Platforms 6 island Category 1 Opened 18 September 1844 | Station code 2517 Address 22765 Hamburg, Germany | |
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Location Scheel-Plessen-Str. 17
22765 Hamburg
Germany DS100 code AA (main line)
AAS (S-Bahn) Rebuilt 1898 relocated northwards by 700 m
1950
1979 Similar Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, Hamburg Dammtor Railway, Hamburg‑Harburg Railway Station, Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Berliner Tor station | ||
Hamburg-Altona or Altona is a railway station in Hamburg, Germany. It is situated west of the city's main station, Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, in the district of Altona, and is the usual terminus for southbound long-distance trains.
Contents
The main line station Hamburg-Altona is a terminal station, and most InterCityExpress (ICE) services to southern Germany begin and terminate there. The underground station is named Altona and is used by the rapid transit trains of the Hamburg S-Bahn. The station is managed by DB Station&Service.
History
The original Altona station was built at the end of the line from Kiel, some 300 metres south of the current station by the Altona-Kiel Railway Company and opened in 1844. Altona was then an independent city within the Duchy of Holstein, but is now the Borough of Altona and the old station is used as its town hall. In 1866 the link line was opened, allowing trains to run through to Klosterthor station (near the current Hamburg Hauptbahnhof) and on to Berlin or Hanover. In 1867 the Altona-Blankenese railway was opened to the towns on the right bank of the river Elbe, now used by lines S1 and S11 of the S-Bahn.
Between 1893 and 1898 the Altona Hauptbahnhof (Altona Central Station) was opened at the current location. The 1898 station was badly damaged during World War II, but was rebuilt. It was demolished in the late 1970s during the construction of the City-S-Bahn, despite protests, because there was considered to be a danger that the tunnelling would lead to its collapse. It was replaced by the current two-storey, low-rise, grey, precast concrete structure, opened in 1979.
Future
According to the German newspapers Hamburger Morgenpost and Die Welt in September 2009, the Deutsche Bahn AG plans to close the long distance train station at Altona and to build a new station at the area of Diebsteich station. Die Welt stated, that the Hamburg government has preliminary studies for the area to build flats and a park, that the area seems to be contaminated, and the date for opening of the new station is 2016.
Station layout
The new station was opened in 1979. Regional and long distance trains start and terminate at Altona at street-level bay platforms within the terminal. There are two underground island platforms for the city trains of Hamburg S-Bahn, accessible by stairs, escalators and lifts. In front of the station there is a bus station with connections to many parts of Hamburg.
Long distance
Altona is the terminus for ICE lines 25 and 28 to Munich, line 22 to Stuttgart and line 20 to Basel. ICE trains are run by Germany's national railway company, Deutsche Bahn.
Regional trains
The regional routes radiating from here include number R60 to Husum and Itzehoe and R70 to Neumünster and Kiel. Line R70 continues to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof.
S-Bahn (Rapid transit)
The trains on the Blankenese line from the city's western districts, S1 and S11, call at Altona and continue on to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof via the City S-Bahn and the Link line to Hamburg Airport and the northern terminus at Poppenbüttel. Route S3 runs from Pinneberg in north-west of the city via the Pinneberg line and continues via Jungfernstieg station and the Hauptbahnhof and via the Harburg S-Bahn to Neugraben and Stade in the south. Route S31 starts here and runs via the Link line and Holstenstrasse station and Central Station and via the Harburg S-Bahn to Harburg and Neugraben.
Facilities
Several shops are located in the station. There are emergency and information telephones, ticket machines, toilets, lockboxes and personnel.