On December 12 a new underground station opened in the north of Hamburg. By launching the new train route of the S-Bahn to Hamburg Airport (Flughafen) a decade long pending dilemma has ended – the demand for a fast and uncomplicated connection from the airport to the city center of Hamburg. Up to now only busses and taxis would take flight passengers directly to the airport in Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel. Another addition: the new Airport Plaza with central security checks a new shopping mall.
How Long Does The Journey Between Hamburg Airport and City Center Take?
The line S1 takes passengers to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, the main train station, in only 25 minutes. Trains run every 10 minutes between 6 am and 11 pm, on Saturdays and Sundays between 7.30 am and 11 pm. Before and after that the trains run every 20 minutes with the first train in the morning arriving at the airport at 4.29 am. The last train leaving the airport to the city center departs at 0.14 am, well after the last planes landed. A single ticket costs € 2,60 (about USD 3,30).
The new track section is 3 kilometers (1,86 miles) long. 2,5 kilometers (1,55 miles) run underground through a tunnel. The cost of building the link to the existing train network was € 280 million (about USD 354 million), of which the state accounted for 60 %, and the city of Hamburg, who paid the remaining 40 %.
New Airport Plaza With Central Security Checks and Shopping Mall
After arriving at the airport, passengers will find further changes and improvements. Terminals 1 and 2 remain unchanged for check-in and baggage check-in. The new Airport Plaza is situated between the terminals. All passengers pass through the new central security check into the Plaza. Here a new shopping mall offers a greater variety of duty-free shopping than there was before. About 40 shops offer travel supply as well as fashion and accessories from quality brands such as Hermès, Burberry, Bulgari, Lacoste or Hilfiger. Several restaurants and bars are also included.
Future Plans at Hamburg Airport Include Hotel and More Parking Space
Even after these important changes the airport of Hamburg remains a work in progress. An improved car-park routing system and further parking space will be launched in the course of 2009. In autumn of 2009 the Radisson Komforthotel will open just opposite the Airport Plaza and with a direct connection to Terminal 2. It will offer 266 guest rooms, 15 conference rooms and a fitness center.
Sources: Hamburg Airport, HVV (Hamburg Transport Association), Radisson SAS Hotels
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Renate Oetjens - Renate Oetjens has been publishing on the internet for more than 14 years. After working for several German publishing houses and AOL ...
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