New Hochbahn e-bus depot can be built
Hamburger Hochbahn plans to start building its first all-electric bus depot in the Meiendorf district at the end of the year. The building permit from the Wandsbek district authority has been granted, a company spokesperson announced on Thursday. The facility will provide space for 130 electrically powered buses and will be ready in summer 2026. Initial preparatory work is set to begin in December, followed by earthworks in January.
"To convert the bus fleet to emission-free drives, not only do sufficient buses need to be purchased, but the entire infrastructure also needs to be rebuilt," explained Jens-Günter Lang, Chief Technical Officer at Hochbahn.
The company's e-buses currently run from the depots in the Alsterdorf and Hummelsbüttel districts. The remaining Hochbahn depots are to be gradually converted to emission-free drive systems. Another new facility in combination with stores and restaurants as well as a workshop are to be built on the Veddel.
The construction of the depot in Meiendorf has been delayed by around one and a half years. The reason for this is the approval process with water law issues and residents' interests. Originally, the facility was due to go into operation at the end of 2024.
However, according to Hochbahn spokesperson Christoph Kreienbaum, the conversion of the bus fleet to electric drive is proceeding according to plan. The company currently has just under 200 electric buses, with around 230 expected by the end of the year. By 2030, Hochbahn's entire bus fleet, currently comprising more than 1,100 vehicles, is to be emission-free. The delay in the construction of the depot will not change this, said Kreienbaum.
To reduce traffic emissions and promote sustainable transport, the new e-bus depot in Meiendorf will require significant energy resources for charging the 130 electric buses. As Germany aims to combat climate change, this shift towards emission-free transportation is a critical step towards lowering greenhouse gas emissions in Hamburg's traffic.
Source: www.dpa.com
