U3 Saarlandstraße

U3 Saarlandstraße - a historic gem becomes barrier-free

Our Saarlandstraße U3 stop, a historical gem, is a listed building and has seen a lot in its 112 years. With the construction project launched in May 2024, we are currently working on a major remodelling project to make the stop even more convenient and barrier-free.

The historic building fabric, which is worth preserving, makes the construction work a tricky and challenging task. Because we want to keep the closure of the U3 as short as possible, we will be working largely without interrupting service. The U3 will only be closed between the Kellinghusenstraße and Barmbek stops from 27 May to 7 July 2024.

From summer 2025, the station will then be barrier-free for its more than 11,000 daily passengers. The U3 Saarlandstraße is then expected to be the 90th barrier-free underground station in Hamburg. With it, 98 per cent of our underground stations will have one lift per platform, a tactile guidance system and (partially) raised platforms for level boarding and alighting.

HOCHBAHN is investing around 10 million euros in barrier-free expansion and station refurbishment. This is being subsidised by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

All information about the project and the closure can be found below on this page:

What exactly is being built on Saarlandstraße?

The stop will be made barrier-free and extensively refurbished.
Two large switch fields in the vicinity of the stop are being renewed.
Extensive track construction work is taking place on the line between Barmbek and Saarlandstraße.
HOCHBAHN is also expanding the neighbouring Saarlandstraße depot in parallel until around the end of 2025.

Visualisierung der späteren barrierefreien Haltestelle Saarlandstraße

This is what the Saarlandstraße U3 stop will look like after the barrier-free extension.

The construction work in detail:

Installation of two lifts and technical rooms, extension of the equipment on both platforms (including the chessboard look in the barrier-free boarding area)
Extension of both platforms at the western end by 4-13 metres to 125 metres
Refurbishment of the two stairwell roofs including window replacement
Permanent opening of the historic station access (under the bridge) as an additional option to the main access, as it will be opened for the construction work anyway and will provide even better access to the surrounding area in future
Renewal of the counter hall ceiling and lighting and optimisation of fire protection

To ensure continued safe, stable and quieter operation with state-of-the-art technology ...
to the west of the station, the 100 metre long ‘Saarlandstraße’ switch panel (because it has reached the end of its service life) will be completely renewed and repositioned in order to extend the station platforms and enable new routes.
The now obsolete ‘Saarlandstraße depot’ switch panel south of the U3 tracks will also be completely renewed.
HOCHBAHN is also using the U3 closure in the summer to refurbish the line between the Barmbek and Saarlandstraße stops: The superstructure (conductor rails, running rails, walkways and cable ducts) will be renewed and wooden sleepers will be replaced with concrete sleepers. In addition, the sleepers will be replaced at the Sierichstraße stop (during the day) and track construction work will be carried out at U Kellinghusenstraße. In total, we are renewing
over 3,500 sleepers,
1,400 metres of contact and conductor rails and
over 20 points including ballast.

The immediately neighbouring Saarlandstraße underground depot is being redesigned in order to optimise the use of the available space. The reason for this is an increased need for maintenance, storage and space, which will be further increased with the construction of the U5 underground line.

The neighbouring allotment garden association to the south will receive a privacy wall with a soundproofing effect.

A new rack storage facility, a track construction hall with overhead crane, a cantilever rack with a screen wall, a track technology hall as well as storage, office and social rooms will also be built on the site.

Effects on underground railway operations:

A look back: The history of the Saarlandstraße stop

Ein historisches Foto der U3-Haltestelle Saarlandstraße

Originally opened in 1912 as ‘Flurstraße’, it later became an important transport hub. It was renamed ‘Stadtpark’ in 1924, followed by an extensive extension in 1927 according to the plans of architect Walter Puritz. This included a second platform and a spacious entrance building. A unique feature of the HOCHBAHN network to this day is that each platform can only serve one direction of travel. In 1970, the station was given its final name ‘Saarlandstraße’ to avoid confusion with the S-Bahn station of the same name. We last built at the stop in 2012 and took the first steps towards accessibility at that time.

Questions or concerns about the project? Please get in touch!
Either here via our contact form or by calling our HOCHBAHN customer dialogue on 040/32 88-27 23.

Die Hamburger U3-Haltestelle Saarlandstraße in einer Luftaufnahme

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U5 is coming!

Time to change Hamburg profoundly: The U5 project of the century will connect the UKE, the university, the arenas, the main train station, City Nord and much more. Fully automated, it will be one of the most modern underground lines in Europe.

Details about U5

U3 Saarlandstraße