Why are Hamburg’s U2 and U4 lines, of all things, still missing from EVERY simulator—even though both lines actually have potential?

This question keeps coming up in the community—and, to be honest, quite rightly so: Why is it that Hamburg’s U2 and U4, of all lines, are still missing from every simulator? Especially when you consider how often Hamburg routes are discussed, this gap seems almost astonishing. This makes the question of why two such well-known lines, of all things, are still completely missing all the more intriguing.

The short and rather bitter answer is indeed: No, there is currently no implementation of the U2 or U4 in any simulator. No official DLC, no known community project, and so far no official announcement.

And that is exactly what is surprising at first glance.

Because the U2 in particular actually brings many of the elements that make a strong subway simulation route. With around 43 minutes of travel time, it is long enough to really immerse yourself in the driving feel without becoming too drawn out. On top of that, there are higher-speed sections, tight curves, and a dense timetable that would offer a lot of gameplay potential.

The U4 is significantly shorter, but visually it is actually extremely exciting. Especially the modern section toward HafenCity with stations such as Überseequartier, HafenCity Universität, and Elbbrücken offers a very distinctive architectural style.

And yet, both lines are missing.

One possible reason may lie exactly where many people do not initially look:

Both lines run almost entirely underground for large sections.

From a simulation perspective, this is an important point. A large part of the player experience in many titles strongly depends on visual variety, distinctive outdoor areas, recognizable landmarks, and atmospheric above-ground route sections.

Purely underground or almost completely underground lines may appear less visually attractive to some developers, because many sections can seem more similar at first glance.

Tunnel, station, tunnel, station.

Especially in marketing, an above-ground route with cityscapes, bridges, or iconic landmarks is often easier to present.

That could indeed be one reason why these lines have not been prioritized so far.

At the same time, the technical and licensing side should not be underestimated either. A detailed recreation of modern Hamburg subway stations and vehicles is complex—especially when it comes to official designs, signage, and recognizability.

Still, the question remains exciting.

Because from a community perspective, the U4 with its modern HafenCity section would actually be a real highlight.

Have you ever ridden the U2 or U4? Would you like to see both in a simulator? Is too much tunnel boring for you—or actually exciting?

_{Image from Wikimedia Commons, license: Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0}