Sternbrücke railway bridge reopens in Hamburg

The new Sternbrücke railway bridge in Hamburg-Altona has officially reopened for rail traffic following a major reconstruction project. After months of construction and a spectacular overnight installation of the 3,700-ton steel structure in late July, the first trains, including regional services from Kiel and an ICE to Basel, crossed the bridge on August 31, 2026.

The new four-track bridge replaces a 133-year-old structure that had become structurally unsound. It serves as a critical node in the German and European rail networks, facilitating approximately 900 to 1,000 regional, long-distance, and S-Bahn trains daily.

While the bridge is operational, some local disruptions remain. Road closures under the bridge, such as on Stresemannstraße, are expected to continue due to necessary soil replacement and embankment work. The project has also faced local criticism regarding its scale and its impact on the local club scene, which lost several venues during the construction period.