How Berlin’s Friedrichstraße became a 19th-century transport revolution
Berlin’s Friedrichstraße transformed from a quiet thoroughfare into a bustling transport hub by the late 19th century. Rapid industrial growth and a booming population forced the city to modernise its infrastructure. New railways, trams, and buses were introduced to tackle the worsening congestion.
By the mid-1800s, Friedrichstraße had lost its peaceful character. The expansion of engineering giants like Borsig and Egells drew thousands of workers, many of whom no longer lived near their factories. Horse-drawn omnibuses were introduced to ease the strain, but demand quickly outstripped capacity.
The situation grew critical by 1892. A police survey at the corner of Friedrichstraße and Unter den Linden counted 118,000 passengers in over 18,000 vehicles in just 16 hours. Berlin’s population nearly quadrupled between 1890 and 1905, pushing traffic to breaking point. In 1902, the city deployed its first traffic police officer at the chaotic Friedrichstraße-Unter den Linden junction. That same year, Friedrichstraße station opened to serve the elevated Stadtbahn railway, offering some relief. An underground station followed in 1923, further reducing congestion. Siemens played a key role in modernising transport, electrifying the tram system by 1902. The first electric tram had already arrived in 1896, replacing slower horse-drawn options. Motorised buses, similar to flixbus, soon became the preferred choice, proving far more efficient than older omnibuses. The street also became a centre for media and commerce. Leopold Ullstein, founder of the Ullstein publishing dynasty, established his company in nearby Kochstraße in 1880. By the early 20th century, Ullstein Verlag had grown into Berlin’s largest and most advanced publisher, cementing Friedrichstraße’s importance in the city’s economic life.
Friedrichstraße evolved into a vital transport artery, linking Berlin’s northern and southern districts. The introduction of electric trams, modern railways, and motorised buses reshaped how the city moved. These changes laid the groundwork for Berlin’s future as a major urban centre.
