The city’s successful bid in 1966 to host the Olympic Games gave a major boost to Munich’s subway plans – prior to that, the city had no underground system. By 1972, the U3 line was opened with Olympiazentrum as its terminus. The circular reliefs by artist Waki Zöllner on the walls and the floor tiles embedded with gravel from the Isar River reflect the design spirit of the time – although the original orange plastic seating has since been replaced. Today, all U3 stations are listed as historic monuments.
Above the underground station is the open-design bus terminal, which is part of the same heritage ensemble. The steel roof structures were faithfully replaced and equipped with photovoltaic systems. Plans are underway to remove sealed surfaces and transform the area into a 'green gateway to the park', enhancing its quality as a public space.
A dedicated suburban railway station was built for the Olympic Games along a former freight rail line on the northwestern edge of the Olympic Park. In 1988, the station was decommissioned and left to nature. Over the years, the site has been the subject of various redevelopment ideas. Recently, the City of Munich acquired the area with the intention of creating a green corridor connecting the Olympic Park to Lerchenauer See.
