Futuristic public transport for Hamburg

30 September 2024

"Now it's your turn - All-In Public Transport" hackathon (October 14-15, 2024)

Registrations are now being accepted for the "Now it's your turn - All-In Public Transport" hackathon on October 14-15 in Hamburg's Betahaus. Participating teams will endeavour to come up with creative, futuristic ideas for more inclusive and attractive public transport for Hamburg. The event is being organised by New Mobility Solutions Hamburg, a branch of Hamburger Hochbahn. The hackathon will also feature keynote speeches, mentoring sessions and plenty of opportunities for networking.

Solutions for Hamburg's public transport

A record 468 million passengers used buses and underground trains in Hamburg last year - an increase of 21 per cent over 2022 and 1 million more than in the pre-pandemic year 2019. Hamburger Hochbahn is investing around EUR 1 billion on expanding its core local transport business this year. Teams in the 30-hour hackathon, which emerged from Hamburg and Deutsche Bahn's Smart City, can input novel ideas on access design, accessibility, travel information, local integration and work in railway missions. The three best teams will present their ideas during the leading UITP global public transport summit underway from June 15-18, 2025 in Hamburg.

Mobility transition projects

Hamburg's mobility transition is gaining pace with new digital, more comfortable underground trains, new lines and stops, autonomous suburban trains, more frequent services, spacious, quieter and zero-emission buses as well as on-demand shuttles. "We are adding several major projects to our services thereby advancing the mobility transition," said Robert Heinrich, CEO of Hamburger Hochbahn. The company is also launching forward-looking development projects such as the “ALIKE” project, which is being funded by the German Ministry of Transport and Digital Affairs. As part of the project, driverless shuttles that can be booked per app are tested. Passenger can reach their destination without changing trains. The senate has also launched the "Digital Mobility Strategy" to expand transport across the city.
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