GERMAN Rail (DB) has let the final construction contracts for its next major upgrade project involving the main line between Hamburg and Berlin.
Contracts have been signed for the section between Hamburg-Rothenburgsort and Büchen with Rhomberg Sersa, Eurovia, Axians GA Netztechnik, Knapp Engineering, CRS grüntechnik, SPL Powerlines Germany, Sptizke, and a consortium of Schweerbau, Joseph Hubert, and Wiebe Holding. The work will be overseen by infrastructure manager DB InfraGO.
DB has confirmed that the complete renewal of the 278km main line will start as planned on August 1. This will involve full closure of the line until the end of April 2026. Preliminary work last year, involving the replacement of 74km of track and the renewal of 100 switches over four months, was completed on schedule in December.
Like the pilot 78km Riedbahn project between Frankfurt and Mannheim completed during a five-month complete closure last year, the Hamburg - Berlin project involves the wholescale renewal of 180km of track, over 200 switches, and overhead lines, with new passing loops to be installed and stations to be refurbished. Signalling and train control technology will be updated, along with the introduction of high-speed Wi-Fi for passengers.
Lessons learned
DB InfraGO says that lessons have been learned from the Riedbahn project: “The tenders last autumn ensured more competition, and we received significantly better offers from construction companies,” says Dr Philipp Nagl, CEO of DBInfraGO.
Although the Riedbahn reopened on schedule, the full implementation of ETCS is still not complete, so DB has modified plans for the Hamburg - Berlin line to make it ETCS-ready.
During the full line closure interlocking systems and axle-counters will be installed ahead of the introduction of ETCS, which will now take place in the early 2030s. This has been scheduled to occur at the same time as rolling stock using the line is replaced with ETCS-equipped vehicles.
