Hamburg's U5 to Bramfeld under construction, first stage worth €2.8bn

The first construction section of the new, fully automated (driverless, GoA4) U5 runs from Bramfeld via Steilshoop, Barmbek-Nord and the to-be-expanded Sengelmannstraße station to City Nord (Stadtpark) – roughly 5.8–6 km with four new stations. Construction has been underway since autumn 2022; trial operation is planned from 2027 with passenger service between Sengelmannstraße and City Nord from end of 2029, but the through connection to Bramfeld itself is not expected until end of 2033. Cost for the first section: approx. EUR 2.8 billion (entire U5 project: EUR 14–16.5 billion). Update (3 Feb 2026): The U5 is now planned at about 29 km with 24 stations as far as Osdorf; the first trial operation of the driverless line is due to start at the end of 2027 and the second platform at Sengelmannstrasse is to open in autumn 2026. Because of the link to the U3 at Borgweg, the City Nord–Jarrestraße section is to open early, with the continuation to Jarrestraße following by 2035; the planning approval decision is expected in the second half of 2026. At Barmbek Nord the excavation (as of 9 Dec 2025) is already eleven metres deep; a tunnel boring machine is to drive the line towards Bramfeld from autumn 2027, and the first section remains on schedule and budget (LOK Report, 3 Feb 2026).