HVV - The pioneer of local public transport

One tariff, one ticket, one timetable:with these goals, the world's first transport association was founded on November 29, 1965 in Hamburg. The Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV) was a pioneer and role model in local public transport.

by Heiko Block, NDR.de

Until then, if people in Hamburg wanted to get from A to B by public transport, they needed up to seven different tickets, a lot of patience and a sense of adventure:change from the underground to the S-Bahn, from the S-Bahn to the bus , then onto the ferry - and buy a new ticket each time. Timetables that were not coordinated with each other but competed with each other. With the founding of the Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV) on November 29, 1965 as the world's first transport association, this changed. The Hanseatic city was thus a pioneer and role model for integrated local public transport.

HVV grows to a good 10,000 stops in 55 years

It was initially a merger of four companies, today seven districts, three countries and 23 transport companies work closely together in the HVV. Around 795 million passengers used the HVV at a total of 10,359 stops in 2019. An increase of 1.4 percent compared to the previous year.

Historian Frahm:HVV must analyze needs

"Since it was founded, the HVV has repeatedly analyzed how the needs of passengers are developing," says Daniel Frahm. The historian writes for the Hochbahn blog, among other things, and helped set up the historical archive for the Hamburg subway. "In the early days of the HVV, for example, people seriously considered the increasing television consumption and the effects on local transport. In 1965 there were around 700,000 TV connections, which is discussed in the first HVV annual report. There were fears that people prefer to stay at home in the evenings. Even today, the transport companies have to keep their finger on the pulse," says Frahm. Not only technically with new vehicles, but also with new mobility offers such as HVV Switch, which connects the HVV with car and bike sharing providers and shuttle services.

For Frahm, a city is a living organism:"The traffic lines are the lifelines that have to be constantly adapted. The HVV has to change constantly - otherwise it would no longer make sense." You always have to see where Hamburg is growing - and react to it.

It all started with horse-drawn trams

Hamburg's public transport already has a long tradition. From October 1839, four horse-drawn carriages, each with up to 13 passengers, drove from the Steintor in Hamburg to Palmaille in Altona, which was still Danish at the time. Around 1900, Hamburg had over 700,000 inhabitants, so horse-drawn trams and trams were reaching their capacity limits. Relief was provided in 1906 by the so-called suburban railway, an extension of the previous connecting railway. Public transport was fundamentally modernized by the ring line opened in 1912, Hamburg's first subway. Together with the first bus lines, a dense network of different public transport systems was created - but with uncoordinated timetables and tariffs.

The fragmentation into different operating companies was a problem for decades. In 1954 the Senate therefore set up the "Commission for Transport Issues". A year later, they recommended new city highways for the steadily growing car traffic on the one hand, and the expansion of the subway network on the other.

Elevated railway idea was the cornerstone for HVV

Since the number of passengers in local public transport was declining, Hochbahn CEO Max Mroß suggested in 1960 that all transport companies operating in the greater Hamburg area should be so closely linked legally, organizationally and economically that self-interests were largely dissolved. Goal:a linking of lines, timetables and tariffs. Discussions began on the basis of the Hochbahn proposals. Intensive negotiations took place for five years - until the foundation of the HVV was finally sealed on November 29, 1965 in the Kaisersaal of the town hall.

Frahm describes the Hochbahn boss's paper as the HVV cornerstone:"It was an innovative idea at the time. There was no telling whether it would be successful. But then suddenly half of Europe made the pilgrimage here to Hamburg. Experts came to find out about the revolutionary model to inform." The HVV was a pioneer. Even in cosmopolitan cities like London and Paris there was nothing comparable.

Last tram runs in 1978

In return for the expansion of the S-Bahn and U-Bahn, the tram network in the Hanseatic city was reduced. From the original 187 kilometers in 1955, only 72 kilometers were left in 1971 before line 2 finally left for its last journey on September 30, 1978 and more than 300,000 Hamburgers said goodbye to the tram on the Rathausmarkt. Frahm never experienced the tram personally. "But I can still remember the big construction site in front of our house on Ludolfstraße when the rails were removed," says the historian.

U4 will be inaugurated in 2012 - U5 in planning

In order to further promote public transport, in 1990 the citizenry decided, among other things, to make stops suitable for the disabled, to expand the P+R range, to speed up bus transport, to modernize the vehicles and to build an S-Bahn to the airport. This was finally inaugurated in December 2008. Since November 2012, underground line 4 has opened up new territory. It runs from Billstedt via Jungfernstieg to the new HafenCity and from there to the Elbe bridges. The U5 line, which will connect the north-west and north-east with the city center and will be operated without a driver, is planned - with significant delays. According to the company, Hochbahn wants to start construction at the end of 2021.

So there is no shortage of new projects in the HVV. But not all plans and ideas for transport projects in Hamburg have been implemented in the past. A planned light rail was initially dropped during the red-green coalition negotiations in 2015 in favor of the subway expansion. And a cable car planned by private investors across the Elbe in St. Pauli was also rejected by the population. Another airy project that was planned in the 1960s but never implemented:the cable car. This should drive through Hamburg at a height of about five meters. High pillars were to be erected in the city center for the cable car network. "This project was seriously discussed, but not implemented. It didn't look nice and was probably too expensive," says historian Frahm. "In addition, only two to four people could have traveled in the gondolas of the so-called C-Bahn." Doesn't sound like a promising future project - but it will be interesting to see what the traffic planners will come up with next.

Important Stations in HVV history

1965:Founding of the HVV

The HVV is founded on November 29, 1965 - the first transport association in the world. Shareholders are the Hamburger Hochbahn AG (HHA), the Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) with S-Bahn and city buses and the Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (VHH). The Hafen-Dampfschifffahrt AG (HADAG) and the Hamburg-Blankenese-Este-Line are connected to the HVV via the HHA.

1967:HVV tariff comes into effect

On January 1, 1967, the HVV tariff came into effect. Now the railway company Altona-Kaltenkirchen-Neumünster (AKN), the Alster-Nordbahn (ANB) as well as the Elmshorn-Barmstedt-Oldesloer Eisenbahn Aktiengesellschaft (EBO) and the Deutsche Bundespost (DBP) belong to the HVV. The S-Bahn will be extended from Elbgaustrasse to Pinneberg. The first park-and-ride spaces are created.

1968:Uniform transfer in the entire HVV area

From 1968, uniform tariff conditions and the same price calculation principles apply throughout the HVV area. Almost all passengers can now travel with one and the same ticket in the entire HVV area without having to purchase new tickets when changing modes of transport.

1970:Introduction of the HVV subscription

On April 1, 1970, the HVV subscription was introduced. The 12-month card at a special price becomes a bestseller:20,000 subscribers have already been won by the end of the year. The "Family Excursion Ticket" for the weekend will also be added to the range of tickets in summer.

1972:First female bus drivers

In 1972, the first female bus drivers nationwide were hired in Hamburg. The Pinneberger Verkehrsgesellschaft (PVG) joins the network.

1973:Jungfernstieg rapid transit junction is inaugurated

With the inauguration of the Jungfernstieg rapid transit hub in 1973, the U2 ran continuously from Hagenbecks Tierpark via Jungfernstieg to Wandsbek-Gartenstadt. Introduction of the daily pass.

1975:Commissioning of the "City-S-Bahn"

1975:The "City-S-Bahn" is put into operation from the main station to the provisional end point Landungsbrücken. The City Nord office district, which was completed in the early 1970s and provides work places for almost 30,000 people, will receive an additional train connection in September through the Sengelmannstrasse underground station.

1976:Introduction of the Kangaroo card

The Kangaroo card is introduced in 1976. It is the forerunner of today's CC card and was designed for off-peak shopping traffic.

1978:Tram traffic is discontinued

On September 30, 1978, 300,000 people from Hamburg said goodbye to the tram on the last journey on line 2.

1979:"City-S-Bahn" runs to Altona

The "City-S-Bahn" has been in operation since 1979 from the main station via the Landungsbrücken to Altona. The cheaper CC card for trips outside of rush hour is introduced. In addition, the first female subway drivers begin their training at Hochbahn. Hamburg is a nationwide pioneer in this.

1981:First combined tickets for the Evangelical Church Day

In 1981, the "City-S-Bahn" connection between Altona and Diebsteich was put into operation. For the first time nationwide, the HVV agreed to issue combination tickets with the 19th Evangelical Church Congress. 300,000 people can use the HVV with their participant ID.

1983:Alster ships drop out of the HVV tariff

The first section of the Harburg S-Bahn between the main station and Harburg town hall goes into operation in 1983. However, the people of Hamburg now have to do without scheduled trips with Alster ships in the HVV tariff - only cruises and special trips are offered on the Alster.

1984:S-Bahn goes to Neugraben

The S-Bahn line south of the Elbe runs to Hamburg-Neugraben from 1984.

1985:Combination tickets for music events in Alsterdorfer Sporthalle

In 1985 there is the first combination ticket long-term cooperation:For music events in the Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, all tickets include travel authorization with the HVV.

1989:Starting signal for the "ProfiCard"

In 1989, the world's most modern subway type DT4 ran for the first time. The HHV is also testing a special feature:Volksfürsorge takes out the first major customer subscription and is now making the "ProfiCard" available to its employees, which is valid for the entire HVV area. The test, with which large companies are supposed to encourage their employees to switch to bus and train, is a success.

1990:Introduction of the Hamburg Card for tourists

In 1990 the extension of the U3 to Mümmelmannsberg was completed. The Hamburg Card is introduced for tourists. It also offers free entry to museums and other discounts.

1991:U2 runs to Niendorf Nord

The extension of the U2 to Niendorf Nord goes into operation in 1991.

1994:HVV semester ticket for students

The HVV semester ticket is introduced for students in 1994.

1996:U1 runs to Norderstedt Mitte

The restructuring of the HVV from a company to a public transport association comes into force. HVV GmbH starts work on October 1, 1996 with 34 employees. The U1 now runs to Norderstedt Mitte.

1997:Timetable information is available online

The HVV website (hvv.de) with the internet timetable information goes online in 1997. The S‑Bahn begins using the new ET 474 trains.

1998:HVV turns red-blue

In 1998, the HVV received a new corporate design. The new color combination of red and blue replaces yellow and black.

2001:MetroBus network is launched

From June 2001 there is the MetroBus network, in which the most important bus lines of the HVV are combined and offer a ten-minute service until at least 9 p.m.

2002:HVV grows by 15 companies in the north

On December 15, 2002, the expansion of the HVV to the north came into force, adding 15 companies from the new areas - the districts of Pinneberg, Segeberg, Stormarn and the Duchy of Lauenburg - to the eleven transport companies in the HVV. The HVV thus takes account of the growing together of the metropolitan region.

2004:HVV grows in the south around Stade, Harburg and Lüneburg

On December 12, 2004, the HVV was expanded to the south (districts of Stade, Harburg and Lüneburg). From December 17th, the U-Bahn and S-Bahn will run through Hamburg on weekend nights.

2007:S-Bahn goes to Stade

From December 9, 2007, commuters will benefit from the connection of the district of Stade to the Hamburg S-Bahn network with the S3 S-Bahn line from Neugraben via Buxtehude to Stade.

2008:Commissioning of the Airport S-Bahn

The airport S-Bahn will open on December 11, 2008 after decades of planning. An absolute smoking ban will be issued at all rapid transit and regional train stops.

2010:self-print tickets

You can print out the ticket yourself from 2010 in the HVV online shop. It is now also possible to print out all individual, day and group tickets directly on your own PC.

2011:Fare refund in case of delay

"On time or your money back": In 2011 the HVV guarantee was introduced. Every passenger who arrives more than 20 minutes late due to delays or cancellations is entitled to compensation - regardless of the cause of the delay. A general ban on alcohol will be imposed in September 2011.

2012:HVV introduces e-ticketing

In 2012, the HVV introduced e-ticketing with the HVV app and the mobilTicket. The U4 is opened. The HVV offer will be expanded to include car sharing and rental car offers. Since 2012, the barrier-free expansion of Hamburg's rapid transit stops has also been accelerated. (1st stage 2012-2015; 2nd stage 2015-2020)

2014:Real-time data from the rails

From 2014, the real-time data will be made available in the HVV on the rail routes. Up-to-date information should be displayed for all buses, trains and ferries in the HVV over the next few years.

2015:50 years HVV

The HVV is the first transport association in the world to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

2018:Tariff extension to Lower Saxony

The HVV extends its tariff to Lower Saxony. In four districts, a number of rail routes are included in the association. At the same time, the first offer offensive starts, with which the transport offer of the HVV is to be significantly improved.

2019:citizen participation and second service offensive

In February 2019, extensive citizen participation began on concrete planning steps for the new U-Bahn line 5. It is intended to connect the districts further out in the east and west of Hamburg to the city center and ultimately lead from Bramfeld to the west of Hamburg. From December, the HVV will start its second offer offensive. The goal is the Hamburg tact:Within five minutes, a transport service should be available throughout the city.

2020:BonusTicket for trainees

Since August 2020, trainees have had a subscription to a BonusTicket. Subsidized by the employer and the city of Hamburg, trainees travel in the entire HVV network for a monthly contribution of 30 euros.