Underground railway extension: Is sailing on the Outer Alster about to end?

In future, the U5 is to run from the purpose-built "Bramfeld" underground station to the newly constructed "Arenen Volkspark" stop. The route of the new underground line will run east along the Alster, then along the Jungfernstieg and then west of the Alster to the Volksparkstadion. The new connection will be almost 25 kilometres long and have 23 stops.

What problem do the sailors have with the new line?

As reported by the "Hamburger Abendblatt" newspaper, around five hectares (50,000 square metres) of the Alster could be filled in for the construction. According to the report, the Hamburg transport authority is apparently considering draining large areas on the eastern side of the Outer Alster in front of the Hotel Atlantic and in Hohenfelder Bucht. The area is to be used for construction site logistics, i.e. as a storage area for construction equipment, lorries and concrete silos. Specifically, the water areas are to be separated with sheet piling, pumped dry and then filled in.

Logically, the project has the sailors up in arms. Tobias König, the chairman of the North German Regatta Association (NRV), has organised a Online petition which is addressed to the Mayor of Hamburg and the city parliament.

König fears the following ecological effects:

• Massive disturbance of the sensitive ecosystem of the Alster, endangerment (partial destruction) of the habitat of numerous animal and plant species
• Risk of water pollution due to construction work
• The necessary pile driving and compaction work would cause considerable vibrations and disturbances throughout the water body and cause lasting damage to the aquatic ecosystem
• Continuous impairment due to noise and vibrations over a period of 10 years due to construction operations on the site
• Risk of water pollution due to construction operations involving the storage and use of water-polluting substances and operating materials for construction machinery, heavy goods vehicles and production facilities in the immediate vicinity of water bodies

König fears for the "sport and leisure" sector:

• Massive restrictions for water sports and obstruction of traditional sailing and rowing activities
• Loss of training and competition opportunities

In the petition text, Tobias König also expresses technical concerns and negative effects on the cityscape and the recreational value of Hamburg. The chairman of the Hamburg Sailing Association, Oliver Kosanke, described the project as "madness" in an interview with the Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper. Tobias König from the NRV spoke of a "catastrophe for Hamburg" if the plans for the construction site on the water surface of the Alster are realised.