City is desperate: Hamburg's S-Bahn tunnel project is stuck!

City is desperate: Hamburg's S-Bahn tunnel project is stuck!

The plans for the new S-Bahn tunnel between Hamburg Central Station and Altona Station are in a deep crisis. As Radio Hamburg reports, there is neither progress in planning nor clear financing. The tunnel, officially called the connecting railway relief tunnel (VET), is intended to provide important relief for the existing S-Bahn tracks and sustainably improve traffic conditions in the Hanseatic city.

At the CDU's request, the Senate made it clear that there is currently no progress with VET. The Federal Ministry of Transport bears a great deal of responsibility as no feasibility study has yet been commissioned for the project. Finance Senator Andreas Dressel announced that the federal government would have to pay, but concrete cost estimates remained unclear. The unclear funding and the lack of decisive studies cast a shadow over the future of this important transport project.

Political reactions and further delays

The situation was also sharply criticized by CDU parliamentary group leader Dennis Thering. He not only criticizes the lack of a preferred option for the tunnel, but also the inadequate communication from the Senate. In a further step, it becomes clear that the construction work on the U5 subway line, which is planned at the same time, will also be put on hold. This was originally supposed to be implemented together with the S-Bahn tunnel, but has now been pushed forward on a separate schedule.

The connection of the tunnel to the new Altona am Diebsteich train station is also affected by delays. The new long-distance and regional train station in Hamburg-Altona is not expected to go into operation until the end of 2029, which is two years behind the original schedule. Construction work for the through station at Diebsteich began in July 2021, but the prospect of early completion seems to be a long way off.

Hamburg's infrastructure in focus

The challenges in the area of ​​transport infrastructure are not new. Zeit Online emphasizes that relieving the load on the connecting railway is essential for expanding the Deutschlandtakt. Forecasts show that up to 750,000 people could be traveling through Hamburg Central Station every day. It is currently one of the busiest railway junctions in Europe.

The city, the federal government and Deutsche Bahn are working together on measures to make Hamburg fit for the future. This includes the four-track conversion of the connecting railway as well as additional platforms in the main station, which should enable better guidance of passengers. These projects are not only intended to improve traffic, but also to pamper travelers with more punctual trains and increased travel comfort, as More Bahn for Hamburg outlines.

It remains to be seen whether and when the scheduled train connections through the new S-Bahn tunnel will become a reality. Hamburg's traffic area urgently needs relief and modernization so that the ambitious goals can be achieved. But current developments raise questions that politicians and citizens have to deal with.