Start for the West Bypass Alte Süderelbe: HPA relies on an integrated project alliance for a forward-looking rail project
20 Nov 2025 17:00 Economy
With the signing of the alliance contract, the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) has officially launched the major project “West Bypass Alte Süderelbe (WASE)”. For the first time, the HPA is applying the Integrated Project Alliance (IPA) model to a purely rail-based project - an approach that closely links planning, construction, and project management to increase efficiency, quality, and schedule reliability.
The West Bypass is intended to eliminate the bottleneck in the northern section of the Alte Süderelbe station and significantly increase the performance of the port rail network. Forecasts predict that today's volume of around 200 trains per working day will rise considerably by 2030. The WASE project will create a double-track, electrified bypass west of the station. It will relieve the junction and sustainably enhance the port railway’s capacity.
The project is being implemented in partnership with STRABAG Rail Fahrleitungen and the bidding consortium KEMNA, WILLKE rail, Aug. Prien Bauunternehmen, and WIWA Kampfmittelbergung. The multi-party contract commits all participants to shared responsibility and transparent collaboration.
“With the West Bypass, we are not only strengthening the rail infrastructure but also embracing new forms of cooperation. The integrated project alliance stands for modern, efficient construction in the port,” emphasizes Friedrich Stuhrmann, Chief Commercial Officer at HPA.
With the signing of the contract, the preparatory phase has been completed, during which the foundations for collaboration were established. The planning phase now begins, in which content, performance definitions, and target costs will be jointly developed.
The West Bypass Alte Süderelbe is regarded as a key project for the future of the port railway - and as a milestone for modern, cooperative project delivery in German infrastructure construction.
Launch of the West Bypass Alte Süderelbe: HPA and partners sign the alliance contract for the forward-looking rail project.
Press contact
Hamburg Port Authority AöR
Press office
Phone: +49 40 42847-2300
E-Mail: pressestelle@hpa.hamburg.de
