Hamburger Hochbahn's "goal remains mobility transition"

24 June 2021

Increased investments planned amid pandemic-induced drop in passenger numbers

Hamburger Hochbahn has announced a 140 per cent rise in investments to EUR 529.9 million this year and a 30 per cent increase to over EUR 688 million in 2022. The funds will go towards the purchase of up to 520 emission-free buses, new underground trains and to expand and maintain the infrastructure by 2025. Hochbahn’s funds stem from the environment-friendly EUR 500 million green bond launched in early 2021 – a first for a transport company in Germany.

Tough year

Commenting at the annual press conference in June, Henrik Falk, CEO of Hochbahn termed 2020 a “huge challenge". During the first lockdown, passenger numbers dropped 30 per cent over 2019 and were 50 per cent lower during the second lockdown. "At the same time, we and other transport companies in the HVV proved that we can keep the city running even in a situation like that," he noted.

Safe transport despite the pandemic

The company went to great efforts to offer residents of Hamburg safe, increased transport services at short notice despite the pandemic. Extensive hygiene measures were also put in place. Passenger numbers have since reached 60 per cent and well over 700,000 passengers are using Hochbahn's buses and trams on a daily basis. Hochbahn counted 314 million passengers in 2020 – a third fewer than in 2019 (EUR 466.76 million). Last year, revenue dropped 14 per cent to EUR 458.2 million over EUR 534.3 million in 2019. However, national aid has fully compensated for the company's losses of EUR 104 million.

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