Classical Music Arriving in Berlin’s Underground Train Stations

The Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), the main public transport company in Berlin, has begun a pilot project playing classical music in underground stations, according to the Berliner Morgenpost. 

BVG is researching whether “subtle music can help make waiting for the train even more pleasant [for passengers].” Aiming to see how unobtrusive music affects its commuters, BVG will be distributing surveys across the next six months. The results of these will decide whether the project will continue and expand.

For its first experiment, BVG partnered with Klassik Radio to play music in four of Berlin’s U-Bahn train stations which are services covering the city center. The stations are the Unter den Linden (U5), Strausberger Platz (U5), Southern Star (U7), and Moritzplatz (U8)

The team at Klassik collated music programs specifically for the project. Music styles played range and artists will include Ludovico Einaudi, Ólafur Arnalds, and Daniel Levy.

The genre of music differs on each of the stations — the music programs played can be accessed live and streamed online via Klassik’s website.

To ensure the safety of all passengers, the music during announcements automatically fades out, in addition to when a train arrives and stops at the platform. According to the BVG, music is already being played at train stations in other German cities such as Hamburg and Munich.