HVV starts program for commuters

After a truck caught fire under a Hamburg S-Bahn bridge, the Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV) decided to take measures to improve replacement traffic across the Elbe. From next Monday, the commuting S-Bahn trains between Wilhelmsburg and Hammerbrook will always run as long trains with nine cars, as the HVV announced on Friday. The trains on underground line 4 should also be extended to the Elbe bridges if necessary.

In addition, the number of express buses between the Elbbrücken and Wilhelmsburg stops should be doubled, it said. Passengers with a HVV season ticket should still switch to long-distance trains between Harburg and Hamburg Central Station. On the RE5 line (Cuxhaven-Hamburg), there should be an additional stop in Neugraben during peak hours. Some bus lines should be extended and strengthened from August 29th. Further measures were planned.

"The additional measures of the HVV are to be welcomed, but not yet sufficient," said Heike Sudmann, spokeswoman for transport policy for the left, about the plans. In their opinion, an express bus connection from Neugraben/Neuwiedenthal to Altona through the Elbe tunnel and an increase in ferry line 73 could provide further relief.

The bridge at the Elbbrücken stop, which was damaged by the fire, can only be used by the S-Bahn on a single track until September 18th. About a week and a half ago, a truck driver stopped his vehicle under the railway bridge on the Norderelbe when he noticed the fire. After extinguishing the flames and an initial inspection of the overpass, long-distance rail traffic and the operation of the U4 subway line could be released again. Nobody was injured in the fire.