Transport in Hamburg comprises an extensive,rail system,subway system,airports andmaritime services for the more than 1.8 million inhabitants of the city ofHamburg and 5.3 million people in theHamburg Metropolitan Region.
Since the Middle Ages, as aHanseatic City one part of Hamburg's transport was the economic trade with other cities or regions. In 2008, theport of Hamburg was the second-largest port in Europe. Hamburg is connected to fourmotorways and in Hamburg proper are two airports. The Hamburg traffic groupHamburger Verkehrsverbund was the first organisation of its kind in the world and in 2008, was in charge for thepublic transport management in three German states. In 2007, more than 618 million passengers used bus, rapid transit, ferries or light rail.
Acharter in 1189 byFrederick I, Holy Roman Emperor granted Hamburg the status of afree imperial city and tax-free access up the Lower Elbe into the North Sea, the right to fish and to cut trees, and the freedom of military service.[1] The charter was given orally for Hamburg's backing of Frederick'scrusades, and in 1265 an in all probability forged letter was presented to or by theRath (Council;Rat in antiquated writing style) of Hamburg.[2] In 1241, the two contracts between Hamburg andLübeck marked the beginning of theHanseatic League, a trade union in Northern Europe. And in 1264 theSteinstraße was the thirdcobbled road in Europe, the east-west route for commerce.[3]
In 1800 Hamburg has 1,473 street-lamps and on the Hamburg hill inSt. Pauli several new streets were given Christian names e.g.Davidstraße,Erichstraße orHerbertstraße.[4]
On 31 October 1839, the firsthorse-drawn bus line served a scheduled route from Hamburg to the then DanishAltona.[5] In 1866, theHamburg tramway network was opened. Initially, it was operated withhorsecartrams. In 1894, Hamburg's firstelectric tram servedMeßberg – Lombardsbrücke –Landungsbrücken – Zollkanal – Meßberg.[6][7]
In 1906, theHamburg Hauptbahnhof was built and the rail lines—like theRollbahn line—were expanded into the city centre, and in 1910 a hall for the air traffic withzeppelins was built inFuhlsbüttel. 1911,the first tunnel under a river in continental Europe was finished,[8] andBenzindroschken (gasoline-run vehicles) were allowed on Hamburg's streets.[9]
In 1912, theport of Hamburg provided 64 km moorings for more than 15,000 seagoing vessels, arriving in Hamburg.[10] TheHamburger Hochbahn was founded in 1911, and the first metro trains ran on the circle line in 1912.[11]
TheHamburger Verkehrsverbund was founded on 29 November 1965 with the four initial partners the Hamburger Hochbahn AG, theDeutsche Bundesbahn, theHADAG Seetouristik und Fährdienst AG andVerkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (VHH).[12] On 30 September 1978, after 84 years of service, the last tram served line no. 2 fromRathausmarkt toSchnelsen.[13]
In 2008, Hamburg had an area of 755.2 km2 (291.6 sq mi), 92% was land and 8% water areas. Area for the traffic infrastructure was 12% (9,183 ha or 35.46 sq mi). These were non built-up areas.[14]
Opened in 1911, Hamburg Airport, is situated inFuhlsbüttel in the north of the city. In 2008, the airport had an area of 5.7 km2 (2.2 sq mi),[14] and handled 152.271 take-offs and landings and 12,690,114 passengers in total. 33,108 t (36,495 short tons; 32,585 long tons) of cargo were transported.[15] Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport is a private airport forEADS plant, situated inFinkenwerder, on the south bank of theElbe river.
In 2008, Hamburg had more than 1,700 km (1,100 mi) cycle paths, but—according to the ADFC (German cyclist club)—in a devastated condition, which repairs would cost the city Euro 10 million.[16] TheBehörde für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt designated 14 major cycle ways to improve the daily use of bicycles in Hamburg,[17] and claimed to start abicycle sharing system like inParis.[18] The projectStadtRAD Hamburg was started in July 2009[19] and is today one of the most successful system of its kind in Germany.[20]
Hamburg has severalpedestrian zones, streets renovated into car free zones. The first street transformed was inEssen in 1926, like many West Germany cities Hamburg renovated several streets in the city's centre in the 1970s.[21] The streetColonnaden built by private investors in 1874 was renovated in 1978, it is one of the oldest pedestrian zones in Hamburg.[22] Other zones only in the city's centre areDeichstraße,Gänsemarkt,Gerhart-Hauptmann-Platz,Gerhofstraße,Gertrudenkirchhof,Gertrudenstraße,Großneumarkt,Kurze Mühren,Lange Mühren,Peterstraße,Rathausmarkt, andSpitalerstraße. In 2008, theMönckebergstraße − open to public transport buses and taxis only − had 10,620 pedestrians per hour. In total, only 20% of all pedestrians zones in Germany are located in housing areas. Hamburg started several small housing projects.[23]
There are also trails in Hamburg, e.g. theAlsterwanderweg (Alster river trail),Elbewanderweg (Elbe river trail), and in Hamburg is a part of theEuropean walking route E1. BecauseNeuwerk island is part of Hamburg, hiking trails in theHamburg Wadden Sea National Park are also in the state's proper.
In 2006, the city of Hamburg installed a pedestrian guidance system in its centre.[24][25]
| HVV figures of 2015[26] | |
| Bus and ferry lines | 701 |
|---|---|
| Rapid transit rail lines | 32 |
| Network length | 20,779 |
| Vehicles | 4,289 |
| Car km (mil.) | 338,23 |
| HVV passengers total (mil.) | 751 |
| Fare revenue (mil. Euro) | 788,6 |
| Public transport operators | 29 |
Public transport in Hamburg consists of buses, subways and light rail, commuter trains, car pool services, taxis, services for senior citizens and people with disabilities.[27][28] TheHamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV) manage and coordinate the public mass transport with busses, ferries and trains for the Public Transport Authorities—the three states:Hamburg,Lower Saxony, andSchleswig-Holstein, and several districts. The 35 operating cooperations provide the transport services and some of the customer services.
Major company for thepublic bus services is theHamburg Hochbahn AG (HHA) with more than 100 lines and 120,000 km (75,000 mi) driven per day. Another main operator is the regional and city bus companyVerkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (VHH), operating many own lines (especially in the outer districts and on outbound lines) and sharing services with theHamburger Hochbahn on several lines. Both companies handed over small parts of their services and some lines to subcontractors and subsidiaries such asJasper orSüderelbe-Bus.[29]
Since 2001, the HHA uses apassenger information system at several bus stops to inform the passengers.[30][31]
Long distance bus lines start at theHamburg Central Bus Station(German: Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof Hamburg). In 2007, there were more than 450 lines departing per week with travel destinations in 27 European countries,[32] e.g.Denmark,Poland, andRussia.
Since 2003, Hamburg has deployed ninehydrogen fuel cell buses as part of a trial to access the long-term practically ofhydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Those modifiedMercedes-Benz Citaro buses were retired between 2008 and 2010. They were replaced in 2011 by four new hydrogen fuel cell buses, again being delivered byMercedes-Benz.[33]
In 2014 another 30 hybrid buses were delivered, including the 10plug-in hybrid buses mentioned above and 15 articulated buses of the typeVolvo 7900. At the same time two fuel cell poweredSolaris Urbino 18 entered service. In 2016 three electricSolaris New Urbino of the new generation were added to theHochbahn fleet.
At the same time theVerkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (VHH) received 20 hybrid buses from Volvo and two fully electric buses from Italian manufacturerRampini.
Together with the subsidiary companies 68 buses with alternative propulsion are in service in Hamburg in total. They e.g. run on the line 109(Hamburger Hochbahn) - that was designated as a test line for alternative propulsion buses in 2014 - and on the line 48(Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein). The goal of the city is to only order buses with alternative propulsion from 2020 on.[34]
TheHADAG Seetouristik und Fährdienst runs public transport ferries, operating 21 ferries on 6 lines with a length of 27.6 km (17.1 mi).[35]
Rapid transit is provided byHamburg U-Bahn andHamburg S-Bahn and severalcommuter rail lines. In 2015, the system consists of a 930 km (580 mi) length, with 289 stations for the region.[26] 1,969 vehicles were owned by ten operating companies:AKN Eisenbahn, DB Regio,Eisenbahnen und Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser (EVB), Erixx GmbH,Hamburg Hochbahn AG (HHA),metronom Eisenbahngesellschaft, nordbahn Eisenbahngesellschaft (NBE), Nord-Ostsee-Bahn (NOB) (part ofVeolia Verkehr GmbH),S-Bahn Hamburg plc, and Verkehrsgesellschaft Norderstedt (VGN).[36]
Public transport withtaxis is regulated by law.[37] In 2008, according to the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce there were 2,168 companies with 3,675 vehicles, and more than 10,000 employees, in 80% of the companies the driver is also the owner of the company. In total 20 million transports were handled.[38]
Hamburg is served by long distance and regional trains of Germany's major railway companyDeutsche Bahn AG. The city's main railway station for longer-distance services isHamburg Hauptbahnhof. There are permanentIntercity-Express lines toBerlin,Frankfurt am Main (continuingStuttgart andMunich) andBremen (continuing to theRuhr area andCologne). To the north, ICE trains connect Hamburg withAarhus andCopenhagen inDenmark andKiel inSchleswig-Holstein.[39] There are also severalInterCity- andEuroCity- passenger train connections.[40] There are numerousRegional-Express andRegionalbahn services toSchleswig-Holstein andLower Saxony. The major railway lines areBerlin–Hamburg Railway,Hanover – Hamburg,Lower Elbe Railway, andWanne-Eickel – Hamburg.
In 2007, the port railway (German:Hafenbahn) had a freight transport volume of 39.7 mill t nearly, including around 1,801,600 container with at least 1,585,600 inbound and outbound coaches.[41] In total, freight had a volume of more than 45,529 t (44,810 long tons; 50,187 short tons) (1000 t) in 2008, it increased 6.3% compared to 2007.[42]
As of 2008, Hamburg has 8,877 officially named streets, places, and—according to the (Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt)—2,500 bridges.[14] Some streets are well known like theReeperbahn. Hamburg reduced thespeed limit to 30 km/h (19 mph) in several streets.[23]
According to the Department of Motor Vehicles (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt), in Hamburg were 569,530 private cars registered (327 cars/1000 people) in 2007.[43] There were 10,612 traffic accident in total, including 8,426 with injury to persons and 2,186 accidents with severe damage to property.[44]
Several motorways (Autobahnen), andfederal highways connect Hamburg with other regions or cities. An important motorway for the north-south connection in Europe is theA 7 — crossing theElbe river with atunnel — from the cities ofKiel andFlensburg in the North toHanover in the south. TheBundesautobahn 1 connectLübeck to Bremen,Münster, andDortmund. TheBundesstraße 5 runs from the Danish border in the North toFrankfurt (Oder) in the East of Germany.[45] In 2006, there were 80 km (50 mi) motorways and 120 km (75 mi)federal roads.[46]
In November 2005, according to a census of the Federal Office for freight traffic (Bundesamt für Güterverkehr), in Hamburg were 926 commercial road haulage companies registered, with 19,985 vehicles (lorries, semitrailer tractors, truck trailers, semitrailers), and a cargo capacity of 188,724 t (185,743 long tons; 208,033 short tons), and 15,623 employees.[47]
| Name | from (North) | to (South) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bundesautobahn 1 | Lübeck, Fehmarn, Kopenhaven | Bremen, Münster, Dortmund | European route E22 |
 Bundesautobahn 7 | Kiel, Schleswig, Flensburg | Hanover, Kassel | European route E45 |
 Bundesautobahn 23 | Elmshorn, Itzehoe, Heide | ||
 Bundesautobahn 24 | Berlin | European route E26 | |
 Bundesautobahn 25 | Geesthacht | ||
 Bundesautobahn 26 | Stade | planned | |
 Bundesautobahn 39 | Winsen/Luhe, Lüneburg | Not in Hamburg proper | |
 Bundesautobahn 252 | Connecting A255 and B75 | ||
 Bundesautobahn 253 | |||
 Bundesautobahn 255 | Connecting A1 and B4, B75 | ||
 Bundesautobahn 261 | Connecting A1 and A7 | ||
 Bundesstraße 4 | Quickborn, Bad Bramstedt, Neumünster | Winsen/Luhe, Lüneburg, Uelzen | |
 Bundesstraße 5 | Danish border | Geesthacht, Lauenburg, Boizenburg | |
 Bundesstraße 73 | Cuxhaven | Hamburg | |
 Bundesstraße 75 | Bargteheide, Bad Oldesloe | Buchholz, Tostedt, Rotenburg/Wümme | |
 Bundesstraße 431 | Meldorf | Altona | |
 Bundesstraße 432 | Scharbeutz, Bad Segeberg | Hamburg | |
 Bundesstraße 433 | A7 in Hamburg | Eppendorf | |
 Bundesstraße 447 | Connecting B5 and A7 |
Theport of Hamburg is situated in a distance of 110 kilometres from the mouth of theElbe river, off theNorth Sea. In 2007, the port was the second-largest inEurope[48] and ninth-largest worldwide. 9.8 millioncontainers were handled in Hamburg in 2007, a ten percent increase on 2006.[48] In 2008,inland water transport had a quantity of freight of 12,024 t (11,834 long tons; 13,254 short tons) (1000 t), and maritime shipping a quantity of 140,236 t (138,021 long tons; 154,584 short tons) (1000 t). Both increased compared to 2007.[42]
The importance and responsibility of the port and its trade for the city is shown through the fact, that Hamburg is described itself as aWelthafenstadt (world port city) in the preamble of theconstitution of Hamburg. Dieter Läpple described the important connection between the port and the trade city to enter it into the preamble of the constitution as follows:The preamble of the constitution of Hamburg points out the close relationship between port and city with regard to their development: „As an international port the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg has a special task, allocated by its history and location, toperform for the German people. In the spirit of peace it wants to be an intermediary between all continents and peoples of the world."[49]
Importantwaterways were also – not in Hamburg proper – the canalsElbe Lateral Canal andKiel Canal.
Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg | |
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| History andculture | |
| Economy andtransport | |
Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV) Public transport rail systems and operators in theHamburg Metropolitan Region | |
| Systems | |
| Operators |
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