Category: Operations/Technology
Statement: Advertising Icon, Orientation Tool
Accompanying Items: Additional Symbols
For many years, it remained a mystery who designed the now-iconic S-Bahn symbol, officially introduced on December 1st 1930. In January 2021, Mathias Hiller from the Berlin S-Bahn Museum uncovered its origins. In 1929, the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) commissioned the renowned graphic artist Fritz Rosen to create a striking logo for Berlin's "City, Ring, and Suburban Railway" services. After much discussion and experimentation, Rosen developed the now-familiar white "S" on a green background. The meaning behind the symbol has also been clarified: "Stadtbahn" (City Railway). This round logo became a trademark for urban and suburban rail services across Germany, and variations can be found internationally, often adapted in shape and colour for local transit systems.