GERMANY: Hamburg’s municipal economic development authority BWI has approved plans for the first section of the future automated metro line U5.
Approval enables contracts to be awarded for preparatory works, starting with tree felling and checking the route for unexploded ordnance.
‘We are very pleased with the decision’, said Henrik Falk, CEO of operator Hochbahn on September 30. ‘It confirms the good work of our planners. Now work on the U5 can start. It is an important milestone, because with the first fully automated subway we will create an attractive and high-performance new service. The new line will make a significant contribution to the mobility transition in Hamburg.’
The first section of the line is designated U5 Ost, and will run 5·8 km from Bramfeld to Steilshoop, Nordheimstraße, Sengelmannstraße and City Nord, filling gaps in the network to service areas with more than 100 000 inhabitants and over 30 000 jobs.
Construction is expected to cost €1·8bn, with trial operation planned for 2027. Ridership on the initial section is estimated at 20 000 passengers/day, and is expected to double once subsequent phases eventually extend the line from City Nord south through Winterhude to the Hauptbahnhof and then west through the city centre to Volkspark.
