Hamburger Hochbahn sets passenger record

'The rising passenger numbers show that we are on the right track. More and more people are  traveling with us instead of driving their own cars," said Robert Henrich, CEO of Hamburger Hochbahn. In 2024, the company took key steps to make public transport even more customer-friendlier. The HVV Switch app was updated to include real-time data and fault messages via push notifications. A personalised message function will soon be added, and the app will show vehicle usage.

Hamburger Hochbahn is now extending the U4 underground line, building a new U5 line and digitizing lines 2 and 4 to run at 100-second intervals. The company is also purchasing trains from the current generation. The proportion of zero-emission buses is set to rise to 40 per cent by late 2025. Funds will also be invested in building and expanding bus depots. The first zero-emission bus depot is currently being built in Meiendorf. "This high level of investment is creating the conditions needed for the transition to a new era of mobility," said Merle Schmidt-Brunn, Executive Board Member with responsibility for Finance and Sustainability.

"Autonomous driving will have a huge impact on mobility," said Heinrich. As part of the "ALIKE" project, which aims to make public transport driverless, Hochbahn plans to put up to 20 autonomous shuttles on roads across Hamburg by late 2026.  Construction of a depot is also underway in Barmbek with the first test drives scheduled for autumn. The focus is increasingly on autonomous driving in regular bus services and a 30 per cent rise in passenger numbers by 2035. 

Hamburger Hochbahn recently approved the 3plus3 project to test the use of autonomous buses in regular bus services. Hamburg also hosted the UITP Summit 2025, the world congress of local public transport (LPT), from June 15-18, 2025. More than 400 exhibitors, 2,800 delegates and 10,000 public transport experts from over 100 countries attended the congress. 
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