Setback for the train: court slows station in Hamburg new building

Setback for Deutsche Bahn during the relocation of Altona station: The Higher Administrative Court of Hamburg has granted an urgent petition against the project. Thus, the train may not continue to build up to a complete clarification.

The Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) had complained against the plan approval decision. The verdict was already on 15 August, but was only now known. The German Railways wants to relocate the long-distance railway station in the Hamburg district of Altona 1.8 kilometers north to the site Diebsteich. The loading station for car trains also has to move for the major project.

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The court complained that the plan approval decision on this point was insufficient. He does not provide for an equivalent replacement and provide a timely replacement, neither in terms of time or content, it is stated in the judgment. A corresponding obligation of the railway does not solve the problem.

Further legality issues were not conclusively assessed in the urgent procedure. In the construction project there are further criticisms, such as the planned capacity of the new station. These questions should now also be clarified in the ongoing main proceedings. How long that will take is unclear. Either the railway is trying to remedy the defect, or the plan approval decision is canceled.

The railway informed on request that they take note of the decision and accept it. "We will now examine the decision intensively, also with our project partners, and then decide on further steps," said a spokeswoman. The company did not want to make further statements.

A SPIEGEL research had already pointed out in November last year on the incomplete planning of the railway. A traffic analysis also showed that the project brings disadvantages for many passengers. The railway wants to replace the terminus station with a transit station. These are cheaper to operate for the train, since they require less staff. The city wants to build apartments on the vacant areas. However, critics argue that much of the housing would be possible without the new station.

There is currently a S-Bahn station at the location Diebsteich. According to previous plans, the construction work should begin this summer, the new station should be ready by 2023 and the Altona train station demolished. This timetable could now be significantly delayed.