euros, adults 25.00 Euros in third class.
Four Museum Carriages from 1928 and 1938 with Wooden Benches and Christmas Decorations
The train consists of four carriages and is accompanied by voluntary members of the association, meaning two coupled quarter-trains. The two carriages of series 167 date from 1938 and show their condition upon delivery, including information boards and advertising posters in the style of the nineteen-thirties. The association bought them from the Reichsbahn in 1991 to save them from being scrapped, and restored them in 2001 and 2002 at the S-Bahn workshop in Schöneweide. The other two carriages are city trains from 1928; 1,276 of these were once built, and today six belong to the museum collection. In third class, passengers sit on ergonomically shaped wooden benches, in second class on upholstered benches with dark mahogany veneer. The carriages are festively decorated, and children’s punch, Stollen, and mulled wine are available for purchase on board, along with a small souvenir stand. Those who look closely will recognize two eras of Berlin’s local transport side by side in the vehicles. The tradition dates back to the fifties, was discontinued in 2009, and revived in 2023 after a fifteen-year break.
Top10 Redaktion
Erfahrungsbericht vom 02.11.2026
Price level
Children aged three to thirteen pay 8.00 euros. Adults pay 25.00 euros in third class and 35.00 euros in second class. Children under three travel free of charge but are not entitled to a seat.
Tickets
Advance sale only, through the association ticket shop. The rides up to 6 December 2026 are already sold out, and advance sale for the dates from 12 December 2026 starts on 21 November 2026.
Departure
Depending on the ride, from Ostbahnhof platform 10, Potsdamer Platz platform 13 or Nordbahnhof. For most rides the departure and arrival stations are different.
Duration
Between one and one and a half hours. The train does not stop along the way, so boarding and changing during the ride are not possible.
Good to know
The Deutschlandticket and VBB tickets are not valid, and the train ticket does not cover the journey to and from the station. There is no toilet on board.
On board
Children punch, stollen and mulled wine are available for purchase, along with a small souvenir stand.
What you can bring
Bicycles and e-scooters are not allowed, prams only if they fold. Food brought along is not permitted, apart from baby food and small amounts of soft drinks.
Highlight
Two coupled quarter trains from 1928 and 1938, with upholstered benches and dark mahogany veneer in second class.
Accessibility
One wheelchair with up to two companions travels in the service compartment of each of the two railcars, so two per ride. Booking runs through an email request to the association.
