Hamburg invests 285 million euros in the digitalization of the S-Bahn

More trains with shorter intervals: Hamburg wants to digitalize its S-Bahn. The aim is to increase the capacity of local public transport. The Senate is providing 285 million euros for the project.

“Our aim is for Hamburg's S-Bahn to grow and at the same time improve punctuality and quality,” said Transport Senator Anjes Tjarks (Greens): in the future, there should be significantly more trains on the network, improving punctuality and quality.

To achieve this, 169 S-Bahn trains must be equipped with new train control systems, the Automatic Train Operation (ATO) and the European Train Control System (ETCS). A large part of the funds now made available is intended for this purpose. The retrofitting has already been ordered for 25 trains of the older 474 series. In addition, the Hamburg S-Bahn has ordered 64 trains of the 490 series, which are already equipped with digital technology.

Converted trains will be in service for longer

The conversion of the 474 series will also extend the service life of the trains: instead of 2033 as originally planned, they will remain in service until 2037. This should significantly relieve the budget.

“With the full digitalization of the S-Bahn, we will put the most modern system on the rails in Germany and set it up for the future,” said Tjarks. Since 2022, four trains on the S2 line have already been running automatically in regular service on the section between Berliner Tor and Bergedorf. The project was presented at the ITS Mobility Congress in October 2021”.

According to the transport authority, the digitalization of the S-Bahn must progress rapidly: The S-Bahn network is to be expanded by two lines, and a further line is to be set up on the existing route to the suburban district of Harburg south of the Elbe. Train traffic is set to grow by 30 percent by 2030. The S-Bahn is then expected to carry 1.1 million passengers per day. The current figure is 750,000.

(wpl)