Image: Deutsche Bahn AG
Germany’s railway infrastructure is about to undergo a massive transformation as Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMDV) embark on an ambitious upgrade program set to run from 2025 until 2030. This extensive project aims to renovate 40 critical route sections, many of which are vital for rail freight transport. While the long-term objective is to enhance the punctuality of German rail transport, the short and mid-term will witness substantial disruptions due to ongoing construction.
Richard Lutz, CEO of DB, expressed gratitude to the federal government for committing up to 45 billion euros in additional funds to support this monumental endeavor. He acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “The enormous construction workload will be challenging for rail freight companies.”
Six Key Pillars
The infrastructure upgrade program for 2025-2030 is built upon six key pillars defined by DB and BMDV:
- Network Rehabilitation: The plan includes the rehabilitation of the highly congested network and its expansion into a high-performance 9,000-kilometer-long network.
- Line Expansion: Targeted expansion of existing rail lines and the construction of new ones to alleviate bottlenecks and increase capacity.
- ETCS Roll-Out: A nationwide rollout of the European Train Control System (ETCS) is expected to boost rail capacity by 30%.
- Enhanced Transfer Points: Improving and increasing the number of transfer points, switches, and signalling points to ensure better capacity conditions.
- Modernization of Train Stations: Upgrading several train stations while addressing older uncompleted investments.
Upgrading Diversion Routes
Renovating existing lines and constructing new ones will significantly impact rail freight operations, with several routes closing for months. To mitigate this, DB has devised a “high-performance transport concept” in collaboration with affected companies. This concept focuses on upgrading alternative routes to enhance efficiency and accommodate increased traffic.
The renovation work will commence next year on the Riedbahn route between Frankfurt/Main and Mannheim. Subsequently, the Hamburg-Berlin and Emmerich-Oberhausen routes will follow in 2025. Below is a schedule outlining the upcoming route upgrades and their respective years:
- 2025: Hamburg–Berlin, Emmerich–Oberhausen.
- 2026: Hamburg–Hannover (subject to further decisions), Hagen–Wuppertal–Cologne, Troisdorf–Koblenz, Koblenz–Wiesbaden, Nuremberg–Regensburg, Obertraubling–Passau.
- 2027: Lübeck–Hamburg, Bremerhaven–Bremen, Lehrte–Berlin, Hamm–Düsseldorf–Cologne, Frankfurt/Main–Heidelberg, Munich–Rosenheim, Rosenheim–Salzburg.
- 2028: Bremen–Hamburg, Nordstemmen–Göttingen, Uelzen–Stendal, Stendal–Magdeburg, Hagen–Unna–Hamm, Cologne–Bonn–Koblenz, Koblenz–Mainz, Bebra–Fulda, Würzburg–Nuremberg.
- 2029: Hamburg–Hannover (subject to further decisions), Bremen/Rotenburg–Wunstorf, Lehrte–Gross-Gleidingen, Bebra–Erfurt, Aachen–Cologne, Forbach–Ludwigshafen, Stuttgart–Ulm (old line).
- 2030: Bremen-Osnabrück, Osnabrück–Münster, Münster–Recklinghausen, Minden–Wunstorf, Weddel–Magdeburg, Kassel–Friedberg, Würzburg–Ansbach–Treuchtlingen, Mannheim–Karlsruhe, Ulm–Augsburg.
This ambitious rail network upgrade signifies Germany’s commitment to modernize its transportation infrastructure, ultimately benefiting both domestic and international freight transportation.
