Hamburg's U-Bahn opened in February 1912, making Hamburg the 3rd German city after Berlin and Schöneberg to have a subway. It is now composed of four lines with a total of 93 stations. Interestingly, despite its U-Bahn name, the majority of its tracks are above ground. Overall the tracks have a length of over 100000 km making it the second largest subway system in Germany after Berlin.
Feldstraße
The Feldstraße station was part of Hamburg's first subway stations and opened on May 25, 1912 to plans by Raabe & Wöhlecke. After having designed the entrance building to the Old Elbtunnel, Raabe & Wöhlecke were also responsible for several other of the initial subway stations. In order to keep up with the increasing number of users, the Feldstraße station received in 1954 a new access building designed by local architect Hans Ludwig Martin Loop (1891 - 1973). The building is particularly interesting in bright sunshine when the sunlight passing through the colourful windows paints abstract images on the floor.
Hamburg subway station Feldstraße
Klosterstern
The Klosterstern station was designed by local architect Walter Puritz (1904 - 1987) and opened on June 2nd, 1929. The station is the last pre-war station with the original architecture and with its cubist elements of Art Deco is now a listed monument. It is located of the U1 line.
Hamburg subway station Klosterstern
Jungfernstieg
The Jungfernstieg station, located under the Alster river, opened in the 1930s as Europe's first underwater railway station. It was expanded several times over time, adding the U2 in 1973 and U4 in 2012. The U2 platform with its vibrant colours was designed by architect Fritz Trautwein.
Hamburg subway station Jungfernstieg
Hamburg subway station Jungfernstieg
Messberg
Messberg subway station opened on February 22, 1960 as part of the first subway extension after WWII. Half of it lies under the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus Quarter with Chilehaus". With its yellow colour scheme, it definitely fits in the 1960s.
Hamburg subway station Messberg
HafenCity Universität
Hamburg’s HafenCity Universität station is located on the U4 line and opened in November 2012. It was designed by architectural office Raupach and the light planning office Pfarré Lighting Designhas. The station is illuminated by light containers, more than 6 meters long each and containing 280 colored LEDs. The LEDs allow for lighting moods that can be adjusted to the time of day, year or weather. The subway station received the 2013 Radiance Award for Excellence in Lighting Design from the International Association of Lighting Designers.
Hamburg subway station HafenCity Universität
Hamburg subway station HafenCity Universität
Hamburg subway station HafenCity Universität
Hamburg subway station HafenCity Universität
Überseequartier
Überseequartier is also located on the U4 line. The station was opened in November 2012. Its design is by architecture practice "netzwerkarchitekten" from Darmstadt. The wall cladding is composed of blue, ceramic-coated glass tiles, which darkens towards the bottom while the ceiling is covered with silver sheets. Together, they create the impression of an underwater world.
Hamburg subway station Überseequartier
Elbbrücken
Hamburg‘s most recent subway station, Elbbrücken on the U4 line, opened in December 2018. A particularity of this station is that the railway line emerges from the underground and the station is at ground level. The station was designed by Gerkan, Marg und Partner and its roof construction with crossing steel arches was inspired by the nearby Elbbrücken bridges.
