AKN electrifies line for new Hamburg S-Bahn line S5

On behalf of the states of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, AKN is electrifying and upgrading the roughly 30 km, previously non-electrified Hamburg-Eidelstedt–Kaltenkirchen line (21 stations) to turn it into a new, transfer-free S-Bahn line S5 running into Hamburg's main station. Construction has been underway since January 2023 in four phases; the current phase 4 (since 6 September 2025) covers overhead-line installation, bridge and tunnel works between Ellerau and Kaltenkirchen. Total costs were most recently estimated (June 2024) at around EUR 270 million, with completion expected by the end of 2028. Update (29 Apr 2026): Ground has been broken in Kaltenkirchen for the new converter station that will power the future S5. It is due to be finished by July 2028, followed by commissioning and trial running so that S-Bahn service can start in December 2028; construction phase 4 is currently under way. (LOK Report, 29 Apr 2026)