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Regional rail services between Hamburg, Ahrensburg and Bad Oldesloe have seen a steady increase in passenger numbers in recent years. We are responding by constructing the S4. This new S-Bahn line will provide the region's inhabitants with better local transport between Hamburg and Bad Oldesloe. Some 250,000 people will benefit from this new service.
Protecting flora and fauna is of vital importance to Deutsche Bahn and all of our project partners. Together, we have designed a range of measures along the route that will safeguard water and soil quality as well as protect the existing landscape. We are working to ensure that the new S-Bahn does not pose a threat to endangered species such as the great crested newt.
The plans for the S4 line include comprehensive active and passive noise mitigation measures, such as trackside barriers and a host of other features. Our website contains detailed information about these and about how our work will change noise levels along the line.
We want you to have the most comprehensive information possible about the S4. What is the current status of the project plans? When will construction work start? And what impact will the project have on people and nature? We have identified the key questions about the project and now have the answers for you.
In-depth information about the planning process and our construction work
20 kilometres of existing line from Hasselbrook to Ahrensburg-Gartenholz will be upgraded for the new S-Bahn service. The project consists of three sections. Each of them has its own specific planning procedure, which means separate approval is necessary for every section.
There's a lot happening when it comes to the planning and construction of the new S4. Our project diary keeps track of the latest developments and follows how the project is going. Members of the project team also provide details about their work so you know more about what's happening in the background. It's a mine of interesting information. Enjoy!
Wednesday, 9. November 2022
Agile construction on the S4: DB optimises construction sequence with two steel bridges
Deutsche Bahn AG
The lifting of the bridges early Saturday morning on the S4 construction site
In order for construction to continue at full speed and for trains to be able to roll along the long-distance railway tracks without major closures next year, Deutsche Bahn (DB) is optimising the construction process for the S4. During a site visit in Hasselbrook today, Hamburg's Senator for Traffic and Mobility Anjes Tjarks got an idea of the creative solution - two 27-metre-long steel bridges. Until the actual structure over the freight bypass is built at the site, DB is using two bridges from its existing stock. Experts installed them in record time over the weekend with the help of a 700-tonne crane.
Amina Karam, DB's S4 General Project Director: "In a construction project of this magnitude, agile project planning is extremely important. All the building blocks influence each other - it's like a cogwheel, each element has an impact on the other and the overall system. With our idea, we work our way forward quickly and effectively, regardless of external circumstances such as the market and necessary blocking periods. It's a win-win situation - we build and the train traffic rolls. In this way, we are making further important construction progress on the new artery for local transport between Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein."
Otto Wulff/Henrike Thomsen
General Project Director Amina Karam and Hamburg's Senator for Traffic and Mobility Dr Anjes Tjarks at the S4 construction site
Anjes Tjarks, Senator for Traffic and Mobility: "The construction of the S4 is an important pillar for the success of the mobility change in Hamburg: a quarter of a million people in Hamburg and the surrounding area will be better connected to Hamburg's rapid transit network in the future and the main station will be significantly relieved. In addition, the S4 will increase the reliability of public transport in the north-east of Hamburg and in the metropolitan region as far as Bad Oldesloe. At the same time, it is of course important that we keep the city, as well as long-distance traffic, flowing during the construction period. The freshly installed bridges in combination with agile construction planning are a very good prerequisite for this. It is also a good and right signal that Deutsche Bahn is using bridges from its inventory for this purpose."
Next year, DB will be building two 1.2-kilometre-long bypass tracks in Hasselbrook. Experts will equip the tracks with overhead lines and contact wire and connect them to the Lübeck-Hamburg mainline line. Thus, from spring 2023, the railway will roll past the construction site for the new railway crossing of the S1 and S4 as well as the work for the double-track expansion of the Horner Kurve. This will also start next year. In the area between the Hammer Straße and Wandsbek Rathaus railway bridges, DB is building foundations for the noise barriers. The work package also includes preparatory work for the new Claudiusstraße, Schlossgarten and Bovestraße railway bridges.
Many media picked up on the construction progress of the S4, including NDR, Sat1, as well as N-TV and the Hamburger Morgenpost.
Otto Wulff/Miguel Ferraz
Experts joined forces to lift the bridges at the construction site on Hammer Straße
Otto Wulff/Miguel Ferraz
Experts joined forces to lift the bridges at the construction site on Hammer Straße
Wednesday, 2. November 2022
S4 presents innovative noise protection in Ahrensburg
Deutsche Bahn AG/Peter Mantik
General Project Director Amina Karam and Head of Planning Michael Kablitz at the event in Ahrensburg
Why do we need a four-track extension of the railway line? What impact will the planned noise protection have on the townscape of Ahrensburg? DB discussed these and many other questions with citizens and experts in Ahrensburg last Thursday.
After an hour of lively exchange at seven market stands, moderator Katrin Fahrenkrug welcomed the 150 visitors in the auditorium and a further 130 viewers on the livestream. After a keynote speech by IG Tunneltal, Amina Karam, General Project Director for S4, and Michael Kablitz, head of S4 planning, presented the project and details of the third construction phase.
DB shows innovation in noise protection
Deutsche Bahn is breaking new ground in noise protection. A partnership between the DB Bahnbau Group and the Italian start-up Phononic Vibes resulted in a transparent noise barrier that offers a very high level of protection against noise. Those who wanted to get a personal impression of this new type of wall were able to view it in front of the event hall. DB had specially installed a sample wall there.
Amina Karam showed visualisations specially made for Ahrensburg in the hall - and aroused great interest.
This new type of noise barrier is currently in the approval process and may not yet be installed in Germany. Karam says: "We are working on being able to use these or similar walls in Germany in the future. Because we believe that with these innovations we can get people even more excited about our construction projects".
DB Bahnbau Gruppe
Visualisation of the noise barriers planned so far in Ahrensburg
DB Bahnbau Gruppe
Visualisation of the transparent noise barriers in Ahrensburg
Panel discusses three core topics In the first part of the panel discussion, experts discussed fundamental issues such as the benefits and challenges of the S4 expansion. Among others, Martin von Ivernois, Head of Department for Local Public Transport and Railways in the Ministry of Economics, Transport, Labour, Technology and Tourism of Schleswig-Holstein, and Amina Karam, General Project Director of the S4 project, discussed with each other. Karam confirmed that Deutsche Bahn invested a lot of effort and time in planning and examining variants in order to make the best decision technically, economically, but also for people and the environment.
Round 2 focused on the topics of archaeology and the environment. Also present for Deutsche Bahn was the experienced environmental expert Martin Roger. He emphasised that a transport turnaround will only succeed if local transport projects like this are implemented, but with respect for pre history and nature: "We are aware of the importance of the tunnel valley and have included this in our planning from the very beginning. On the basis of many studies, including FFH compatibility, archaeology and species protection, we have analysed what needs to be avoided and what needs to be done. We take this as seriously as it actually is. We don't do this on the side".
In addition to environmental protection, archaeology is also a much-discussed topic in the S4 expansion. Dr Ulf Ickerodt, state archaeologist and head of the Schleswig-Holstein State Archaeological Office, emphasises the correct and appropriate consideration of the archaeological heritage contrary to the criticism occasionally voiced against DB's plans: "From our point of view, the bridge at Brauner Hirsch improves the situation in the tunnel valley. With the planned bridge and the dismantling of the road, not only will the currently existing barrier be removed, but the construction of the structure will also create new lines of sight. You will have a fantastic view of the tunnel valley, which is not available today".
The third core topic, noise protection, was also discussed in detail by the panel members. Janine Korczak, noise protection expert at DB, said: "Reconciling urban development, quality of life and people is a great challenge. We are obliged to protect people and the environment. We are sitting here together with them at the same table to work on ideas and find solutions."
Dialogue between DB and the city continues "Together with all of you, we would like to continue to exchange ideas and take you with us on our journey," said Amina Karam as she said goodbye.
DB Netz AG/Pia Haskamp
At the S4 information stand, interested people could hear how the noise from passing trains changes with different noise barriers.
Deutsche Bahn AG/Peter Mantik
150 visitors on site and another 130 viewers listened to the panel discussion via livestream.
DB Netz AG/Pia Haskamp
A model of the transparent noise barrier was also on site in Ahrensburg.
Wednesday, 26. October 2022
Infomation event on the S4 in Ahrensburg
On Thursday, 27 October 2022, the town of Ahrensburg will hold a public dialogue event on the expansion of the S-Bahnlinie S4 in the region. At the invitation of the town, we from Deutsche Bahn will be there with the S4-Projectteam at the Schulzentrum am Heimgarten. Our experts on planning, noise protection, the environment and archaeology will take part in a panel discussion.
We look forward to welcoming many of you on site and to exchanging ideas with you. We will be happy to explain all the details of the project and answer your questions. All those interested who are not present can follow the panel discussion here via livestream from 7 pm. We look forward to your active participation!
