Hamburg’s U5 Metro Line Expected to Be City’s Busiest by 2040
Hamburg, May 27, 2026 – Hamburg’s Hochbahn anticipates its U5 metro line will become the city’s most heavily used, projecting 345,000 daily passengers by 2040. This forecast follows the Hamburg Senate’s approval of 51 million Euros for the planning of new stations in Lurup and Osdorf. The U5 project director, Klaus Uphoff, confirmed that this extension will surpass the current busiest line, the U1, which serves 336,000 passengers daily.
Extension Beyond Arenen am Volkspark
The U5’s projected high ridership is largely attributed to its extension beyond the initially planned “Arenen am Volkspark” terminus. Uphoff stated, “The U5 will be the most heavily frequented metro line in Hamburg.” The addition of two new stations, “Lurup” and “Osdorf,” is expected to significantly boost passenger numbers. “In Lurup alone, we expect 19,000 passengers daily. This is comparable to Wandsbeker Chaussee,” Uphoff added, refuting critics who deemed the U5 unnecessary.
Preferred Route Through Eckhoffplatz
The extension of the new U5 from “Arenen im Volkspark” to Osdorfer Born will pass through Eckhoffplatz in Lurup. This preferred route was presented by Uphoff alongside Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) and Transport Senator Anjes Tjarks (Greens). Three alternative routes and station locations were also considered before this decision.
Long-Awaited Connection for Osdorfer Born
Connecting the large Osdorfer Born settlement to the rapid transit network has been a topic of discussion for decades, with an S-Bahn connection previously considered. The decision to opt for a metro connection is significant, as it places further planning under Hochbahn, a city entity, rather than Deutsche Bahn, over which the city has “less influence,” according to Tschentscher.
Completion by 2040, Aligned with Olympic Bid
Construction for the initial sections of the U5 is already underway. The segment extending to Osdorf is expected to begin construction in the early 2030s, with passenger service in Lurup and Osdorf projected to start by 2040. This timeline aligns with Hamburg’s potential bid for the Olympic Games, a goal supported by the red-green Senate. Both Tjarks and Tschentscher emphasized the importance of a successful Olympic bid for securing federal funding, stating it is crucial to be “at the forefront of national priority” for funding allocation.
Stations at Major Shopping Centers
The station at Eckhoffplatz will be located in front of the Lurup-Center on Lüttkamp, while the Osdorf station will be situated in an east-west orientation at the Born-Center on Kroonhorst street. Preliminary planning for this route variant is set to conclude this year, with design and approval planning commencing next year. All considered variants accounted for the possibility of extending the U-Bahn line beyond the state border into Schenefeld, Schleswig-Holstein.
U5 CEO Uphoff highlighted that the chosen route is the shortest, enabling the connection of over 30,000 people in Lurup and Osdorf to the rapid transit network. “A shorter route also means lower construction costs and faster travel times,” Uphoff explained. Furthermore, the public participation process in Osdorf and Lurup revealed that most residents favored this route.
Construction Progress and Preparatory Works
Hochbahn has already laid the first rails for the U5 at the “City Nord” station, marking the initial phase of operation for the section between City Nord and Sengelmannstraße. Up to 14 tunnel boring machines will soon be excavating across Hamburg. Six areas are designated for preparatory works, excluding the Alster. These preparatory areas, totaling 12,000 square meters, are needed to store materials and machinery, with one planned for Ferdinandstor.
New Stephansplatz Station Design
The new U-Bahn station at Stephansplatz is designed to facilitate seamless transfers for U1 and U5 passengers to long-distance and regional trains, as well as the S-Bahn, at Hamburg’s Dammtor train station.
Source: NDR 90,3, Hochbahn, Hamburg Senate
