Hamburg High-Speed Railway: Electric bus depot begins trial operations
Green light in Hamburg’s northeast: Hamburger Hochbahn has begun trial operations at its first fully electric bus depot. We explain what makes this new location in Meiendorf so special—and when around 130 emission-free buses will start operating here in the area.
Hamburg Hochbahn AG began trial operations at its first depot designed exclusively for electric buses on October 19, 2026, in the Meiendorf location. Although the initial 30 buses will not start regular service until December 13, 2026, around 20 employees will already be conducting actual route trips with up to ten vehicles by then. During this testing phase, which serves to adjust operational procedures and train staff, passengers in the northeastern part of Hamburg—including those in Rahlstedt, Farmsen, Volksdorf, and Berne—are gradually benefiting from this service.
The project provides valuable insights and real-world data from a large-scale charging infrastructure and an expanding electric fleet in operation for the e-mobility industry. The service is set to eventually expand to 130 electric buses at the Meiendorf location. Its strategically advantageous position right within the service area significantly reduces travel distances, which according to the officials cuts down unproductive empty trips and optimizes the fleet’s daily energy needs.
In addition, the electric bus depot emphasizes careful resource and energy management: the rooftops of the facility are greened and equipped with solar panels. The tram system also utilizes the waste heat from charging equipment to heat the operational buildings. Collected rainwater is used for cleaning the vehicles.
Since 2020, Hamburger Hochbahn has been acquiring only zero-emission buses. Currently, over 430 buses are fully electric, accounting for about 40 percent of the total fleet. There are also some hybrid buses added to this number. In total, nearly 500 out of around 1,200 city buses are now electric, as Hendryk Münster, head of the relevant department at Hamburger Hochbahn, emphasized in a recent electrive interview. By 2031, another approximately 240 battery-electric buses are set to be added. However, the operator no longer aims for the previously targeted goal of a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2032.