From 1 August, the route connecting Berlin to the 280 km (174-mile) route of Dutash sister to Hamburg will be completely closed for nine months. With more than 30,000 passengers daily, it is the highest used direct relationship in Germany’s long -range rail transport. 230 regional, long distance and freight travel on tracks between the two largest cities in Germany.
From Friday, intercity passenger trains will have to travel 100 km, while freight trains also have to be resumed. In addition, 170 buses want to be deployed daily to connect cities between Berlin and Hamburg, which will be cut off from rail service. Both construction work and replacement transport will be complex and potential prone to disintegration.
Dilated infrastructure, decades of neglect
On Thursday, Dutash sister reported a loss of € 760 million for the first half of the year. The company billed it as progress, as the loss had reduced by about € 1 billion compared to the previous year.
CEO Richard Lutz admitted in May, “Dehush Ban is facing its biggest crisis in 30 years.” “We cannot ensure stable operations on a mistake-confusing and old infrastructure.”
Germany’s National Rail Network covers about 33,500 km (20.800 mi) tracks. As a state-down company, operator Deutush Banan is dependent on subsidy from the federal government, saying that very little has been invested in infrastructure in the last few decades.
In fact, some tracks, junctions and even signal boxes are in the 19th century. Many systems are complexly worn, almost beyond repair, and are now so old that they are unusable to digitally controlled rail operations, which are to become standard.
There is no way around their reconstruction. The “General Renovation” started in Project 2024, focusing on 41 main lines, which is a combined length of 4.200 km and is required for operation.
Deutsche Bahn’s biggest overhaul
The 70 -km line between Frankfurt AM Main and Manhem was first resumed. It was completely closed for six months as the tracks and overhead lines were torn and re -installed.
20 stations, signaling techniques and sound insulation were renewed along the route. However, the installation of digital technology became more complicated than expected. Construction cost exceeded 1.5 billion ($ 1.73 billion) – as much as doubled.
The federal audit office, which monitors the government’s budget management, later accused the Federal Transport Ministry of negligence, arguing that Deut Ban should have been requested to promote the economic of IT functions.
The office stated that further renewal funds should be made available only once, when the Ministry of Transport “proved beyond doubt that they were essential and economical,” the office said.
This inspired Deutsche Bahn to announce that general renewal would be extended to six years by 2036.
The company has now reduced its original construction plans significantly. Number of new passing tracks and switches – which ensures that sharp trains may surround a slower speed – is reduced.
The establishment of the European Train Control System (ETC) has been postponed by the next decade.
The government has promised additional funds to rebuild the rail network, with Transport Minister Patrick Schinider promising a total rail infrastructure investment of € 107 billion by 2029. Most of the money is coming from special funds for infrastructure and climate protection.
Can spend millions
Currently, only 62% of German trains are considered on time – namely, which arrive within six minutes of their scheduled time. The canceled trains are as common as trains that do not recur to their last destination. When the strike occurs, or the outside temperature is too much or too low, there are more problems.
A lot of time, very patience and strong veins are required to travel by train in Germany. The delay of two to three hours is not uncommon. In 2024, Dutash sister had to pay 200 million in compensation to her passengers, which was about € 70 million more than the previous year.
More competition on railway?
Therefore, the Federal Audit Office has issued a warning that the money alone will not be to solve the “ongoing crisis” in the sister, and has called for the entire company to be completed, including “adjustment of corporate structure”. It will be a corporation with many hundreds of holdings and subsidiaries.
Over the years, bees discussed the separation of rail infrastructure from transportation to enable more private companies to enter the competition on the railways.
Currently, the auditors are very rarely hopeful that the railway will recover soon. In his report in May, it was concluded that Deutch sister “would not be able to meet the transport and climate policy expectations in the future.”
This article was original in German.
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