The Generalsanierung, Germany’s large-scale rail overhaul project, will likely take many years longer than first anticipated. DB InfraGO has reportedly informed transport companies that it wants to carry out fewer modernisation works on a yearly basis, meaning that the entire project would finish in the mid-2030s, rather than in 2030.
In total, Germany will renovate 42 rail corridors with a total length of around 4,000 kilometres. Originally, all those works were planned to conclude in 2030, but that seems to be changing now.
DB InfraGO has informed transport companies of the schedule adjustment, according to German press agency dpa. The infrastructure manager’s explanation refers to the need for a balance between capacity constraints, construction industry efficiency and urgent investment needs in the regional network. “In consultation with the new federal government, we therefore plan to adjust the number of general renovations to four to five per year”, DB InfraGO is cited as saying.
Industry consultations
DB InfraGO is planning to inform customers about its plans on 25 June. It has scheduled a second industry meeting for 9 July. “As soon as an agreement has been reached between DB InfraGO and the industry, DB InfraGO will hold further discussions with the federal government, which will make the final decision on adjustments to the schedule for the general renovations”, the rail agency stated.
Whereas the original Generalsanierung schedule ends in late 2030, four to five renovations per year could push the end date much further into the future. Four renovations annually would amount to ten years of work, meaning that the project could take twice as long as initially planned.
Industry insiders, both from inside and outside Germany, have been highly critical of the Generalsanierung. “Rail freight operations on the German network become increasingly complex and costly with a lot of uncertainty for customers”, European associations explained earlier. They said that the prolonged closures in the plan cannot be standard practice, especially as finding alternative routes is complicated.