S4 route construction is delayed: Partial commissioning until 2028!

S4 route construction is delayed: Partial commissioning until 2028!

Schwerin, Deutschland - in Hamburg does a lot in terms of S-Bahn, but the patience of the passengers is put to the test. According to the latest information from Buschhüter, the partial commissioning of the S4 to Rahlstedt could falter to change timetable in December 2027. There is a real way that commissioning will be delayed by the end of 2028. The reason for this is extensive construction work in the planning approval section 2, which is to be carried out during the planned total closure of the Lübeck - Hamburg route in the second half of 2027. From July 2027, this route will be blocked for a basic renovation for half a year, which means redirecting the trains via Mölln and Büchen. NDR reports that this is already the third full closure that is necessary for large conversions in northern Germany.

The construction work for the new S4 has started well. In the planning approval section 1, which ranges from Hasselbrook to Luetkenallee, progress is progressing. Not only new tracks are created, but also modern noise barriers that are installed along the route. These walls represent a new type of solution in Germany and are intended to help reduce the noise pollution for residents. The course and signals are also being rebuilt, while in the back of the head remains that the DB Infrago brings a shift in general renovation by one year to 2028.

Important decisions are before

The decision on the shift still has to be made. A decisive factor here is the outstanding planning approval decision for section 2, which is expected to be expected in the second half of 2025. A legal proceedings against this decision to the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig are not excluded. Experts assume that a final decision by the court could be made in summer or autumn 2026. However, the main construction work can only begin after an incontestable planning approval decision, which is why green waste and clearing work could take place in advance.

The S4 will drive between Hamburg-Altona and Ahrensburg every 10 minutes, to Bargteheide every 20 minutes and to Bad Oldesloe every hour. The project, which was already included in the "urgent needs" of the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan, ensures a noticeable improvement in public transport in the Hamburg area. The federal government pays around 84 percent of the estimated total costs of 1.85 billion euros, which shows that there is a strong financial commitment here.

What the passengers should also consider: The complete service structure is changed sustainably by the S4, since the RB81 is replaced by the new S-Bahn service. If you want to stay mobile in the Hamburg area, the S4 will soon be very important. Even if there are still some challenges to us, like objections to the plans in Schleswig-Holstein, the S4 seems to have a clear future.