Alstom Secures EUR 60M Contract to Digitise Hamburg S-Bahn with ETCS and ATO Technology

Hamburg’s rail network is going digital. With a EUR 60 million contract in hand, Alstom is set to retrofit 82 S-Bahn trains with cutting-edge ETCS and ATO tech.

Alstom has signed a contract with S-Bahn Hamburg for a technology upgrade of 82 S-Bahn trains of type BR 490. The S-Bahn trains will be equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS) and modern ATO technology for automated train operations. This involves semi-automatic train operation with GoA2. According to the press release from Alstom, the contract value exceeds 60 million euros.

Alstom rüstet S-Bahn Hamburg mit ETCS und ATO aus - //t.co/IAKMeXw7fY //t.co/WQVtMmqTwB

— News aus Hamburg (@News_aus_HH) April 11, 2025

Prototype Development and Fleet-Wide Retrofit

Alstom will equip four prototype vehicles with ETCS Onvia units and ATO technology by 2029 and re-homologate them. This work will be carried out at Alstom's Hennigsdorf location. The contract also includes the delivery of the technical equipment for the retrofit of the remaining 78 trains. Alstom will additionally support the serial retrofitting process conducted by Deutsche Bahn.

The 82 S-Bahn trains are part of the first batch of BR 490 trains ordered in 2013. Meanwhile, 64 trains from the second batch are factory-equipped with ETCS and ATO. This means that soon, the entire BR 490 fleet of Hamburg S-Bahn will be prepared for digital rail operations.

Alstom and Hamburg S-Bahn on the Mobility Shift

"The combination of digitalisation and automation is the key to greener mobility on rail. It allows shorter headways and higher passenger numbers while reducing energy consumption," says Tim Dawidowsky, President of the Central and Northern Europe region, Alstom. "With this project, the Hamburg S-Bahn contributes significantly to the digitalisation of rail in Germany, and Alstom supports this with expertise and cutting-edge technology."

Jan Schröder, Chairman of the Management Board of S-Bahn Hamburg, adds: "The full digitalisation of S-Bahn Hamburg sets new standards for rail’s future. I’m pleased we’ve secured a strong partner like Alstom for the retrofit of the last 82 vehicles. This milestone will boost capacity and efficiency in S-Bahn operations thanks to the commitment of the City of Hamburg and the Authority for Transport and Mobility Transition."

Alstom's Global Expertise in Digital Rail

With over 120 ETCS projects worldwide and around 24,800 Onvia Cab onboard units, Alstom is a global leader in rail digitalisation. Its Onvia Cab is designed for installation on new trains and retrofitting existing vehicles. It complies with the latest TSI 2023 standard and meets Baseline 3 interoperability requirements.

In Germany, Alstom is also equipping 215 S-Bahn trains and 118 regional trains with ETCS and ATO under the flagship Digital Node Stuttgart project, reinforcing its position in the country’s push for automated rail networks.

Source: Alstom Press Release