GERMAN Rail (DB) has revealed that half of Germany’s approximately 4000 interlocking systems are in need of upgrade while nearly 17% of rail systems require renovation and 35% need to be repaired. However, the overall condition of infrastructure improved for “the first time in years,” according to the DB InfraGO 2024 condition report, which assessed the condition of 380,000 infrastructure assets across DB’s 34,000km network and 5400 stations.

This up-turn in performance was driven primarily by laying new track and turnouts, which contributed to an improvement in DB’s assessment score from 3.08 in 2023 to 2.91 in 2024. DB InfraGO renewed and upgraded around 2000km of track, 1800 turnouts, and 120 bridges covering approximately 35,000m2 during the year. It also updated 3500 train control and safety assets and carried out improvements at more than 870 stations, including providing step-free access to over 150 platforms.

The report's scoring ranges from 1 to 6 and mimics the system used in German schools, with 1 deemed the best score and 5 and 6 considered a failure. The overall score for the network improved from 3.03 to 3.00 in 2024. However, this performance was undermined by the score of 4.12 for interlocking systems and DB InfraGO admits that there is still an “urgent need for action” to modernise train control and signalling technology.

The core network and heavily-used corridors also performed worse than the rest of the national railway, with scores of 3.05 and 2.96 respectively, with DB InfraGO citing the high levels of stress that assets are subjected to on busier routes, reducing their service life. The condition of level crossings also fell from 3.37 in 2023 to 3.58 in 2024. “This is primarily due to outdated types of level crossing technology that need to be removed or replaced in the short term,” DB InfraGO says.

For the report, DB InfraGO evaluated the condition of approximately 292,000 infrastructure and 89,000 station assets, including all bridges, tunnels, supporting structures, track, points, level crossings, signal boxes, overhead lines and stations. DB InfraGO says the data reflects the condition of these assets and makes it possible to determine condition-based replacement and maintenance requirements.

The condition of bridges remained unchanged at 2.78, with the need for replacement also the same as in 2023. However, with a replacement value of €336bn, or around 51% of DB InfraGO’s portfolio, bridges continue to represent the second-largest need for replacement alongside signalling.

Assets with a condition rating of 4 or worse have a total replacement value of €109.8bn for the rail network and €20.27bn for stations. Overall, stations received a condition rating of 3.03, improving from 3.09 in 2023, with DB InfraGO noting an up-turn in condition rating at 113 stations that it comprehensively refurbished under its new “future stations” programme.

Information and telecommunications technology secured a rating of 3.97, with around 22% of these systems, which include passenger information, public address and dynamic displays, deemed to be in poor or inadequate condition.

The report also reveals a national divide in the condition of infrastructure, with lines in the east of Germany, which have received substantial upgrade funding since reunification, performing markedly better than lines in the west.

Assessment

DB remained steadfast in its assessment of the report’s findings that its strategy of closing lines to enable large scale renewals to take place concurrently is working. It points to the improved performance of the Riedbahn since it reopened to traffic in December, with its score improving from 4.20 to 1.52, following a five-month, €1.3bn renewals project during which the 78km line between Frankfurt and Mannheim, one of the busiest corridors in Germany, was entirely closed to traffic.

“The new condition report clearly shows that last year's record construction volume of €19.6bn was well invested,” says Philipp Nagl, CEO of DB InfraGO. “Now it's important to consolidate these funds over the long term - only then can a true turnaround be achieved. Many of our facilities and stations are still in poor condition. We have to improve them to convince customers to use the railway.”

Image: DB AG