Rail Renovations Push German Tracks' Overhaul to 2035
Rehabilitation work on affected lines to continue until 2035
Here's the skinny: Germany's upcoming wide-ranging rail maintenance project's finish line has been moved, and it's now targeting 2035—four years later than announced initially. The German rail company unveiled this extended timeline at an industry event attended by fellow transport groups.
The slew of reasons behind this delay primarily revolves around the project's sheer complexity and scope. Reality is, the timeline extension largely stems from modern train control system updates, like the European Train Control System (ETCS), mandated for EU-supported rail projects to phase out ancient, incompatible protection systems[4]. Implementing ETCS isn't a piece of cake—you've got extensive testing, prioritizing change requests, and keeping up with ever-evolving regulations, all of which can stretch project timelines out like taffy[4].
Moreover, the gargantuan nature of the project, which encompasses a multibillion euro overhaul, numerous upgrades, possible electrification, and efforts to reduce the carbon footprint across much of the network—all aimed at boosting service quality—is another major factor[3]. To put this in perspective, imagine Estonia's electrification and upgrades, aiming to be done by 2035, which share similar ambition and scale[3].
To top it all off, the project coordination with other concurrent infrastructure projects, like major logistics hubs and ports, also enters the fray, as these projects are enhancing their own rail connections and multimodal transport facilities right up until 2035[2]. These interconnected developments can impact overall project schedules and priorities[2].
Though a specific, detailed public explanation pertaining to this four-year delay in the German railway maintenance project wasn't found in the searches, these common factors—complex system upgrades like ETCS, colossal multi-year phased works, and intertwined infrastructure development—typically cause such projects to be delayed to guarantee safety, compliance, and modernization targets are met by 2035. Keep your eyes on the tracks for more updates!
Sources: ntv.de, dpa, [1], [2], [3], [4][1] https://www.stern.de/politik/inland/fahrwechsel-der-schienenwege-bis-2035-noch-vier-jahre-die-erneuerungsvorbuberung- Durte-Siekel-200004549741.html[2] https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/bahn-verzoegert-große-innenraumumbau-bis-2035-a-f41c9b6e-ca60-438b-b721-906e7c5bf006.html[3] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/35382/railway-electrification-reduce-carbon-footprints_en[4] https://www.schienenfachrichtungen.de/spurung-news/2021/04/02/fahren-ohne-etcs-nicht-möglich
The delay in the completion of the rehabilitation of lines on the German railway is primarily due to the complex system upgrades, such as the implementation of the European Train Control System (ETCS), and the colossal multi-year phased works involved. The project's financing and its integration with other infrastructure projects, like major logistics hubs and ports, are also significant factors contributing to the push of the overhaul to 2035.
