Verkehr: Baupläne der Deutschen Bahn verzögern sich um Jahre

Die Deutsche Bahn (DB) is facing significant delays in its planned infrastructure upgrades across Germany, with the company admitting that the extensive maintenance will now likely take longer than initially anticipated. The DB's chief, Evelyn Palla, revealed that the company has revised its plans to focus on two to three major repairs per year, down from the original goal of four.

This adjustment comes after the DB's first major overhaul in 2036 proved to be overly ambitious, with the new strategy reflecting lessons learned from earlier projects. The overhauled plan is currently being coordinated with the German Federal Ministry of Transport, and a formal presentation is expected soon. Detailed timelines were not disclosed, but the DB had already begun large-scale repairs on the Mannheim-Frankfurt section of the Riedbahn in the second half of 2024.

The plan involves lengthy closures, with the original concept foreseeing full shutdowns lasting several months. In total, around 40 stretches of track were chosen for such extensive work. The DB had initially targeted completion of these major repairs by the early 2030s, but the revised plan suggests that this may no longer be achievable.

Palla emphasized that the decision to adjust the number of annual repairs was based on financial constraints and the capacity of the federal special reserve fund. She noted that four large-scale repairs could significantly reduce the network's capacity. The DB has faced criticism for the delays and underperformance of past repairs.

The Riedbahn, along with routes such as Emmerich-Oberhausen, Hamburg-Berlin, Hagen-Wuppertal-Köln, and Nürnberg-Regensburg, have all undergone extensive maintenance. Recent projects include work on the Obertraubling-Passau and Troisdorf-Wiesbaden connections, with Berlin-Hannover (Berlin-Lehrte) set to begin operations in October.

The DB has encountered issues with closures causing disruptions and underutilized infrastructure capacity. The company's restructuring efforts are considered a necessary alternative, as the aging infrastructure has not been adequately maintained, and only radical overhauls can resolve the problems on some tracks. However, the DB's approach has also drawn criticism, particularly regarding the inconvenience caused by detours for freight traffic and the broken promises regarding the volume of work.

The DB's Geschäftsführer, Dirk Flege, expressed concern over the new plans, stating that corridors requiring multi-month closures should not become the norm. Palla stressed the importance of properly preparing alternative routes after major repairs, citing the Hamburg-Berlin repair as an example of a stretch that could not be reopened immediately and required a significant "acceleration phase."

The DB has also highlighted the need for better synchronization between construction and operation, noting that the balance between building and running the railway will be crucial moving forward. In the coming months, Palla will focus on several key areas, including improving safety at stations and on trains, restructuring the company, and reviving the long-term appeal of the ICE high-speed trains.

She emphasized that the focus should be on enhancing the overall customer experience with the ICE product.