Berlin: The Berlin S-Bahn

A file containing documents relating to the S-Bahn suburban railway in West Berlin. Subjects covered in the file include the possibility of a change in the status of the system, and the Allied attitude to it; leakage of information on the subject to the media; and the uncertain positions of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. Other subjects discussed in the file include the views of the governing mayor of West Berlin, Richard von Weizsäcker, who favoured integrating the S-Bahn into the West Berlin public transport system; the question of who should negotiate over the system's future; the view that East German management of the system was no longer acceptable; the poor level of service and closure of several routes following a strike in 1980; the heavy financial losses incurred by the system; and rumours that the system would close down entirely.